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Journaling for Writers

with Emma Stockman

Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life

Online

Open to all levels

10 Sessions

Start Date: September 30, 2025
End Date: December 9, 2025
No Class: (skip days) 11/25/2025
Day of Week: Tuesday
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PT
Capacity: 15 seats
General Price: $605.00

Some days, writing feels like uncovering something electric and true. Other days, it’s more like stumbling through fog. What if you had a way to returnβ€”again and againβ€”to clarity, to voice, to yourself?

In this ten-week generative class, we’ll use journaling as a creative engine. We’ll explore how daily reflections, sensory details, emotional tracking, and honest observation can unlock your writing, deepen your characters, and bring texture and voice to everything you create.

Each session begins with a gentle somatic check-in to ground us in our bodies before we move into writing. From there, we’ll respond to low-pressure prompts designed to spark metaphor, memory, story, and surprise. We’ll try on different journaling approaches, experiment with tone and structure, and learn how to build a routine that supports your voice.

Each class ends with optional sharing, not as critique, but as a chance to witness and be witnessed, and to remember that you’re not alone in the creative process.

Whether you’re here to excavate emotional truths, move through creative blocks, or lay the groundwork for future projects, you’ll leave with a toolkit of journaling practices, a growing library of prompts, and a deeper connection to your inner voice.

Open to writers of all genres and experience levels.

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.
  • Writing for Personal Growth: Emphasizes self-expression, journaling, or therapeutic writing practices.
  • Community & Connection: Emphasizes collaboration, peer connection, and social writing experiences.

What to expect: Β 

  • 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.

Students say…

β€œFrom the first session, it was clear that [Emma was] passionate about helping writers along the way. [Her] thoughtful prompts and structure made journaling feel purposeful. I especially enjoyed the 15-minute flush exercises at the start of each class; those moments really helped me clear my mind.”

β€œWould love to attend the same class again. Please continue.”

Registration Dates:

  • August 12: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PTΒ Β Β 
  • August 19: General registration opens at 10:30 am PTΒ 
  • August 26: Scholarships open
  • August 31: Last day of Early Bird discount

This class is not eligible for a member discount. Learn more here Β»

Emma Stockman

Emma Stockman

she/her

Emma Stockman is a Seattle-based writer and educator with an MFA in Fiction from the University of Oregon. In 2023, she moved to Seattle to pursue greater literary opportunities. She writes short fiction and is currently working on a novel.

Each class description includes a breakdown of what you can expect in terms of in-class activity, feedback, and homework (if any).Β 

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.Β 

Reading means you’ll be doing close reading of a work with an eye toward craft.Β 

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.Β 

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.

Write With Hugo House is our free monthly write-in program, operated in partnership with the Seattle Public Library. Two take place onsite at SPL locations, one takes place online.Β 

Sliding-scale classes are offered every quarter. Find them in our Class Catalog.

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 8 sessions and up. Email education@hugohouse.org with the name of the class you’re interested in to set up a payment plan. Please note that you can only have 2 active payment plans per quarter.

Our payment plan policy:Β 
  • We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.Β 
  • Extended payment plans up to 8 monthly installments and 16 semi-monthly installments are available upon request.
  • We are unable to hold seats for prospective payment plan students. Students will be enrolled once their first installment has been paid.Β 
  • 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.Β 
  • 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 websiteΒ 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 business 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 policyΒ here.

In general, we do not record classes. However, an exception if a student has specific access needs.

We encourage students to only sign up for classes that fit with their schedule.Β  Β 

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 clickingΒ 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 β€œRequest a Scholarship” text on class pages. The scholarship request text is located at the top of each class page, underneath the β€œadd to cart” button.

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.Β Learn more on our Volunteer page.

Learn about all the ways to support Hugo House here.

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