Write-O-Rama Laureates

Laureates start Write-O-Rama early by fund raising and writing throughout the months before December 5, the next Write-O-Rama. They promise to raise at least $145 in pledges for Hugo House; in return, we promise to provide writing support and lots of Hugo love. Every week we post writing prompts from our fabulous creative writing teachers on a special blog, where laureates can share with each other and get feedback on their writing. We invite them to Write-O-Rama pre-parties, shower them with prizes and feature them on our Web site.

There’s still time to be a laureate! If you’re interested in joining up, contact Leslie Leasure at development@hugohouse.org before November 20, 2009.

To donate on behalf of the laureates, click the “Donate Now” button and write the name of your laureate of choice in the “Dedication” field.

Write-O-Rama Laureates

Anne Bean
John Burgess
E. Magnuson
Dani Hemmat
Laura Hirschfield
Sarah Koenig
Eric Morel
Ray Pompon
Megan Snyder-Camp
Andrea Yoshida

Anne Bean
Born and raised in Colorado, Anne Bean found herself with a B.A. in English/Creative Writing and no clear path in life, so she moved to the Pacific Northwest and joined AmeriCorps. She has since learned to stand the rain, and even like it a little bit deep in her masochistic heart. She has an abiding love for quality science fiction and fantasy, as well as speculative fiction a la George Saunders and Neil Gaiman. Anne's love for words in general is so voracious that she is not content merely to read them on paper, but also to write down words of her own. In fact, she just self-published her first novel, "Freedomland," available at iuniverse.com.

Why should you pledge to Write-O-Rama?
Because Richard Hugo House is a hotbed of serendipity and wonder. The first time I attended a poetry reading at Hugo House, I met the love of my life. At my first Write-O-Rama, I won the contract that got my novel published. Whenever I spend time with the quality people at Hugo House, I am inspired and revitalized. You know that feeling, as a writer or artist, when the blankness of your page is looming large and you really just want to crawl under a rock and die/drink/play World of Warcraft/explode instead of creating? Stepping inside Hugo House will ease those burdens, relax your brain, tie you in to the vibrant community around you. Richard Hugo House is a rock of support, and your five bucks or forty-five bucks will only spread the goodness further.

John Burgess
Seattle poet John Burgess has two books from Ravenna Press, “Punk Poems” (2005) and “A History of Guns in the Family” (2008). He was a 2006 Jack Straw writer; co-founder of the Burning Word Festival; and the 2008 Words' Worth curator for the Seattle City Council. He's currently editor for the online lit journal Snow Monkey and on the board of directors at Hugo House. He's home at www.punkpoet.net.

Why should you pledge to Write-O-Rama?
First punk music saved my life, then writing saved my life. Hugo House creates space for writers. There's not a better way to save lives than supporting Hugo House.

E. Magnuson
E. is a writer, a master griller and a silence filler. E. is currently editing a novel that features cyber-stalking, sexual obsession and a curious string of homicides. E’s first novel centered upon a homeless picklock and an ex-dot-commer struggling to survive as a petty thief. Both novels are love stories. E. has volunteered with organizations that inspire young writers including 826 Valencia in San Francisco and Richard Hugo House’s youth mentoring program.    

Check out E’s old-timey blog at andthefamilybuick.blogspot.com or his spankin’ new Web site at www.emagnuson.com.

Why should you pledge to Write-O-Rama?
Seattle’s literary culture needs Hugo House. The mere fact that artistic institutions, such as the Elliott Bay Books, are currently threatened with possible extinction should embolden all those that can support the arts in ways great or small to indeed do so. No matter their level of experience, writers need resources to encourage the necessary work they bring to the world. And, Hugo House provides an open firehose from which to drink in those resources— classes, space for research, performance opportunities, mentoring, exposure to working writers and guidance meant to get your own work out there. To cut to the chase—if you can give a little, it will help a lot.   

Dani Hemmat
Dani Hemmat is a freelance writer whose work appears in magazines, newspapers and on the Web. She has wanted to be a writer since she was 8 years old, and it only took her about 30 years to reach that goal. Now there is not enough time in the day to pound out all the ideas that are crowding out her brain. For more information, visit www.danihemmat.com.

Why should you pledge to Hugo House?
Even though I had been writing for a living for two years, I came to Hugo House in 2008 not feeling much like a writer at all. My first Write-O-Rama washed the sleep from my eyes and gave me the confidence and presence to start answering the banal question, "What do you do?" with "I'm a writer." Donating to Hugo House is as important as giving to a medical research charity, as far as I'm concerned. Both are trying to find cures and save lives.  Hugo House's mission is pure and unfettered, and one beautiful day at Write-O-Rama is worth ten at a luxury spa in Sedona.

Laura Hirschfield
Laura Hirschfield began writing and editing elementary school curricula and nonfiction for kids when she became an adult. In 2005, she stopped writing for children and began writing poetry when she had her own child. She’s worked at Parenting magazine, Microsoft, Elliott Bay Book Company, Hugo House and The Wright Group/McGraw-Hill. She has a Masters in education, was a 2009 Jack Straw writer and is currently rewriting fairy tales and pursuing an MFA in poetry at Pacific University in Oregon.

