Our Teachers
The Muse's instructors are all working writers and published authors who have taught courses at colleges, universities, and other community organizations. Read our teachers’ biographies and see what classes they are currently teaching.
Shawn Girvan
Shawn Girvan received his MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. His work has appeared in The Pitkin Review, Wraparound South, and West Texas Literary Review. He has also produced a critically acclaimed documentary film, has owned a wedding videography business, and studied and performed improvisation at the Second City and IO Theaters in Chicago. Shawn currently resides in Virginia Beach where he is finishing his first memoir and watching Jeopardy with his lovely wife.
Current Classes Taught
- A Writers Workshop Guide: Getting the Most and Giving your Best
- (Fall 2024)
- (Summer 2024)
- Best Christmas Ever! Writing about Family and the Holidays
- (Fall 2024)
- Blueprints & Breakthroughs: A Plotter's Guide to Pantsing
- (Fall 2024)
- (Summer 2024)
- Blueprints & Breakthroughs: A Plotter's Guide to Pantsing
- (Fall 2024)
- Creative Nonfiction and Memoir 2: Diving into Style and Forms (Mornings)
- (Fall 2024)
- (Summer 2024)
- Creative Nonfiction and Memoir 3: Deeper into Revision and Exploring Publication (Mornings)
- (Fall 2024)
- (Summer 2024)
- Laughing Through Life: Crafting Humorous Memoirs
- (Fall 2024)
- Leading the Best Writers Workshop Ever!
- (Fall 2024)
- (Summer 2024)
- Lights, Camera, Write: Storytelling Strategies Inspired by Cinema
- (Fall 2024)
- Start Writing, Keep Writing... Write Now
- (Fall 2024)
- The Digital Muse: Harnessing AI in Writing and Teaching
- (Fall 2024)
- (Summer 2024)
Previous Classes Taught
- 1-Day Creative Writing "Camp" for Adults (Sat. June 3)
- (Summer 2023)
- Creative Nonfiction 1
- (Summer 2021)
- Creative Nonfiction 1
- (Fall 2021)
- Creative Nonfiction and Memoir 1: The Art of Writing True Stories
- (Summer 2024)
- Fiction Exploration
- (Winter/Spring 2024)
- Laughing Through Life: Crafting Humorous Memoirs
- (Winter/Spring 2024)
- Nonfiction 1: The Art of Writing True Stories
- (Winter/Spring 2023)
- Nonfiction 1: The Art of Writing True Stories (Monday Evenings)
- (Fall 2022)
- Nonfiction 1: The Art of Writing True Stories (Thursday Mornings)
- (Fall 2022)
- Nonfiction 2: Diving into Style and Forms
- (Winter/Spring 2023)
- Nonfiction 3: Deeper into Revision and Exploring Publication
- (Fall 2023)
- The Advanced Memoir & Creative Nonfiction Workshop
- (Fall 2020)
- The Memoir & Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Wednesday Mornings
- (Summer 2020)
- The Memoir Workshop: Tuesday Evenings
- (Winter/Spring 2022)