Ada Limón is the author of five collections of poetry. The most well-known, Bright Dead Things (Milkweed Editions, 2015), was a finalist for the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award among other prestigious nominations. Her newest collection, The Carrying, will be…
Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979) was the consummate American poet of travel, writing and translating worldwide, and living for fifteen years in Brazil. Her “traveler takes a notebook, writes” about the mysteries of maps, the wonders of cultures and landscapes. In my…
It is often said that reading makes us better, kinder people. Many articles expound on how the act of reading benefits the mind and body by decreasing stress levels, teaching us about other people and cultures, and introducing us to…
Hinduism is an entire universe of gods, concepts, traditions, and philosophies. Just as you can practice any religion concurrently with being a Hindu, you don’t have to be a true believer to take advantage of Hinduism in your writing practice. Many of…
In the United States, women buy statistically more books than men—but publish fewer books, win fewer literary prizes, and get reviewed with far less regularity. Similarly, women account for only 10% of op-ed pieces that are published nationally. Why is…
Charles Johnson’s exploration of the art of writing and storytelling has been extensive and ongoing. Starting out as an avid reader in his childhood and teen years (at one stage reading a book or three a week), Johnson gravitated to…
I can’t tell you how often people tell me, “I wish my city had a place like Hugo House.” Often, they’re out-of-towners attending a Hugo House event or sitting in on a class. Again and again, they leave wishing that…
Interested in dipping your (electronic) pen into the screenwriting well? Not sure where to start, who to study, how to think about the form? In my class Screenwriting for Fiction Writers we’ll take up these matters and more, looking at…
Home: It’s on our minds as we see our new home emerge on Capitol Hill. As we ponder the move to the new Hugo House this summer, we asked authors Joshua Ferris, Melissa Febos, and E.J. Koh what homecoming means…
We have a packed calendar of readings and events this Spring season, showcasing some of the best up-and-coming writers, renowned bestselling authors, and much-anticipated new books. Hugo Literary Series This spring wraps up the 2017-18 season of our signature Hugo…
Ruth Ozeki is a writer who cares deeply about her craft. Part of that sense of care relates to how her novels are strongly and sensitively informed by her concerns—the health of our food supply, the effect of digital technologies…
A sanctuary away from home and the distractions of daily life with time to work on your craft: every writer’s dream. If a writer’s residency is in your plans this year, we’ve rounded up resources and words of advice from…
Set to open summer 2018 on the corner of 11th Avenue and E Olive, the new Hugo House will have ample room for us to continue to dream and grow. More space to serve more readers and writers Six classrooms…
Hugo House has received a Building for the Arts grant of $1.032 million from Washington state—a significant portion of the funds needed to purchase our new space and turn it into a home for writers. Thank you to everyone who…
A new year means new writing resolutions—and the start of a new quarter of classes here at Hugo House in which to start checking them off. Whether you’re hoping to sharpen your poetry or storytelling skills, try a new genre,…