Finding the Heart of Your Story
with Stephanie Dethlefs
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Young Adult/Children's Lit, Novel
Online
Online Introductory, Intermediate
Introductory, Intermediate 6 Sessions
6 Sessions You sit down to write…and suddenly everything feels foggy. You know the story matters, but you’re not sure what it’s about. You can describe the plot, but not the deeper thread. You feel the momentum in your head, but can’t quite translate it to the page. These problems are more common than you think—and they’re exactly where this class begins.
Over six sessions, you’ll step back from the swirl of drafting and learn to identify the core elements that shape any piece of narrative writing:
- Point or message – what you want your reader to carry with them long after they finish
- Character arc – how your main character changes internally over the course of the story
- Turning points – the moments that force that change
Through reflective questions, guided prompts, and supportive discussion, you’ll clarify what your story is trying to say, who it’s really about, and how plot can support transformation rather than distract from it. Each week, you’ll be invited to submit brief responses for optional written feedback—gentle, encouraging notes that help you dig deeper without stalling out. You’ll also have the option to step into the “hot seat,” where you can talk through ideas with the instructor and the class in real time.
By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation for one story of any length—memoir, fiction, essay, or novel—and a set of questions and tools you can return to whenever you feel lost in the draft. Most importantly, you’ll leave with renewed confidence and a clearer sense of why your story matters, both to you and to the reader waiting for it.
This class is especially helpful for beginners and returning writers who feel stuck, overwhelmed by possibility, or unsure how to move from idea to direction. Let’s find your way back in.
This class focuses on:
- Generative Writing: Focuses on producing new writing through prompts and exercises.
- Creative Play & Exploration: Focuses on playful, experimental writing activities designed to break creative blocks and spark ideas.
- Workshop: Students submit work and receive feedback from the instructor and/or classmates.
What to expect:
- Project-Based: Students will work toward completing a specific project (e.g., a story, poem, or essay).
- Lecture: Instructor-led teaching
- Prompts & Exercises: Class features guided writing activities.
- In-Class Writing Time: Class will include dedicated time to write.
- 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.
- 1-2 reading and/or writing outside of class
Students say…
“This class was different from any other writing class I've taken. The material (while not breaking the mold) was presented in a fresh way that I haven't experienced before. I've taken dozens of writing classes and hired coaches in the past – this class was full of so many more ah-ha moments than many of those classes/coaching sessions combined. Stephanie is a truly gifted teacher, and I enjoyed her class immensely. I looked forward to attending every week, and it really invigorated my writing practice. This is my first class with Stephanie – I'll now sign up for any class she offers! Please have her back at Hugo House!”
“Finding the Heart of Your Story is the first Hugo House course Stephanie Dethlefs has taught and she did a fantastic job! She was very specific about story structure and presented it in a way that was easily understood and resonated with me. Stephanie also provided support and encouragement throughout the course. I knew I could not write my book without understanding more about structure and this course was perfect! For the first time, I truly believe I can competently and coherently write my book from beginning to end!”
Registration Dates:
- December 2: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- December 9: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- December 16: Scholarships open
- December 22: Last day of Early Bird discount
Stephanie Dethlefs
Writer and writing coach Stephanie Dethlefs helps people get their stories onto the page with ease and self-compassion. She is the author of the middle grade novel Unspoken, and her writing can be found in a variety of publications.
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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