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.
Spring Online Writing Courses- 2026
Short Story Forge: Writing Bold, Brief, and Brilliant
Tuesdays, May 12th – June 23rd | 5:30–7:30 PM PST | Online via Zoom
In this 7-week intensive, we’ll draft one to two short stories per week and create micro-fiction through in-class prompts. We’ll explore structure, voice, genre, and rhetorical technique with inspiration from Chekhov, H.G. Wells, Kate Chopin, and more.
$298 (tax included)
I took the short story workshop and it was fantastic. Highly recommend. Have had two short stories published since! Ingrid Derringer
I loved, loved, loved this course! You've covered all manner of aspects of the short story no one ever mentioned years ago, and I'm grateful to learn about them at long last! Else Jones
Claire is an excellent teacher with a plethora of suggestions to hone the art of short story writing. From hypotaxis to story beats to perfect beginnings and marvelous endings – this course covers it all. Kim Letson
Claire's depth of knowledge was impressive … she always inspired creativity with her instruction and prompts. Highly recommended! Suzanne Moreau
A Writer’s Odyssey: Ancient Lessons for Modern Writers
Thursday, May 14th – June 25th | 5:30 - 7:30 PM PST | Online
In this 7-week intensive, we’ll explore how Homer, Sophocles, Sappho, Hesiod, Aristotle, and others can teach us about structure, characterization, interiority, and voice. Weekly writing includes short fiction, CNF, microfiction, and prose/poems—giving you a folder of new work to revise, submit, or expand.
$298 (tax included)
A Writer's Odyssey was, by far, the most interesting, helpful, and complete writing course I've ever taken. I'd highly recommend it. I'd give it five stars and more. As an instructor, she has the rare gift of being able to inspire course participants to become writers. Her own writing skills and knowledge of your subject are masterful. Elaine Kennedy
Like all of Claire's classes, A Writer's Odyssey, was engaging, challenging, illuminating and fun. I learned so much about the ancient foundations behind much of our writing methods today. Sophia Sperdakos
This is the best online course I’ve had the pleasure of participating in. Each class built on the previous one, inspiring the learner to research topics further. Thanks so much, Helga Avila
Claire’s class was both informative and inspiring, and I’d recommend it to any writers looking to hone their craft.. Shannon Perkins
ALL COURSES INCLUDE:
📖 7 Classes | 14 Hours of Class Time | Max 12 Students | ✨ PLUS
One-to-one session after the course
Feedback on assignments & revisions through Google classroom
Group catch-up Zoom one month later
Taped classes sent out to all participants
📌 Note: 7th class is dedicated to workshopping and review
Expect:
Weekly reading: 50 pages max
Assignments: @ 500 words/week for homework plus 2-4 inclass prompts + final piece up to 2,000 words
Time commitment: @ 6–8 hrs/week including class time
Haig-Brown Writing in Residency
Homer’s Epics & the Art of Story-Telling
How The Iliad and The Odyssey shaped Western storytelling
Saturday, Apr 18 | 7–8 pm
https://www.haig-brown.bc.ca/2025-2026-writer-in-residence-claire-mulligan
StoryCraft Conversations
Free Author Interviews for Writers & Readers
Along with editor and story coach April Bosshard of Deepstory Designs, I offer free online author interviews where we explore craft and the business of writing. Sign up for my newsletter to be notified of our next interview. Check out past interviews at the link above.
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
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
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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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