Fiction and nonfiction writer gives writing and literature classes to students in Toronto.

Methodology

My pedagogical approach is student-centered. As a writing instructor, I foster a friendly learning environment, where my students can focus on reaching their individual potential as writers and thinkers, and can feel comfortable taking risks.

Thanks to my diverse teaching experience, I know how to create compelling lesson plans to meet clearly outlined learning goals. I also know how to prepare coursework materials, homework assignments, and handouts.

My writing experience has made me a better teacher, and my teaching experience has made me a better writer. For me, teaching and writing go hand-in-hand.

Background

I am a recent graduate of Columbia University’s MFA (Fiction) program, where I received two Writing Scholarships, was a Felipe P. De Alba Fellow, and was nominated for The Henfield Prize.

Currently I teach Classic Literature at Wells Academy.

Through Columbia’s Artists as Teachers Program, I co-taught a weekly creative writing course at Frank Sinatra School of Arts High School, in Queens. Through Columbia’s BRIDGE Program, I taught a well-received course on fiction and humour to Columbia students and the general public. Following graduation, I worked in New York (until the pandemic hit) as a Composition Tutor. As an undergraduate at McGill University, I co-founded McGill’s Creative Writing Society, through which I led bimonthly creative writing workshops for both undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to my pedagogical experience, I have worked as a Fiction Reader at The Paris Review and at Columbia Journal, and as an Editorial Assistant Intern at a small New York publishing house.

Currently I am at work on my first book. So far, the book comprises five linked short stories and one linked novella. One of the stories has appeared in Southwest Review and has been nominated for a PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers--results pending). Another story is forthcoming in "After Realism," an anthology of new Canadian writers, due out next autumn with Véhicule Press.

My essays have appeared in Tin House and The Walrus, and I write regularly for Southwest Review.

Rates

Rate for online lessons : $ 35/h

Lessons offered by Gavin

Individual

The lessons will be held

at your home

webcam

Taught subjects

Academic English
Reading
Literature
Creative writing
Essay writing
English literature

Levels

All Levels

Gavin's Resume

GAVIN THOMSON

Education

Columbia University School of Arts, MFA (Fiction), 2019

McGill University, BA (Hons), English Literature, 2013

Publications

Short stories:

“Beelzebub’s Kiss,” After Realism, an anthology of new Canadian writers, edited by André Forget, forthcoming with Véhicule Press next fall, 2021
“French Braid,” Southwest Review, forthcoming in Volume 105 Number 4, January, 2021

Essays, reviews, interviews, and criticism:

“That Highest Candle," Southwest Review, forthcoming in Volume 106 Number 2, summer, 2021
“Bang, bang, bang,” Southwest Review, forthcoming January 2021.
“Stories Are Coffins: A Conversation with Pete Beatty,” Southwest Review, 2020
“Misanthropy Has its Perks,” Southwest Review, 2020
“Blahblahblah: Recent Stories by Rebecca Curtis,” Southwest Review, 2020
“Lost & Found: On Niels Lyhne by Jens Peter Jacobsen,” Tin House, 2018
“More Life: On Contemporary Autofiction and the Scourge of ‘Relatability,’” Michigan Quarterly Review Online, 2018
“Washing Dishes,” The New Quarterly, Issue 147 summer 2018 (published under ‘Gavin Tomson’)
“Why We Find it So Hard to Describe Grief,” The Walrus, 2017
“Crib Notes,” Maisonnueve Magazine, Issue 78 winter 2016

Teaching

As instructor:

"I Haha, Therefore I Aha!" Columbia University School of Arts, New York City, winter semester, 2019
"Intro to Creative Writing," Frank Sinatra School of Arts, New York City, 2017-2018
"Intro to Creative Writing," McGill University’s Literary Society, McGill University, Montreal, 2012-2013

As tutor:

Composition Tutor, Gaver & Magariel, New York City, 2018-2020

Awards and Prizes

Nominated by Southwest Review for a PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers, 2021 (results pending)
Nominated for The Henfield Prize, Columbia University School of Arts, New York City, 2019
Felipe P. De Alba Fellowship, Columbia University School of Arts, New York City, 2018-2019
Writing Scholarship, Columbia University School of Arts, New York City, 2018-2019
Writing Scholarship, Columbia University School of Arts, New York City, 2017-2018
Shortlisted for PEN Canada’s New Voices Award, PEN Canada, Toronto, 2016

Editorial experience

Fiction Reader, The Paris Review, New York City, 2019
Fiction Reader, Columbia Journal, Columbia University School of Arts, New York City, 2018-2019
Editorial Intern, The Experiment (an independent publishing house), New York City, 2018-2019
Fiction Editor, Scrivener Creative Review, McGill University, Montreal, 2012-2013
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Steps Magazine, McGill University, Montreal, 2012-2013
Fiction Editor, Steps Magazine, McGill University, Montreal, 2011-2012

Selected graduate coursework at Columbia University

“Teaching Writing: Theory,” Nicole Wallack, Columbia University Department of English and Comparative Literature, New York City, spring semester, 2018
“The Writer as Teacher,” Keri Bertino, Columbia University School of Arts, New York City, fall semester, 2017

References

Available upon request.

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