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, Novel, Short Story

Yearlong in Fiction

Instructor: Peter Mountford. This workshop is designed to support students complete publication-ready work for fiction writers of any genre, with peer review, craft lectures, and more.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 30 sessions
Start: October 3, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Novel

Novel Immersion

Instructor: Elise Hooper. For writers developing a novel seeking guidance, inspiration, and accountability; this course includes readings, discussion, in-class exercises and assignments focused on plot, voice, world-building and more.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 8 sessions
Start: October 3, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Reading, Memoir, Essay

Queering the Boundaries: Commingling Art & Creation

Instructor: Meredith Arena. This genre-blurring, boundary-pushing workshop focuses on queer art as inspiration for creative writing, with other exercises like drawing, collage, and more.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Introductory
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 3, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: In Person
Nonfiction, Poetry, Memoir

Memoir as Poetry

Instructor: Anastacia-Reneé. This genre-bending, generative workshop explores and interrogates communal story, folklore, and archival memories; students will leave the class with three pieces of hybrid work: the haibun, nines, and epistolary poem.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 3, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, The Writing Life, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Keep the Channel Open: A Generative Prose Workshop

Instructor: Liza Birnbaum. This nontraditional, generative workshop open to fiction, nonfiction, and cross-genre writers will use weekly writing assignments, playfulness, and rigorous reflection to building a friendly, mutually accountable community.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 10 sessions
Start: October 3, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: In Person
Nonfiction, Reading, Memoir

Annie Ernaux: The Art of Feminist Memoir

Instructor: Kaelie Giffel. In this class, we'll close read the work of Annie Ernaux to gather memoir-writing tools and use writing prompts to explore our own experiences.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Introductory
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 3, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, The Writing Life, Reading, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Words & Pictures: An Intro to Comics

Instructor: Gina Siciliano. Using Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics as a foundation, this class is an introduction to graphic novel storytelling. 

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Introductory
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 3, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: In Person
Fiction

Yearlong in Speculative Fiction

Instructor: Ruth Joffre. Students will work toward completing a speculative fiction project, with craft lectures, writing and revision exercises, peer revision, and readings of contemporary speculative fiction.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 30 sessions
Start: October 4, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Young Adult/Children's Lit

Yearlong in Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction

Instructor: Karen Finneyfrock. With both large and small group workshopping, students will develop and polish a manuscript in any genre of fiction intended primarily for a younger audience.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 30 sessions
Start: October 4, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, Reading, Essay

Beautiful Facts

Instructor: Corinna Cook. Learn to sculpt context and informational passages to match the impact of scene or the lyricism of reflection, with readings and weekly prompts…

Course Status: Full
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 4 sessions
Start: October 4, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction

Book Lab

Instructor: Tara Conklin. Book Lab is a year-long intensive class for writers seeking to revise and finalize a book-length manuscript, with workshops, visits from publishing professionals, and one-on-one feedback sessions, and more.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Length: 10 sessions
Start: October 5, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: In Person
Fiction, Nonfiction, Short Story, Essay

10-Week Prose Workshop

Instructor: Beth Slattery. This generative class gives students the opportunity to deep-dive into the revision of their writing and develop thoughtful, supportive, critical responses when looking at others' work. 

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 10 sessions
Start: October 5, 2023 , 1:10pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Young Adult/Children's Lit, Novel, Short Story

Writing for Kids: Polish That Prose

Instructor: Tina Tocco. This class is geared towards writing for ages 8–12 and offers opportunity for writers to workshop, analyze published work, delve into the revision process, and participate in in-class writing.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 5, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Fiction

World-Building: Creating & Populating Worlds on the Page

Instructor: Evan Ramzipoor. For writers working in any genre, this generative class will teach students to create and populate worlds on the page, with group exercises, discussions, and more.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 5, 2023 , 7:10pm PT
Format: Online
Poetry, Reading

Superb Surprise: Writing Alongside Emily Dickinson

Instructor: Deborah Woodard. This class will closely read the poetry and letters of Emily Dickinson, with discussion, weekly prompts and read-arounds, and instructor feedback on classwork.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 7, 2023 , 1:10pm PT
Format: In Person
Poetry, The Writing Life

Turn Your Poems into a Cohesive Chapbook

Instructor: Natasha Moni. This class offers resources on how to assemble and submit your chapbook, using examples from award-winning and accomplished chapbooks; we will discuss ordering, titles, theme, voice, and more.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Advanced
Length: 4 sessions
Start: October 7, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, Memoir, Essay

Writing Memoir to Understand Your Family

Instructor: Elizabeth Mayorca. Through the use of interviews, dialogue, letters, invention and more, this class will examine how memoirists keep their voices distinct while honoring the voice of family members.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 4 sessions
Start: October 7, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life

Magazines as Muse: Models & Markets for Your Work

Instructor: Carolyne Wright. We'll read poems, nonfiction, and short fiction published in recent issues of well-respected online and print literary magazines and generate prompts from this work as workshop exercises.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Introductory, Intermediate
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 7, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Poetry

Beautiful Monsters: Writing Genre Poetry

Instructor: Holly Day. This generative class will discuss poetry basics and the elements of horror, science fiction/fantasy, and adventure poetry.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 4 sessions
Start: October 8, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Poetry

Writing with “The Four Agreements”

Instructor: Naa Akua. Each week this class will explore an agreement, a meditation, and a poetic form in collaboration with The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 4 sessions
Start: October 8, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Nonfiction, Memoir, Essay

Write Your Story: Writing to Heal

Instructor: Ingrid Ricks. With individual coaching sessions, learn how to identify structure and tap into the healing power of writing personal narrative.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Introductory
Length: 5 sessions
Start: October 8, 2023 , 10:00am PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life

Lit Witches: Crafting Subversive Narratives

Instructors: Allison Ellis, Amy Bowers. This generative class will delve deep into the lore and canon of witches, examining themes such as feminism, domesticity, power, and social change.

Course Status: Seats left
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 4 sessions
Start: October 9, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online
Fiction, Novel

6-Week Novel Mentorship

Instructor: Anna Dorn. This workshop will help students structure, organize, and develop their novel, with assignments such as developing a three-act outline, producing the first and last pages, writing a query letter, and more.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Open to all levels
Length: 6 sessions
Start: October 9, 2023 , 12:00am PT
Format: Online Asynchronous
Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Novel

Book Lab

Instructor: Sonora Jha. Book Lab is a yearlong intensive class for writers seeking to revise, restructure, rethink, and finalize a book-length manuscript.

Course Status: Full
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Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Length: 10 sessions
Start: October 10, 2023 , 5:00pm PT
Format: Online