📚✨ Take your book from draft to submission-ready manuscript at Book Lab 📝🧐 Learn more & apply now through Aug. 16 ☀️‼️

Book Lab (Virtual)

with Sonora Jha

Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Memoir, Novel, Short Story, Essay

Online

Intermediate, Advanced

16 Sessions

Start Date: September 23, 2026
End Date: June 16, 2027
No Class: (skip days) 11/25/2026
Day of Week: Wednesday
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm PT
Capacity: 8 seats
General Price: $6800.00

Enrollment in Book Lab is by application only. Priority applications open Saturday, August 1 and close Sunday, August 16 at 11:59 pm PT. Applications received after August 16 will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the program fills. 

👉 Click here to apply to the 2026-27 Book Lab Cohort

Fall Cohort Dates: 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2/2026 (No class: 11/25)

Winter & Spring Cohort Dates (Tentative): 1/13, 2/10, 3/10, 4/7, 5/5, 6/2/2027

— 

You’ve finished a draft of your book: that’s no small feat. 

You may even have revised, reworked, and wrestled with it—more than once. You’ve taken your manuscript as far as you can on your own, but you know it needs more work before it’s ready to submit for publication or agent consideration.

Book Lab is Hugo House's nine-month manuscript incubator, designed to help writers transform a completed draft into a submission-ready manuscript. Through mentorship from award-winning and bestselling authors, individualized feedback, and a supportive cohort of fellow writers, you'll strengthen your manuscript, refine your vision, and prepare your work for submission.

You’ll leave with a thoroughly revised manuscript, a draft of your query letter, a personalized submission strategy, and an actionable roadmap for next steps.

Book Lab is offered in two cohorts: 

  • In-Person with Tara Conklin (Tuesdays, 7:10 PM – 9:10 PM, starting September 22)
  • Online with Sonora Jha (Wednesdays, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, starting September 23)

Book Lab is by application only. 

Is Book Lab Right for Me?

Book Lab is designed for writers who have a completed or nearly completed first draft of a book-length manuscript and are committed to preparing their work for publication and/or querying agents. 

Applicants should be ready to spend nine months engaging deeply with their book project, incorporating feedback, and writing and revising toward a submission-ready manuscript. 

Book Lab is open to writers of all prose genres working on a book-length project, including literary fiction, commercial fiction, genre fiction (romance, fantasy, historical, horror, speculative, etc.), nonfiction, memoir, essay, short story collection, hybrid, and more. 

Book Lab warmly welcomes writers of all backgrounds. You do not need an MFA or previous formal writing instruction to apply for this program. We especially welcome voices that have historically been excluded from traditional publishing spaces. 

Program Overview

Months 1–3: Assess & Plan

You’ll begin with a ten-session weekly intensive designed to review core storytelling principles and help you evaluate your manuscript as a whole. Together, we’ll identify your project’s strengths, clarify what it's asking for, develop a revision plan, and address key craft challenges as you learn alongside your cohort.

Months 4–9: Revise & Prepare

With a revision plan in hand, the remainder of the program is devoted to sustained individual revision and includes:

  • A full editorial read of your manuscript from your mentor, including a detailed editorial letter, margin notes, and line edits (where appropriate). 
  • Monthly cohort meetings to workshop scenes, exchange feedback, and stay accountable (meeting dates and times will be determined by each cohort).
  • Four one-on-one meetings with your mentor to troubleshoot, discuss your project, and share your progress.
  • Craft and industry talks from published authors and agents to deepen your understanding of the publication process and the professional writing life.
  • Professional preparation, including pitch practice and guidance around publication goals, whether you’re pursuing Big Five publishers,small presses, or alternative publishing paths.
  • Dedicated writing time and space to sustain your momentum.
  • An end-of-year reading to celebrate your project and the progress you’ve made over the last nine months.

You’ll also get:                                                                        

  • Access to a private Discord community where you can stay connected with your mentors and fellow Book Lab writers throughout the program.
  • Two years of Hugo House membership, which grants early access to and discounts on creative writing classes. 
  • Two years of discounted Hugo House coaching services.

You’ll end the program with:

  • A thoroughly revised manuscript.
  • A draft of your query letter.
  • A personalized submission strategy.
  • A clear, actionable roadmap for what comes next.

