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, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Seeing Beyond Stereotypes

Instructor: Michele Simms-Burton. In this course, we will examine portraiture of diverse people. We will use writing prompts to engage with the images in our attempt to write beyond stereotypes.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 1 session
Start: May 31, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Poetry

Devotional Verse

Instructor: Jos Charles. This workshop explores and examines devotional threads across various poetries and traditions guided by an orientation to the beyond—poems that have an address or charge beyond its author and readers. 

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Level: Intermediate
Length: 1 session
Start: June 2, 2023 , 1:10pm PT
Format: In Person
Poetry

Performance Lab: Translating Poems from Page to Tongue

Instructor: Aimee Suzara. This workshop will introduce a series of exercises, such as theatrical and vocal techniques, to bring your poetry to life—as sounds, as songs, as performed language.

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Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Length: 1 session
Start: June 2, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Novel, Short Story, Essay, Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life, Memoir

Writing Beyond the Five Senses

Instructor: Sarah Dalton. This two-class craft intensive will read and explore the complexity of human sense perception, with writing exercises that practice traditional senses and also explore beyond the big five.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 2 sessions
Start: June 3, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Your Playful Inner Child: A Muse for Creative Writing

Instructor: Kimberly Lee. Invite play into your writing! Through unusual and imaginative writing exercises, we'll engage all of our senses, experiencing a shift in perspective that will open doorways of inspiration. 

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Level: Intermediate, Introductory
Length: 1 session
Start: June 7, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
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
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

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
Fiction, Poetry, Memoir, Short Story

Creative Writing Scribes for 7-8th Grade

In this exploratory camp, students will engage with artistic activities, embark on field trips in-person and virtually, and write to creative prompts all designed to ignite their imaginations. 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: June 26, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: In Person
Essay, Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life, Memoir, Novel, Short Story

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

Poetry I

Instructor: Bill Carty. Designed for poets of all experience levels, this class combines writing prompts and readings as well as an introduction to the workshop model.

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Level: Introductory
Length: 4 sessions
Start: July 3, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry

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
Poetry

Feast of Forms: Three-Day Intensive on Poetic Forms

Instructor: Dilruba Ahmed. Re-energize your writing with a three-day intensive on forms such as epistolary poems, elegy, villanelle, pastoral/ecopoetry, and odes.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 3 sessions
Start: July 5, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Poetry

Six Poems Six Ways

Instructor: Carolyne Wright. Write six poems in six weeks, focusing on poetic types such as elegy, epistle, imitation, ode, panegyric, duplex, and golden shovel.

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

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
Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction

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, Poetry, Memoir, Short Story

Creative Writing Scribes for 9-12th grade

In this exploratory camp, students will engage with artistic activities, embark on field trips in-person and virtually, and write to creative prompts all designed to ignite their imaginations. The camp will culminate with a reading and/or presentation of student work.

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

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.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 5 sessions
Start: July 10, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life

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
Poetry

Poetry & Publishing

Instructor: Jeanine Walker. Students will read and write in response to a wide array of contemporary poets, participate in a mock editorial committee, and submit work to a literary journal for publication.

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Level: Intermediate
Length: 6 sessions
Start: July 11, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Poetry, Reading

Your Favorite Poet’s Favorite Poet

Instructor: Emily Sernaker. This class will demystify the idea that poetry is for the select few and explore the art form through the lens of legacy and community.

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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 4 sessions
Start: July 12, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
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
Novel, Short Story, Essay, Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Memoir

Faves & Frenemies: Learning from Books You Love & Hate

Instructor: Rachel Sobel. In this workshop, we'll discuss how to learn from books you love, books you hate, and everything in between, with close attention to the technique on the page.

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Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Length: 4 sessions
Start: July 13, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life

What Happens After You Write? Understanding Your Publishing Choices

Instructor: Beth Jusino. Take an unbiased, unvarnished look at current publishing options and how to approach them, examining the pros and cons of each choice, realistic costs, income potential and more.

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Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Length: 1 session
Start: July 15, 2023 , 1:10pm PT
Format: In Person