Why should you pledge to Hugo House?
Because you might hear a child who’s been told she can’t write read a story of her own into a microphone. Because you might discover a teacher or writer who changes how you think. Because you might be moved to laughter or tears by a story, a song or a poem. Because you might find yourself putting your own words down on paper for the first time. Because you might meet a group of friends to write or read with. Because you might get to hear your favorite writer talk about their work. Because you might need a warm place to write, read, draw or just think.

Because—with your donation—you can give someone else that chance.

Sarah Koenig
In first grade, Sarah Koenig was so inspired by a classmates’ illustrated story about butterflies that she came home and wrote her own—the tale of a family who lived in a log cabin and stole food to survive. Thus began her love of writing, one that finds its main expression nowadays in poetry. Sarah earned a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Arts in Teaching (English) from Tufts University. She taught English at the high school and college level, created an online composition course during the dot com boom and, most recently, worked as a reporter. She’s also freelanced for magazines and has done volunteer communications writing for nonprofits.

Why should you pledge to Write-O-Rama?
Modern life can be isolated, and finding a community isn’t always easy. Hugo House is one of those rare places that builds community and lets people connect, face-to-face. Nine years ago, when I moved to Seattle and was floundering, I found a writer’s group and met one of my closest friends at Hugo House. Hugo House’s readings and events add to the cultural landscape of the city, offering one more reason to get out of the apartment on wet Seattle nights. For writers, these events can send you back to your notebook, reinvigorated, when it’s been neglected for weeks. I’ve come home from Hugo House readings inspired, seeing that there are others out there producing beautiful work. They’re a reminder that the effort is worth it.

Eric Morel
Born in Bellevue to French parents in 1987, Eric Morel's life seems to consistently return to the Pacific Northwest. After a brief stint back in France, Eric's family settled in Bellevue for good in 1992, and it's been home ever since. Eric left again to attend Davidson College, in North Carolina, for the past four years, but has, at long last, come back once more. Eric loves literature of the nineteenth century in general, but America's, in particular. He loves Poe and Melville, but the regionalist writers of the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are beginning to get more of his attention as he develops a bioregionalist bent. Eric writes, and someday hopes also to edit literary fiction.  Finally, he is currently an intern at Hugo House!

Why should you pledge to Hugo House?
I recently attended the Seattle Bookfest in Columbia City and sat in on a panel asking, "Is Seattle Hostile to Literary Innovation?" The opinions of the panel were interesting, but my own response is to point to the work of Richard Hugo House, which has always focused on promoting new work. How could Seattle be hostile to innovation with a place like Hugo House? Not every city is fortunate enough to have such a resource for writers. This place is important for writers in Seattle, and it needs to keep being there, so we need to step up and fund it!

Ray Pompon
Ray is an information security expert—a geek—who writes both fiction and nonfiction about the world of hackers and those who hunt them. His favorite literary creation, "Heidi Geek Girl Detective," was born at Hugo House and can be enjoyed at www.planetheidi.com.

Why should you pledge to Write-O-Rama?
Seven years ago, I was welcomed into House House as a reader. Through classes, events and intimate talks with great authors, I drank deep from the cup of Hugo. It enriched me. Intellectually, creatively, politically and spiritually. I  joined Hugo House's board so I could help others receive that gift. If you haven't such an experience, you should come to Write-O-Rama and see why the House is so special. And you should help us bring that gift to more people with your support. 

Megan Snyder-Camp 
Megan Snyder-Camp is a poet who joined Hugo House while a grad student at the UW. Over the years, she has attended numerous classes and events, and this summer she co-taught “Motherhood: A Formal Constraint.” Her first collection of poetry, "The Forest of Sure Things," is forthcoming from Tupelo Press in fall 2010, and with the support of a 4Culture grant, she is currently researching and writing an extended prose-poetry hybrid exploring Lewis & Clark’s dismal arrival at the Pacific as portrayed in childrens’ literature. On a personal note, Megan is currently expecting her second child, and so is eager to shore up some new poem drafts at Write-O-Rama before the baby comes. Her big dream is to build a writing center for mothers, with childcare on the ground floor.

Why should you pledge to Write-O-Rama?
Nowhere else truly supports—and celebrates—the writing life like Hugo House does. A friend of mine comes to town every year to spend a week writing full-time in Hugo House's library as an alternative to fancy writing residencies. Another friend found her voice at open mic night. I’ve found advice on line breaks and community with other mother-writers. Given the vulnerability of writers in this economic climate, now is the time to support Hugo House.

Andrea Yoshida
Andrea is a 25 year old Seattleite with a book problem. She has been known to frequent the local book exchange, the nearest library branch and Amazon.com all in the same day. Her latest read is "On Beauty" by Zadie Smith. She hopes that someday, her work will end up another bookworm's similarly insane book collection. Andrea also enjoys creating music, dancing and getting tattoos.

Why should you pledge to Write-O-Rama?
Because there is no other organization like Hugo House, and it is where I attended my first reading by my favorite poet, Tess Gallagher, over 10 years ago. Although I am fairly new to Hugo House, I have first-hand experience of the unique connection it offers between readers and their favorite writers and the subsequent support one receives when taking the leap to become a writer.