Welcome to 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.


Upcoming Courses - 2024

Thursdays| September 12th - October 17th

ONLINE | 6-8:30 PM

VI Sessions | XV Hours

University of Victoria, Continuing Ed

$216 + GST

Wednesdays | September 11- October 2nd

IN PERSON | 6 -8:30

4 Sessions | 10 Hours

University of Victoria, Continuing Ed

$162 + GST

Sundays | October 6th - November 10th

ONLINE | 10:00 - 12:00 am

6 Sessions | 12 Hours

$180 + GST



.

Sundays| October 13th - November 3rd

ONLINE | 4:00 - 6:00 pm

2 Sessions | 4 Hours

$80 + GST


for sign up & more information

CONTACT: 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

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

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.

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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