Eric Shay Howard is a writer and editor living in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned his MFA in Creative Writing from the Bluegrass Writers Studio at Eastern Kentucky University where he edited fiction for the literary journal Jelly Bucket. He currently teaches in the English department at the University of Louisville. He was also the founder and editor-in-chief of the former literary magazine Likely Red and has taught high school English. He additionally holds an MBA degree. Before teaching, he worked in an IT department at a law firm.

Recently Published Work

This section will be updated as soon as I have a forthcoming work in a literary journal, magazine, or anthology. Check back in a few months, or maybe a few years, or maybe longer. I’m told that’s how these things go.

I’ll make sure to link to any publications here that I can as well.

Instagram

Follow me on Instagram if you are interested in that sort of thing. I’ve been posting more regularly about writing and other things I’m up to. Probably not doing it right.

This week, I started a new short story after bring on a “new story draft” high last week, but only got a few pages in. My mind went back to a story I’d written and workshopped in the MFA program my first semester in 2022. I had alre
This week, I started a new short story after bring on a “new story draft” high last week, but only got a few pages in. My mind went back to a story I’d written and workshopped in the MFA program my first semester in 2022. I had already been scribbling and scratching it over the years, and I guess I’m finally ready to try to redraft it. While “watching” Mike & Molly, of course. #writer #writersofinstagram #coffee #goodmorning
Dog day. Miles went to the dog bar at @clubk9louisville. He loves the water and the balls. #dogs #labrador #chocolatelab #dogbar #weekendfun
Dog day. Miles went to the dog bar at @clubk9louisville. He loves the water and the balls. #dogs #labrador #chocolatelab #dogbar #weekendfun
The dog patiently waiting for me to think for an hour about a bad handwritten first draft of a new short story and a slightly better but still not great second draft typed up while I hold my coffee and listen to Friends in the background. This is my
The dog patiently waiting for me to think for an hour about a bad handwritten first draft of a new short story and a slightly better but still not great second draft typed up while I hold my coffee and listen to Friends in the background. This is my workflow.
I finally cut my hair. My first 2 semesters teaching college are complete and I went out to dinner with a friend to celebrate. I’m prepping my syllabus for the fall and working on some fiction. I’m also starting the full-time job hunt aga
I finally cut my hair. My first 2 semesters teaching college are complete and I went out to dinner with a friend to celebrate. I’m prepping my syllabus for the fall and working on some fiction. I’m also starting the full-time job hunt again; I’ve been part-time adjunct for the year. It’s been a good break from being a full-time grad student and full-time IT Coordinator turned high school teacher, but my wallet is depleted. #haircut #singlegayguy #gayguy #jobhunting #lgbt #louisville #louisvillewriters #writer
When you’re trying to be productive but your dog is like, no. #goodmorning #happyholidays #dogsofinstagram #writer
When you’re trying to be productive but your dog is like, no. #goodmorning #happyholidays #dogsofinstagram #writer
Me and my books. It has been a while since I’ve even tried to pose for a selfie or a picture. I only realized this as I was looking for photos of myself for my website. Also, I’ve only had the bookshelves for a few years. I don’t kn
Me and my books. It has been a while since I’ve even tried to pose for a selfie or a picture. I only realized this as I was looking for photos of myself for my website. Also, I’ve only had the bookshelves for a few years. I don’t know what I did either my books before then; I think they were just thrown around the house. #selfie #lgbt #books #writer #gayguy #sundayvibes
It’s the weekend! Good burger. Forgot to take the picture before I ate it. I’m trying not to stress out too much today about the hunt for that job around my adjusting next semester; I have a video interview and I found some other jobs to
It’s the weekend! Good burger. Forgot to take the picture before I ate it. I’m trying not to stress out too much today about the hunt for that job around my adjusting next semester; I have a video interview and I found some other jobs to shoot for before the weekend is over, so I hung out with some friends. The one thing I’m going to work on when I get home is polishing off some creative writing. I’m about half finished with a longer short story and need to get the other half edited. Then, I’ll see if there’s anywhere that accepts stories that long. If not, there’s always the next one.
Preparing for a serious work day. Today I have to: write a spec product page for a fake educational product, prepare a creative writing sample for a PhD program application, do some lesson planning for an English course next semester, and apply to ma
Preparing for a serious work day. Today I have to: write a spec product page for a fake educational product, prepare a creative writing sample for a PhD program application, do some lesson planning for an English course next semester, and apply to marketing and coordinator jobs. I have coffee, a banana, and Skittles. I’m ready. #writing #work #workday #goodmorning
Oh, man. I’ve been “being extra” about this with the post office, leasing office, and registrar’s office for over a month. The post office kept sending it back to EKU because my name wasn’t placed on the mailbox. Honestl
Oh, man. I’ve been “being extra” about this with the post office, leasing office, and registrar’s office for over a month. The post office kept sending it back to EKU because my name wasn’t placed on the mailbox. Honestly though, I’ve been wondering if it was even real in the first place or if I was imagining the whole thing, and imposter syndrome was (is) kicking in. I did it though (I think). #eku #mfa #creativewriting #bgws #bgwstudios
This week, I started a new short story after bring on a “new story draft” high last week, but only got a few pages in. My mind went back to a story I’d written and workshopped in the MFA program my first semester in 2022. I had alre Dog day. Miles went to the dog bar at @clubk9louisville. He loves the water and the balls. #dogs #labrador #chocolatelab #dogbar #weekendfun The dog patiently waiting for me to think for an hour about a bad handwritten first draft of a new short story and a slightly better but still not great second draft typed up while I hold my coffee and listen to Friends in the background. This is my I finally cut my hair. My first 2 semesters teaching college are complete and I went out to dinner with a friend to celebrate. I’m prepping my syllabus for the fall and working on some fiction. I’m also starting the full-time job hunt aga When you’re trying to be productive but your dog is like, no. #goodmorning #happyholidays #dogsofinstagram #writer Me and my books. It has been a while since I’ve even tried to pose for a selfie or a picture. I only realized this as I was looking for photos of myself for my website. Also, I’ve only had the bookshelves for a few years. I don’t kn It’s the weekend! Good burger. Forgot to take the picture before I ate it. I’m trying not to stress out too much today about the hunt for that job around my adjusting next semester; I have a video interview and I found some other jobs to Preparing for a serious work day. Today I have to: write a spec product page for a fake educational product, prepare a creative writing sample for a PhD program application, do some lesson planning for an English course next semester, and apply to ma Oh, man. I’ve been “being extra” about this with the post office, leasing office, and registrar’s office for over a month. The post office kept sending it back to EKU because my name wasn’t placed on the mailbox. Honestl

I send an email newsletter a few times a year.

It includes updates on my freelancing, writing news and announcements, and other things; I’ll admit that I’m the focus of these newsletters; it’s my one chance a few times each year to shamelessly brag to you directly about what I’ve done over the last month and the upcoming events and happenings with my writing.