Book Lab (Virtual)
with Sonora Jha
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Novel
Online
Online Intermediate, Advanced
Intermediate, Advanced 10 Sessions
10 Sessions Enrollment in Book Lab is through application only. Priority applications open Monday, July 21, and close Sunday, August 17 at 11:59 pm PT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting Monday, August 18βuntil the program fills.Β
👉 Click here to apply to the 2025-26 Book Lab Cohort.
No class: 11/26/2025Β
Winter & Spring Cohort Dates (Tentative): 1/7/2026, 2/11/2026, 3/11/2026, 4/8/2026, 5/6/2026, 6/3/2026Β
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Youβve finished a draft. Thatβs no small thing.Β
Itβs a little messyβthere are plot holes, chapters labeled βfix this later,β and whole sections you pretend not to see. But it exists. You made a book.Β
Now youβre staring into the space between finished and publishable, and the gap feels enormous:Β
How do I know if itβs ready? What does ready even look like?Β
Book Lab is a nine-month intensive for writers whoβve completed (or nearly completed) a draft of a novel, short story collection, memoir, nonfiction, or hybrid manuscript and are asking: What now?Β Β
Whether you're preparing to publish or refining your story into the best version of itself, this program offers mentorship, structure, and community to help you take the next step in your book journey.Β Β
Book Lab is by application only. You donβt need an MFA or a perfect manuscript to participate in Book Lab. But you do need a project you believe in, and the readiness to take your work seriously.Β
Over the course of Book Lab, you will:Β
- Work with a dedicated mentorβa published author who meets you where you are and pushes you toward your end goal. Theyβll read your entire manuscript, provide detailed feedback, and help you build a personalized revision roadmap. Whether youβre restructuring your plot, deepening emotional stakes, or fine-tuning line edits, theyβll help you strengthen and polish your draft.Β
- Learn alongside a small, committed cohort of fellow writers who are also in the thick of it. Youβll write together, workshop monthly, share progress, swap strategies andβmost importantlyβcheer each other on.Β
- Get smart about the industry. Youβll explore the publishing world: how it works, where your book fits, and how to move forward with confidence. And learn to pitch your work, write an effective query letter, and develop a strategy for next stepsβwhether you're planning to query agents, submit to small presses, or explore alternative publishing routes.Β
Youβll also get:Β
- A $500 professional development stipend to use on:Β
- A second read by a published authorΒ
- One-on-one sessions with a Hugo House coach or consultantΒ
- Hugo House classes of your choiceΒ
- A one-year Hugo House membership (or extension of an existing membership)Β
- Access to a private Book Lab Slack space to connect with your cohort between sessionsΒ
Youβll leave Book Lab with:Β
- A thoroughly revised manuscriptΒ
- A draft of your query letterΒ
- A personalized submission strategyΒ
- A clear, actionable roadmap for what comes next.Β
Program Schedule
Youβll start in the fall with a ten-week course: part welcome wagon, part story lab. This is where youβll meet your cohort, share your project, and begin charting your revision path. Expect guided readings, craft conversations, and light critique designed to prepare you for deep-dive manuscript work.Β
In the winter and spring, youβll move into focused revision and long-haul strategy. That includes:Β
- A full editorial read of your manuscript from your mentor, including a detailed editorial letter, margin notes, and line edits (where appropriate)Β
- Monthly cohort meetings to workshop scenes, swap feedback, and stay accountableΒ
- Four one-on-one mentor sessions to troubleshoot, talk about your project, and celebrate progressΒ
- Guest talks and craft lessons to sharpen your revision skills and deepen your industry insightΒ
- A revised draft, a working query letter, a clear path forwardβand a community of fellow writers cheering for your project.Β
Is Book Lab Right for Me?Β
Book Lab is open to writers of all genres and backgrounds, and weβre especially excited to support voices that have historically been excluded from traditional publishing spaces. Weβre looking for:Β
- Writers with a completed or nearly completed draft of a book-length manuscript (fiction, memoir, nonfiction, or hybrid)Β
- Writers ready to revise, experiment, and commit to their project for the long-haul.Β
If you said yes to the above, but still find yourself asking, Am I ready? The answer: You are.Β
How to Apply
To apply, youβll submit three short pieces:Β
- A short bio (250 words max): In 250 words or less, tell us who you are, what your writing journey to date has looked like so far, and any struggles you're currently facing in your writing life.Β
