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

CONTINUING SCHEDULE

LIVESTREAMS every Tuesday at 7pm Pacific
twitch.tv/mgallowglas
Submit your dialogue scenes for the next module

READING AS A CONTACT SPORT - Free
Part book club, part geek lit theory group class, part writing class, all amazing.
Click here for schedule and titles.

CREATIVE WRITING LAB
Every 1st Saturday 12 pm - 2 pm
Parliament Wine Lounge, Old Sacramento

GROUP CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Throughout the year, I run many different classes and workshops.
Click here for the 2026 schedule.

SELF PACED CLASSES

If you are a busy writing student with a full or chaotic life, self-paced classes are a great way to level up that fits into your schedule. After registering, students have 1 full year to complete their class(es). Feedback from completed assignments will come every Monday via email.

These will all open on January 1st, 2026.

TUITION

Each self-paced class is $75 a month, or $700 if paid in full upon registration. (Over $300 in savings!) FULL MEMBERSHIP, which includes access to all classes, all workshops, and a monthly check-in via Zoom, is $250 a month, or $2000 if paid in full.

EXPLORING YOUR AESTHETIC

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, few have 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

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.

GENERATIVE JUMP START

This class starts with a ton of writing: a month of writing every day, if the student follows the curriculum. Then, students take that writing and re-explore their work through directed, practical exercises that will broaden their imagination and expectations of what written storytelling can be.

4 PRINCIPLES OF ENGAGING WRITING

This workshop offers practical insights and proven techniques to elevate your writing. Gallowglas's 4 Principles go beyond style, tricks, and secrets to offer writers the tools to craft compelling stories that leave a lasting impact. What's more, the Principles offer writers a vocabulary and perspective to explore other writing to not only understand what is and isn't working, but also be able to discern WHY. Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out, The 4 Principles of Engaging Writing will open up new ways to think about and execute your writing.

POETRY FOR GENRE WRITERS

Fantasy was born from the mythic traditions of epic poetry. Ray Bradbury told writers to read poetry every day. More and more writers are writing spectacular poems about the nerd experience. This class will explore awesome and evocative poetry as a jumping off point for students to writed their own poetry, create poetic forms for their own imaginative worlds, and learn how to mine poetry to improve upon their fiction writing.

MENTORSHIP (Tuition per month varies)

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 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.