Gallowclass
MASTER YOUR CRAFT WITH MICHAEL TODD GALLOWGLAS, MFA
M Todd Gallowglas’s writing classes combine two of the most elusive things you can find: applicable, useful knowledge and a whole lot of fun. You’ll leave a better writer than you came, and you’ll do so with a big smile on your face. – Mark Gelineau, author
Tuesday evenings at 7 pm Pacific Time, I stream a web show LIVE! I talk about writing, living a writer’s life, books that have taught me about writing, possibly some Lit Theory, and/or whatever else happens to pop into my brain. One of the best parts about this show is going to be the live chat channel, so viewers will be able to ask questions in real-time. Some of my best stuff comes from going off on tangents inspired by insightful questions.
Join me at twitch.tv/mgallowglas
Every month, I teach live workshops over Zoom. These will focus on specific aspects of the craft of writing. Unless otherwise stated, the Workshops and Reading as a Contact Sport are FREE (with a donation option.)
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
April 13, 9:00am – 1:00pm Pacific – Poetry for Genre Writers
This is my favorite workshop that I’ve put together. We’ll explore using poetry to enhance all aspects of our writing, from characters, to cultures, to conflict, and creating more engaging prose. Join us for some amazing writing that will have you think about your genre fiction in entirely new ways.
I’ve started an online community for writers dedicated to increasing their understanding of the art and craft of writing. The Gallowclass community will have writing advice, writing challenges, book suggestions, and general discussions about writing. In addition to all of that, I’ve put together some writing classes. I’ve got options for everyone, group classes, self-paced individual classes, and personal mentoring. Descriptions for the various classes are listed below. Want to join the adventure? Send an email to gallowglas.army@mtoddgallowglas.com and request an invite link.
EXPLORING YOUR AESTHETIC – Self-Paced Class ($75 per month) – 3 spots open.
We writers are artists. We view the world of words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, pages, chapters, stories, and novels with an eye and ear for the aesthetic they achieve. However, In all the creative writing classes I’ve taken, workshops and panels I’ve attended, and books I’ve read, rarely have any directly addressed how writers can explore their aesthetic as artists. Part of this is because writing is a medium working on visual, auditory, and intangible levels all at the same time, which makes it a particularly challenging medium to master. In this class, students will explore all levels of their relationship with their writing.
EXPLORATION OF CRAFT – Self-Paced Class ($75 per month) – 5 spots open
This class takes a writer on a deep journey through the realms of the craft of writing, from the macro levels of story structure to the very building block of writing, sentence construction. In this intensive class, students will be asked to consider and re-consider what they know and think they know about how various aspects of the writing craft. By the end of the fourteen lessons, students will have explored the creation of three stories from the initial structure outline, through various perspectives, and finally to completed drafts. Then they will re-explore one of those drafts into a full rewrite.
4 STEPS OF ENGAGING FICTION – Self-Paced Class ($75 per month) – 4 spots open
The 4 Steps are the foundation of the Gallowclass philosophy. This class starts with a ton of writing. Then, students take that writing and re-explore their work through directed, practical application in order to show students how the $ Steps can transform writing from combinations of words, sentences, and paragraphs into immersive stores that keep readers up hours after bedtime just to find out what happens next.
MENTORSHIP – Private Class (Tuition per month varies) – 5 spot open.
In a mentorship, the student and I will discuss the student’s goals. We can work together on a single project or strengthen their writing skills in general. Based on that discussion, I’ll come up with a reading list. This will be a combination of fiction (short stories and novels), possibly poetry, and essays about the craft of fiction intended to help the student meet their specific goals. I can’t say much more about this class, as I expect each mentorship will be vastly different from the others. I currently have two going on, and I’m discussing a third; each student has vastly different reading and different writing goals.
TESTIMONIALS
As a writer, I forget sometimes that the best teacher is continuing to read, often books I wouldn’t initially pick up off the shelf myself. But where to start? There’s an overwhelming amount of books out there. The Reading Like a Writer class takes out all the guesswork for me. Gallowglas picks fantastic reads and challenges you to take what you’ve learned and apply it to your own work. – Katie S.
For the last few years as a writer, I’ve struggled with discouragement and had little sense of direction. “Exploring Your Aesthetic” helped me rediscover what’s important to me about writing. Delving into the excellent readings expanded my perspective on what it means to be a writer and the immeasurable value of the written word. As a teacher, Gallowglas has done a great job of letting me learn for myself while encouraging me to go deeper, look harder, and get everything I can out of the course. The creative exercises have been challenging and a lot of fun. Number one most important fact: I’m writing again and enjoying it. – Rebecca C.
My critical reading and writing have improved since working with Gallowglas as my mentor. His approach allows me to dig in where I want, and keeps me on the path we’ve set out. Asking Gallowglas to mentor me is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. – Stephanie A.