- A project synopsis (500 words max): Give us the big picture of your book. What genre are you working in? What story are you trying to tell? Where are you in the process (drafting, revising, reimagining)? Include the current word countβor your best guess.Β
- A 3β5 page writing sample from your manuscript: Send us the pages that best reflect what youβre working onβwhether itβs a novel, memoir, short story collection, or a hybrid-style manuscript. Weβre looking for a sense of your voice, your vision, and where you might want to go next.Β
This process helps us get to know you as a writer, your project, and your goals so we can place you in the cohort that best supports your growth. Weβre not looking for polished perfectionβjust an honest reflection of you and your work.Β
Important Dates:Β Β
- Priority applications open Monday, July 21, and close Sunday, August 17 at 11:59 pm PTΒ
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting Monday, August 18βuntil the program fills.Β Β
- Applicants will begin receiving decisions on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.Β
- In Person Book Lab with Tara Conklin starts on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 7:10 pm PTΒ Β
- Virtual Book Lab with Sonora Jha starts on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 5:00 pm PTΒ
Book Lab tends to fill quickly. If this sounds like the right next step for you, we recommend applying early.Β
Important NotesΒ
- This is an application-based program.Β Β
- Winter & Spring cohort meeting dates are tentative and subject to change.Β
- Payment plans are available. Students may choose to pay in 5 monthly or 10 semi-monthly installments.Β
- There are no refunds once the class beginsβplease apply only if you can commit fully.Β
Click here to apply to the 2025-26 Book Lab Cohort.
ο»ΏStudents Say…
"It was great to get connected with a writing community and see the writing life of other writers. Sonora's insights and wisdom were a highlight. I learned how to mature my craft, learned a lot about the publishing industry, and gained the confidence that my project is actually something I could publish."
–Anonymous, Book Lab 24-25
Sonora Jha and Hugo House's Book Lab was exactly what I needed to get my manuscript over the finish line. The careful readingsΒ and helpful editorial suggestions combined with invaluable insights from Sonora and other talented guest speakers will help you get over that mountain peak between writing and publication. The class is collaborative, supportive and gives you an instant writing community whetherΒ you're working in fiction or non-fiction. I can't recommend it highly enough.β
–Dr. Wendy Johnson, Book Lab 23-24, Author of The Coyote and the Cottonwood: How Kinship and Connection Can Heal the Earth and Ourselves (tentative title) forthcoming August 5, 2025 from North Atlantic Books.Β
Sonora Jha
Sonora Jha is the author of four books, including the novelΒ The Laughter, winner of the 2024 Washington State Book Award. Her previous books are the novelΒ ForeignΒ (2013) and the memoirΒ HowΒ To Raise A Feminist SonΒ (2021).Β After a career as a journalist covering crime, politics, and culture in India and Singapore, she moved to the United States to earn a Ph.D. in media and public affairs. Sonoraβs work has been featured inΒ TheΒ New York Times, on the BBC, in literary anthologies, and elsewhere. She is a Loyola Endowed Professor at Seattle University and lives in Seattle. Her new novel,Β Intemperance, will be out from Harper Via in October 2025.
FAQ
Complete FAQEach 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. Youβre 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. Youβre 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: Youβve written a significant body of work and have taken it through several stages of revision. Youβre getting ready to publish or are in the early stage of publishing, and youβre 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.
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We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.Β
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Extended payment plans up to 8 monthly installments and 16 semi-monthly installments are available upon request.
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We are unable to hold seats for prospective payment plan students. Students will be enrolled once their first installment has been paid.Β
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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
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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. Youβll 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 βRequest a Scholarshipβ text on class pages. The scholarship request text is located at the top of each class page, underneath the βadd to cartβ 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 youβre 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.
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