Class Catalog

There’s a class for everyone.

Long-time writer or just getting started? Writing an epic poem or a short story? Whoever you are and wherever your passions lie—if you want to write, there’s a Hugo House class for you. Explore our catalog and find yours.

When we say we want our classes to be for everyone, we mean it.

Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Reading

GRATIS | La metáfora, crear nuestra propia metáfora

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Level: Intermediate
Length: 1 session
Start: June 10, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction

Ancestors Calling: Divining the Family Narrative

Instructor: Darien Hsu Gee. As writers, our ancestral history breathes through our bodies and appears on the written page; this class will explore ancestors both known and unknown through micro narratives and prose poems.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 1 session
Start: June 11, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, The Writing Life, Essay

Freelance Going Pro

Through guided and practical exercises, this course will give you the confidence to turn your art into a long-term, successful business.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 12 sessions
Start: July 2, 2023 , 12:00am PT
Format: Online Asynchronous
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Writer’s Welcome Kit

This asynchronous course features online workbooks, including ten essential templates in Word and Excel to kickstart your writing life, and resources professional writers use to get published.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length:
Start: July 2, 2023 , 12:00am PT
Format: Online Asynchronous
Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction

Another Summer Fling

Instructor: Gabriela Denise Frank. Celebrate summer and the chance to experiment with guided prompts sampling short forms such as flash prose, hermit crabs, "found" pieces, and more.

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Level: Intermediate
Length: 6 sessions
Start: July 5, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, Reading, The Writing Life

The First Fifty Pages of Your Memoir

Instructor: Katherine E. Standefer. This class will excavate the ways authors set up their primary tensions, structures, voice, and more, coming to understand the craft choices that propel a narrative.

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Level: Advanced, Intermediate
Length: 6 sessions
Start: July 5, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, Essay

The Terribly Personal Political Essay

Instructor: Sonora Jha. Craft that chapter in your memoir where the personal meets the political, that op-ed you have the authority to write, or that cultural critique for a literary journal. 

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Level: Advanced, Intermediate
Length: 6 sessions
Start: July 6, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction

Balancing Humor and Pathos in Prose Writing

Instructor: Beth Slattery. Through analysis of texts, discussion, and writing exercises, this one-day class will guide students through finding the equilibrium between amusing and emotional prose.

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Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Length: 1 session
Start: July 8, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Reading

Wild Flowers: Exploding Summer Clichés

Instructor: Shelby Handler. In this generative class, we'll befriend summer flowers and experiment with floral prompts that channel unexpected imagery, taking inspiration from Ada Limón, Paisley Rekdal, Ross Gay, and more.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 1 session
Start: July 8, 2023 , 1:10pm PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Go I Know Not Where: Writing with Slavic Magic Tales

Instructor: Shankar Narayan. In this part-generative, part-analytic class, we'll examine classic Slavic fairytales, discuss their meaning, and create our own fiery pieces.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 2 sessions
Start: July 8, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

Editing Out Loud

Instructor: Grace Bialecki. Designed for writers of all genres who want to hone their editing skills and find musicality in their work; we will read our writing aloud, crafting techniques for both developmental and line edits.

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Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Length: 1 session
Start: July 8, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction

Tarot for Writers

Instructor: Kris Waldherr. Learn an overview of the Tarot, easily accessible ways to understand card symbolism, and techniques for utilizing the Tarot for storytelling, insight, and inspiration.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 1 session
Start: July 8, 2023 , 1:10pm PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, Memoir

Making Meaning in Memoir

Instructor: Kimberly Dark. This generative workshop will open a number of creative doorways to mine meaning from memories, connecting students' unique perspectives to culture, history, and zeitgeist.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 1 session
Start: July 8, 2023 , 1:10pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction

Claire Keegan and the Art of Brevity in Prose

Instructor: Beth Slattery. Study the work of award-winning Irish writer Claire Keegan's concise language and rich storytelling, exploring her style and efficiency using her novella Foster and other stories. 

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Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Length: 2 sessions
Start: July 9, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, Fiction

Wounded Little Liars

Instructor: Sonora Jha. In this one-day deep-dive into your characters' truths and lies, we will read and write layers and nuances into your characters and render them fragile, funny, fallible, and ultimately unforgettable. 

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 1 session
Start: July 9, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction

Storytelling in a Flash

Instructor: Margot Leitman. Come with an open mind and leave class with a polished autobiographical story. 

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 4 sessions
Start: July 9, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Short Story

Creative Writing Scribes at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture for 5-6th Grade

In partnership with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, students will explore exhibits at the Burke Museum, participate in creative activities, and write to prompts inspired by materials the Burke Museum offers.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 5 sessions
Start: July 10, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Nonfiction

Comics & Graphic Novels Scribes for 7-8th grade

Learn the fundamentals of making comics and graphic novels in this half-day, week-long camp, focusing on a different theme or genre each day. The week will culminate with a reading and/or presentation of student work.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 5 sessions
Start: July 10, 2023 , 1:00pm PT
Format: Online
Poetry, The Writing Life, Fiction, Nonfiction

Writing for McSweeney’s

Instructor: Jeff Bender. This class will take students through converting pet peeves and bizarre thoughts into short satire pieces like the ones seen in McSweeney’s.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 6 sessions
Start: July 10, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction

Review Your Memoir Like a Developmental Editor

Instructor: Beth Jusino. This class teaches how a professional developmental editor evaluates memoirs for readability and reach, with discussions around theme and concept, plot arc, relatability and more.

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Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Length: 6 sessions
Start: July 10, 2023 , 12:00am PT
Format: Online Asynchronous
Fiction, Nonfiction

Mastering the Scene

Instructor: Katherine E. Standefer. Through writing exercises and readings, we'll explore how scenes develop characters, seed tension, build deeper themes in a story/essay, and more!

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 8 sessions
Start: July 10, 2023 , 12:00am PT
Format: Online Asynchronous
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life

Get Invited to Read Your Work at Literary Conferences

Instructor: Lyzette Wanzer. This workshop offers information, guidance, and strategies for writers ready to present their work at a professional writers' conference.

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Level: Intermediate
Length: 4 sessions
Start: July 12, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Carry On: A Post-Yearlong Workshop Craft Studio

Instructor: Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum. For writers who have completed a yearlong workshop in prose and are developing manuscripts, with focused discussions on issues of craft and a casual tour through Charles Baxter's Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction.

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Level: Advanced
Length: 4 sessions
Start: July 12, 2023 , 6:00pm PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction I

Using generative writing, reading, and an introduction to the workshop model, we will investigate our own personal stories. We examine and explore the true topics of our pieces through points of view, scene, reflection, and form.

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Level: Introductory
Length: 6 sessions
Start: July 12, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: Online