Great Story: 12 Writing Tips from Aristotle's Poetics, with Claire Mulligan
Timeless tips to make your story unforgettable.
Time & Location
Sep 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bowen Island Public Library Annex, 430 Bowen Island Trunk Rd, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0, Canada
About the Event
Aristotle’s Poetics was the first book to offer advice as to what makes a story . . . a story, and what makes for a great story, and it is as relevant today as when gods strode the earth. We will learn his top twelve tips, how to build our own tragedy, how to show moral ambiguity, and how to create characters who will make your readers cry their eyes out.
About Claire Mulligan
Claire’s historical novels—The Reckoning of Boston Jim and The Dark—have been nominated for the Giller Prize, the BC Book Prize, and the Canadian Author’s Award. Her multi-award-winning short fiction has appeared in Writers Magazine, Grain, The Tulane Review, Canadian Author, the Dalhousie Review, and the Antigonish Review amongst others. In 2017 Claire earned an MFA screenwriting with a focus on adaptation. Her latest script, Obscura, has won multiple awards including best short screenplay at the 2024 Leo Award and Pacific Rim film Festival. She teaches at Uvic Continuing Education and offers writing courses, workshops, and author interviews at mulliganmethod.ca