Teens

Young writers have myriad opportunities to launch, explore, consume and create great writing at Hugo House. Our conservatory-model instruction encourages students to read as writers, to critique established work and the new work of their peers and to take risks with their writing while exploring voice and language. In our classes, open writing circles, open mics and literary events, we strive to create an innovative creative writing space for all.

All Hugo House classes, workshops and field trips are taught by professional, published writers who are also experienced teachers of the craft. Teens on the Youth Advisory Board help curate our teen course offerings, MC the monthly teen open mic, Stage Fright, and may apply for the youth writer-in-residence position during their sophomore, junior or senior years.

For more information on programs for youth at Hugo House, call (206) 322-7030, or email Becky Berryhill at beckyberryhill@hugohouse.org.
 
Hugo Classes for Teens are weekend workshops for teen writers who want to delve into particular subject areas such as the short story, the novel, free-form poetry, zines, spoken word, reviewing, flash fiction, screenwriting, playwriting and creative nonfiction, to name just a few.

For current course descriptions and teacher bios, click here.

“I wanted to polish my short story skills and learn more about how stories are put together. (The class) shocked me—by how amazing it was!! The discussions and feedback were wonderful.”

Write Time
Write Time is a free, weekly drop-in writing circle for students in grades 9-12, led by Hugo House writer-in-residence Karen Finneyfrock. Bring something you're working on, or just come ready to write.
Date/time: Every Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.

Download a poster here, and let your students, classmates and friends know about Write Time!

Stage Fright is an open mic night for writers age 14 to 20. Since 1997, Stage Fright has been the place to speak out! Writers share poetry, fiction, journals and songs and enjoy the work and camaraderie of their peers. Snacks, candlelight and a fearless MC round out the evening. Stage Fright now hosts featured spots for young artists. Sign up to read when you arrive.

Writers: grades 8-12
Date/time: 7:30pm/the second Wednesday of every other month. Upcoming Dates: May 9th, July 11th, Sept 12th.
Tuition: free

Download a poster here, and let your students, classmates and friends know about Stage Fright!

Scribes summer creative writing camp is an intensive two-week writing program for middle and high school students.

Applications for Scribes 2012 are now being accepted. The early registration deadline is January 31, 2012; regular registration is April 16, 2012. For more information about Scribes, click here.

Field Trips
Bring your class to Hugo House for an hour of creative writing instruction followed by a reading on our Cabaret stage. We provide the prompts, the paper and the spotlights. You bring the talent. For more information on curricula or to schedule a visit, contact Becky Berryhill, youth programs coordinator, at beckyberryhill@hugohouse.org or (206) 322-7030 ext. 108.

Youth New Works Competition
Each year as part of the Hugo Literary Series, Richard Hugo House seeks poems, short stories or personal essays in response to a theme and writing prompt cooked up by Hugo House's staff.

Please check back in fall, 2012 for information about the 2013 competition.

Join Our Mailing List
Sign up for Hugo House's youth mailing list and receive announcements about classes, events, publishing opportunities and contests for kids and teens.

Interested in teaching a youth class? Email beckyberryhill@hugohouse.org.

The following is a poem from Ramsey Jester, the 11-12 youth writer-in-residence at Richard Hugo House. An aspiring performance poet, Ramsey founded The Spoken Word Room, a poetry program at his high school (Nathan Hale).

FROM SPACES BETWEEN

Sometimes I dream the world into motion,

from the stillness of moments like this.

I dream a mountain into movement,

couples into kiss.

And I whisper the secrets that make things grow,

all around me growing.

I grew a garden from my chest,

and dreamed a world

just like this.

Youth programs are supported, in part, by: