Advanced Poetry Workshop
with Leigh Sugar
Genres: Poetry
Online
Online Advanced
Advanced 16 Sessions
16 Sessions “Nothing has nothing to do with this.” —Solmaz Sharif
Advanced workshops mean different things to different poets. In this course, “advanced” simply means you know your way around a poem, have some workshop experience, and are ready to engage deeply with both your own work and the work of others. If you’re comfortable giving and receiving feedback and curious about the questions poems ask of us, this class offers a steady, accessible space to grow your craft alongside a cohort of supportive poets.
Over five months, we’ll build a workshop community centered on respect and creative exploration. Each session, we’ll discuss 4–5 student poems, exploring not only what’s working on the page, but why: how a line break is carrying tension, where compression is needed, what a poem’s internal logic invites us to notice. We’ll also read contemporary poets—selected to challenge, surprise, or shift our sense of what’s possible—and use these texts to sharpen our tools for deep reading and critique.
You’ll bring new poems to workshop every two to three weeks, and optional prompts will be available whenever you need a nudge. Alongside workshop, we’ll touch on aspects of the literary ecosystem: submitting work, manuscript development, and the art of building a body of work.
Our time together will be guided by accessibility and care. Expect transparent communication, flexibility when needed, and an environment that invites you to take creative risks at your own pace.
By the end of the class, you’ll leave with at least five new workshopped poems, refined skills in textual analysis, deeper confidence in your voice, and a community of fellow poets to continue writing alongside. Ideal for poets developing a manuscript, seeking accountability, or simply craving a space where rigorous craft and genuine camaraderie meet.
This class is not eligible for a member discount. Learn more here »
This class focuses on:
- Workshop: Students submit work and receive feedback from the instructor and/or classmates.
- Writing Life & Process: Focuses on developing writing habits, overcoming procrastination, or sustaining creative momentum.
- Community & Connection: Emphasizes collaboration, peer connection, and social writing experiences.
What to expect:
- Goal-Setting & Accountability: Includes tools or practices to help students stay motivated.
- Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation
- Prompts & Exercises: Class features guided writing activities.
- In-Class Sharing: Students are invited to share their writing aloud or in small groups during class.
- Instructor Feedback: Students receive direct feedback from the instructor.
- Peer Feedback: Students share and critique each other’s work.
- 2-3 hours reading and/or writing outside of class
Students say…
"Leigh picked reading materials that were thought-provoking and we had great discussions on these. Also broader discussions on poetry as a whole. Plenty of prompts and great feedback from Leigh and the peers in the class.”
“Leigh was a wonderful facilitator, and I felt welcomed and that I could be vulnerable in the class. I also enjoyed the caliber of poets/poems; it was genuinely inspiring to see other folks' poems that I would consider very good, and made me want to further improve my work. Hearing how to further edit or revise the poems was influential in making me a better poet. And lastly I enjoyed the readings provided by Leigh — specifically paired with the after-readings discussions (and voice notes sent by Leigh), which helped me see different ways of understanding and appreciating the readings.”
“Leigh is a gifted poet and an excellent teacher. She kept the class interesting.”
Registration Dates:
- December 2: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- December 9: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- December 14: Last day of Early Bird discount
- December 16: Scholarships open
Leigh Sugar
Leigh Sugar (she/her) is the editor of That’s a Pretty Thing to Call It: Prose and Poetry by Artists Teaching in Carceral Settings (New Village Press, 2023). She has taught courses and workshops at the Institute for Justice and Opportunity, NYU, Poetry Foundation, Hugo House, Justice Arts Coalition, and other sites, both in person and online. Her work ap- pears in POETRY, jubilat, Split this Rock, and more. An associate producer for Commonplace, Leigh holds an MFA in poetry from NYU and a Master of Public Administration specializing in Criminal Justice Policy, from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. A University of Michigan Hopwood Writing Awardee, Leigh lives in Michigan with her pup.
FAQ
Complete FAQEach class description includes a breakdown of what you can expect in terms of in-class activity, feedback, and homework (if any).
Generative means you’ll be generating new writing, either in class or at home between classes.
Workshop means you’ll be sharing work to be read and critiqued by your instructor and classmates and that you will also be critiquing the work of your peers.
Reading means you’ll be doing close reading of a work with an eye toward craft.
