Become a master of words, a creator of stories, a builder of worlds with The Mulligan Method, an innovative creative writing school welcoming writers at all stages of their journey.
Thanks for stopping by! I’m Claire Mulligan, an award-winning writer of short stories, novels, and screenplays; a nuts-and-bolts editor; and a creative writing instructor on a mission to help you fall in love with the craft of writing, expand your knowledge of literature, and find your writing community.
My Bio
I am the author of two novels, both historical fiction. The Reckoning of Boston Jim (Touchwood Editions) was nominated for the prestigious Giller Prize as well as for the Relit Awars, and the BC Book Prize.
My second novel, The Dark (Random House, Double Day), was nominated for the Canadian Author’s award.
My short fiction has been published in Writer’s Magazine, The Hourglass, Canadian Author, The Tulane Review, The Dalhousie Review, Grain, The Antigonish Review, amongst others.
My awards for short fiction include first prizes for Doors (Writer’s Magazine Contest), Djinns (The Hour Glass International Contest), Past Lovers (The Tulane Review Contest) and Reading Abigail & Other Stories (Shenango River Books Chapbook Competition)
I hold a BA in English & and an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of Victoria, and was awarded the prestigious SSHRC grant for my MFA thesis, a TV series set in a mining town.
I am a four-time recipient of the Canada Council Grant for fiction, and I have juried for the BC Council for the Arts helping disperse over $150,000 to established and emerging writers.
My first short film script, The Still Life of Annika Myers (produced and directed by Matthew Blecha) was chosen for the Sedona, Seattle, and Victoria International film festivals among others, and has garnered many awards, including best actor for Barbara Wallace (Global Shorts & Overcome Festival), Audience Favourite (Ottawa Film Festival), and Best film/directing (Virgin Spring Cinefest).
My second short film script Obscura (co-written with director Arnold Lim) won the Director’s Guild of Canada’s Award for 2022. Obscura was nominated for nine 2024 Leo Awards, the BC awards for film and TV. And won the Leo award for best screenplay and best short drama.
In addition I have story consulted for documentaries by director Krista Loughton about the homeless crisis and have been on the board of Cinevic, the independent film society of Victoria.
I have been teaching creative writing, mentoring writers, and editing novels, CNF, and screenplays for nearly 15 years. I currently teach creative writing for Uvic Continuing Education.
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UPCOMING CLASSES, 2025
SESSION #1 (Full with waitlist)
🗓️ Mondays: May 5th to June 9th | ⏰ 6-8 PST
🌐 Online | Zoom
6 classes | 12 hours + Bonus Class June 16th + one-to-one
Max 10 Students
SESSION #2 (nearly full - register now!)
🗓️ Thursdays: May 8th to June 12th | ⏰ 6-8 PST
🌐 Online | Zoom
6 classes | 12 hours + Bonus Class June 19th + one-to-one
Max 10 Students
🗓️ Wednesdays, May 7th - June 11th | ⏰ 6-8 PST
🌐 Online: Zoom
6 Classes | 12 hours + Bonus Class + one-to-one
Max 10 Students
In this course I'll challenge you to write at least one short story or short CNF each week. We’ll draw inspiration and craft lessons from flash fiction by Lydia Davis, realism with Anton Chekhov and William Trevor, the fantastic with Ursula K. Le Guin, and much more.
We’ll also explore how to structure and create short stories with a focus on style, diction, and tone. Expect lively discussions, lectures, and hands-on exercises to spark your creativity. This course is perfect for writers new to the short form (or new to fiction/CNF!) and those looking to refine their writing and experiment with new genres.
💲 $190.00 + GST
Bonus 🎉
7th Class: Workshopping & Celebration
One-to-One Meeting (1 Hour) with Each Participant
For REGISTRATION FORM and questions, contact claire@mulliganmethod.ca
✨ Limited spots available—join us!
What do Succession, Breaking Bad, the Percy Jackson series, Madeline Miller’s best-selling novels Circe, and Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad all have in common? They’re all inspired by ancient Greek Mythology, plays, poetry, and epics!
So sharpen your stylus and get ready to learn how classic myths, drama, and poetry continue to shape contemporary storytelling, and how we can draw on them for inspiration. We’ll explore what Homer, Aristotle, Sophocles, Sappho, Hesiod, and others can teach us about structure, characterization, interiority, and much more.
We’ll be reading excerpts—not entire works—but if you’ve ever wanted an excuse to read The Odyssey in its magnificent entirety, now is your chance!
💲 $190.00 + GST
Bonus 🎉
7th Class: Workshopping & Celebration
One-to-One Meeting (1 Hour) with Each Participant
For REGISTRATION FORM and questions, contact claire@mulliganmethod.ca
✨ Limited spots available—join us!
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If the above subscribe form is not working - just send an email to me at claire@mulliganmethod.ca
Thanks so much for an excellent class. I learned a lot, thought a lot about writing (what you said about “writing is easy, story is hard” will stay with me) and was exposed to new authors. Every week was something new and engaging, and challenging. I’m sorry it’s at an end!
N. Boivin
I would highly recommend a class with Claire Mulligan. Each Zoom class was packed full of information about story and how it evolved throughout history . . . It was a lot of fun; and I learned far more than I thought I would. I’ll definitely take another one of Claire’s classes.
Lynn Haugen
The presentation was structured, enticing, and thought provoking. Claire was supportive and very knowledgeable. Her teaching style enabled us to take chances and hone our writing skills as we progressed through the genres in flash fiction. I previously took a historical fiction course with Claire (pre-pandemic). A stimulating, productive and fun experience!
Shannon Milford
Class time is divided into lectures, in-class prompts, and collaborative story creation.
We discuss our homework (never more than 250 words) the challenges and inspirations, but use GOOGLE CLASSROOM for writer-led feedback.
On our classroom you will also find materials, links, and updates.
Classes are online with ZOOM. I will tape the classes and post the slides for those who can’t make certain classes.
An engaging, challenging and above all fun journey through the different genres of fiction. By using writing projects of 100– 300 words, Claire Mulligan teaches writers the power of words.
Kat Nicholls
Claire’s classes are dynamic, well-researched and a ton of fun. I always come away with practical tools and great ideas.
Tanya C.
Claire stretched my writing beyond anything I thought possible.
Vicki Metcalfe
POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING
Always positive and encouraging, Claire uses “sticky learning” and an “integrated learning approach,” that delves into history and craft of fiction, the essence of story-telling, and the best way to learn to write.
Joanie McEwen,
Author, Innocence on Trial. The Framing of Henry Ivan
PASSIONATE, INSPIRING AND ARTICULATE
Claire Mulligan is a gifted teacher: passionate, inspiring, and articulate. She offers concrete suggestions to hone your piece into a more layered and compelling narrative.
Anne Patton
Author, The Barr Colony Tribune
AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK
Thank you once again for your course and the amazing amount of work you put into it! I really enjoyed it and was pleased with my fictional drabbles and dribbles!!
Ella Harvey
Author, A Time Of Light & Shadow, A Memoir
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