Gals Guide Flagship Class
Internationally Loved
Healing to Write
Also known as our “big writing workshop,” this is a 12-week journey of healing & creativity-building through an unapologetically feminine lens. Using the Mother Castle method, students will engage in writing and meditation to heal emotional wounds, allowing creativity to flourish. This tool, developed by Dr. Leah “Riwo” Leach, utilizes women’s history, mythology, Buddhist meditation, and compassion. Previous students found immense value in a process that allowed them to heal the hard stuff so they could write.
The writing class will be 100% online with live sessions. There will also be self-paced videos. Perfect for a new year, a new you! Structured to unlock the writer within. Flexible for when life gets busy.
In this 12-week workshop, students will also learn critique tools, receive feedback from their fellow writers, have time to write, and have an opportunity (and encouragement) to publish in the Gals Guide Anthology.
Classes start January 6, 2027
Gals Guide teaches in an ancient method sometimes called “The Three Levels of a House of a Happy Person.” Students will have a listening portion, a contemplation portion, and a meditation. This structure is to allow the student time to find the personal wisdom in the class.
Many of our classes list “Part of the Mother Castle Series”. This is the foundational class of the Mother Castle Method.
Takeaways
- Be encouraged to write
- Heal the hard stuff so you can write
- Unlock your creativity
- Unapologetically feminine
- Time to write
- Time to heal
- Share your writing and get feedback
- Submit for publication in the Gals Guide Anthology
Course Structure
We are flexible because we know lives get busy. You can take the classes live on Wednesdays, watch recordings, or a bit of both. Registered writers will have access to all pre-recorded videos and digital materials for 1 year. The live classes will not be recorded so that conversations about healing can stay private.
LIVE ONLINE OPTION: Classes will be Wednesday evenings 6:00 pm-8:00 pm Central Time. January 7 – March 24. Leah will lead the classes live online with group discussion, writing feedback, and questions answered. This version is highly recommended to foster your own unique writing community.
SELF-LED VIDEO OPTION: Take the class at your own pace. Watch and pause videos as you need. Enrolled students have access to all the materials for a year. During the live class session (January – March), you will also have access to writer feedback from Leah and your classmates.
ONE-ON-ONE TIME: Schedule time with Leah for help with your writing and/or creativity.
WRITING COMMUNITY: Enrolled students will receive access to a private Discord channel within the Gals Guide server to build community, ask questions, share stories, request feedback, and more.
Writers love our classes
“The lessons and meditations sparked my creativity so much. The teachings were original.”
“The atmosphere created was uplifting and wonderful.”
“The meditation style was wonderful and brought a relaxing break to my week.”
“Leah has a way of making a space so warm and encouraging. This class embraced a mantra of there is no right or wrong way to write and I loved that message.”
“I loved the camaraderie within the group! And of course, all the information to help me feel more comfortable in my writing and submitting.”
“It was more than just ‘how to write’ – it was about unlocking the writer within.”
“This workshop helped me to open up my brain to writing and not getting stuck on tangents or get discouraged. It has helped my writing bloom a bit more. I would take any other workshops Leah and Gals Guide have to offer!”
“Leah was amazing! Best writing teacher I’ve had in a long time.”
LIVE Class Schedule
Each live class contains a transformative lesson, a personal contemplation, a group discussion, a meditation, and time to write. Classes 9-12 allow time for feedback and writing.
Online 6:00 pm-8:00 pm Central Standard Time.
- January 6 – Reasons to write, Mother Castle Ingredients: Mother’s & Compassion
- January 13 – Mother Castle Ingredients: Myths & Women’s History. Welcome to the Mother Castle meditation
- January 20 – Empathy Room
- January 27 – Abandonment Room
- February 3 – Vulnerable Room
- February 10 – Confidence Room
- February 17 – Problem Solver’s Room
- February 24 – It Takes a Village Room & rules of critique
- March 3 – Union of Opposites Room & feedback
- March 10 – Evolution Room & feedback
- March 17 – Hard Working Garden & rewriting
- March 24 – Leave the Castle meditation & rewriting
Tuition Rates
Regular price tuition is $300 per person for all 12 weeks
Early Bird Sale $100 off until 10/31
Patreon Members in the “Large Dragon” tier get 30% off the regular price tuition. Patreon discount cannot be applied on top of the Early Bird Sale.
- Classes are January 6 – March 24, 2026
- 12 classes live on Wednesdays
- 12 pre-recorded videos to watch any time for 1 year.
- Tuition includes live online sessions, recorded sessions, digital materials, and access to one-on-one chats with Leah.
- Students aged 18-118 are welcome to enroll.
- Makes a great gift for the writer in your life!
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Leah “Riwo” Leach is the founder of Gals Guide, which was awarded 2022 Organization of the Year by Advancing Noblesville and received Congressional Recognition for their outstanding and invaluable service to the community. In 2024, Leah was awarded Arts Leader by Noblesville Creates.
Leah has been an energetic teacher for over 15 years. She’s mentored students who have gone on to work at Netflix, Marvel, and Adobe. She’s worked with writers who have received publishing deals and writing awards. DePaul University in Illinois gave her an award for her mentoring.
Leah is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, and podcaster with multiple (silly) honorary doctorates. She has been published in The Polk Street Review, Pattern, Comic Book in a Day, and The Gal’s Guide Anthology. She’s published 4 books under the name Kate Chaplin. Her film work has been shown on MTV, VH1, Discovery Channel, Sci-Fi Channel, ABC (Indy), and FOX (Indy). She has been a Buddhist practitioner for over 30 years. Leah has adapted her storytelling training into the unique way Gals Guide teaches and writes about history. Leah has taught the Mother Castle Method at the Indiana Writers Center, InConjunction Sci-Fi Fantasy Convention, and Indiana Comic Con. She has recently moved from Indiana to Moorhead, Minnesota.
Scholarships
Unfortunately, Gals Guide has a limited amount of scholarships available. At this time Gals Guide has $150 available in scholarship moneys.
Application deadline December 10, 2026
Decisions emailed December 17, 2026
Also available, Patreon Members in the “Large Dragon” tier get 30% off the regular price tuition.
Sponsor A Writer
Donate to the Gals Guide scholarship fund. You can donate any amount to this fund to help offset the costs to a student in 2027.