Craft discussion means you’ll be looking at the tools writers use to do that thing they do so well and then trying it out yourself.
Class levels are designed for various stages of the writing journey. Simply self-select the level that sounds best for where you’re at.
Introductory: This is your first creative writing workshop, first writing class since high school, or first foray into a new genre or form. You’re looking to try something new, kickstart your writing, and/or establish yourself in the fundamentals.
Intermediate: You have a strong understanding of writing fundamentals and are eager to deep dive into craft. You’re honing your writerly identity and voice through independent projects. In workshop, you look for constructive feedback and are ready to do writing and reading outside of class.
Advanced: You’ve written a significant body of work and have taken it through several stages of revision. You’re getting ready to publish or are in the early stage of publishing, and you’re interested in refining the skills that will take you to the next level in the literary industry.
All Levels: You are any of the above and are looking to play with new possibilities.
You’ll get your class information, including Zoom link if applicable, three days before the first day of class.
If you register for a class within this three-day window and do not receive this information, please contact us at welcome@hugohouse.org
Write With Hugo House is our free monthly write-in program that takes place online via Zoom.
We also have payment plans available for most of our classes. These payment plans are available to all students. Additionally, we offer partial scholarships (covering up to 40% of class tuition) for students who meet our income guidelines.
Lastly, we announce flash sales, early bird periods, and special deals through our e-newsletter; sign up at the bottom of this page.
At this time, we offer payment plans on classes 4 sessions and up. To register for a payment plan, select “Pay in installments” on the class details page, select your preferred option, and proceed to add to cart usual.
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We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans. This fee is based on total class cost.
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We are unable to hold seats for prospective payment plan students. Students will be enrolled once their first installment has been paid.
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If you need to cancel, Hugo House will issue refunds according to its cancellation and transfer policies. Your 5% nonrefundable admin fee will not be refunded.
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If you withdraw from a class after it begins, you will not receive a refund and are still responsible for paying the full course tuition.
Asynchronous classes are perfect for students that need flexibility!
During an asynchronous class, instructors release new lessons once per week. Students then have one week to complete that lesson and any accompanying coursework. You’ll learn as much as you would in a traditional class but with the flexibility to work at the best times for your schedule!
While there are no live sessions, asynchronous classes are still a lively and rigorous experience. Async classes are not static lessons but an adaptable and energetic community space. Be ready to work in a collaborative environment, giving and receiving feedback on your writing, participating in discussions, and growing your writing practice in a way that works best for you.
Asynchronous classes take place through the website Wet Ink. Students receive an invitation to the class and to set up a Wet Ink account on the start date of the class. Each week of the class, a new lesson will be available through the Wet Ink portal. Classes close two weeks after the end date, and students receive an email containing their content from the class when it closes.
Hugo House will only process refund requests that are submitted 5 days or more before the class start date. To request a refund, log in to your account, go to “My Account,” select the “Orders” tab on the left-hand side, click the appropriate order, and request a refund for your specific class. Administrative fees apply. Please see our full refund policy here.
To request a refund for class credit, please note such in the message section of your refund request.
In general, we do not record classes. However, an exception can be made with instructor approval if a student has specific access needs.
We encourage students to only sign up for classes that fit with their schedule.
We do not tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, transphobic or any other oppressive behaviors, regardless of who commits them. Please check out our full community guidelines by clicking here. If an instance of community guidelines are violated and not resolved within the classroom, students may let us know by filling out the student incident report.
If Hugo House needs to cancel a class for any reason, you’ll receive a full refund.
You can apply for a scholarship by clicking the red “Request a Scholarship” text on class pages. The scholarship request text is located at the top of each class page, underneath the “add to cart” button.
Scholarship application dates can be found in our Academic Calendar.
Due to the limited number of scholarships, please only request up to two scholarships for two different classes per quarter if you truly meet the financial need requirements.
Hugo House members get to register early for classes – a full week before they open to the general public!, receive a 10% discount on events and classes, and more. See the full list of membership benefits here!
Donations of all sizes allow us to provide access to quality writing classes, events, and experiences for all. Please consider making a donation to Hugo House today.
If you’re interested in contributing your skills, Hugo House accepts volunteer applications for a variety of roles, including event support, administrative tasks, and more. Learn more on our Volunteer page.
Finally, becoming a member is an excellent way to support Hugo House and our mission.
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