How to Apply

  • To apply, you’ll submit three short pieces: 
  • A short bio (350 words max): Tell us about yourself, your writing journey, and any struggles you're currently facing in your writing life. 
  • A project synopsis (500 words max): Give us the big picture of your book project. 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 count—or your best guess. 
  • Your project status (250 words max): Where is your project in the writing process with regard to drafting, revising, and/or reimagining? What challenges or roadblocks are you experiencing with your manuscript? How many rounds of revision have you completed on your manuscript, if any? 
  • A 3–5 page writing sample from your manuscript: Send us the pages that best reflect what you’re working on—whether it’s a novel, memoir, short story collection, or a hybrid-style manuscript. We’re looking for a sense of your voice, your vision, and where you might want to go next. 

Key Dates

  • Priority applications open Saturday, August 1 and close Sunday, August 16 at 11:59 pm PT 
  • Applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the program fills.  
  • Applicants will be notified starting Monday, August 24 
  • In-Person Book Lab with Tara Conklin starts on Tuesday, September 22.
  • Online Book Lab with Sonora Jha starts on Wednesday, September 23.

Book Lab tends to fill quickly. If Book Lab sounds like the right next step for you and your project, we recommend applying early. 

Tuition for Book Lab is $6,800. Payment plans are available. Unfortunately, we do not offer scholarships for Book Lab at this time.

👉 Click here to apply to the 2026-27 Book Lab Cohort

ďťżStudents 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 readings 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 whether you're working in fiction or non-fiction. I can't recommend it highly enough.”

–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. 

Sonora Jha

Sonora Jha

she/her/hers

Sonora Jha is the author of four books, including the novel The Laughter, winner of the 2024 Washington State Book Award. Her previous books are the novel Foreign (2013) and the memoir How To Raise A Feminist Son (2021). 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. Sonora’s work has been featured in The 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, Intemperance, will be out from Harper Via in October 2025.

FAQ

Complete FAQ

Each class description includes a breakdown of what you can expect in terms of in-class activity, feedback, and homework (if any). 

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. 

Reading means you’ll be doing close reading of a work with an eye toward craft. 

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. 

Introductory: This is your first creative writing workshop, first writing class since high school, or first foray into a new genre or form. You’re 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. You’re 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: You’ve written a significant body of work and have taken it through several stages of revision. You’re getting ready to publish or are in the early stage of publishing, and you’re 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.

Zoom information for both classes and events are now available in your account.

  1. Login to your account.
  2. Go to “My Account.”
  3. Select either the “Classes” or “Events” tab.
  4. Click on your upcoming class or event to view the Zoom details.

You’ll also receive an email including Zoom information three days before the first day of class.

If you have any questions please contact us at welcome@hugohouse.org  

Write With Hugo House is our free monthly write-in program that takes place online via Zoom.  

We also have payment plans available for most of our classes. These payment plans are available to all students. Additionally, we offer partial scholarships (covering up to 40% of class tuition) for students who meet our income guidelines.  

Lastly, we announce flash sales, early bird periods, and special deals through our e-newsletter; sign up at the bottom of this page. 

 

Our payment plan policy: 

Payment plans are available for all classes and can be purchased through our website. To register for a payment plan, select “Pay in installments” on the class details page, select your preferred option, and proceed to add to cart usual. The following policy applies to all payment plans:

  • We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.
  • The administrative fee is calculated based on the general class price. Discounts through memberships, coupons, scholarships, gift cards, or other promotions do not affect the administrative fee.
  • Extended payment plans up to 8 monthly installments and 16 semi-monthly installments are available upon request.
  • We are unable to hold seats for prospective payment plan students. Students will be enrolled once their first installment has been paid.
  • 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.
  • 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. You’ll 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 website 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 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 policy here.

To request a refund for class credit, please note such in the message section of your refund request.

In general, we do not record classes. However, an exception can be made with instructor approval if a student has specific access needs.

We encourage students to only sign up for classes that fit with their schedule.   

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 clicking 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 “Request a Scholarship” text on class pages. The scholarship request text is located at the top of each class page, underneath the “add to cart” button.

Scholarship application dates can be found in our Academic Calendar. 

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 you’re interested in contributing your skills, Hugo House accepts volunteer applications for a variety of roles, including event support, administrative tasks, and more. Learn more on our Volunteer page. 

Finally, becoming a member is an excellent way to support Hugo House and our mission. 

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