Classes

Nonfiction, Memoir, Essay

  • Term: Spring 2023
  • Start Date: April 17, 2023
  • End Date: June 5, 2023
  • Day of Week:
  • Time: 12:00am - 12:00am PT
  • Level: Introductory
  • Audience: Adult
  • Location: Online Asynchronous
  • Availability: Yes
  • Public Price: $395.00
  • Member Price: $355.50

Learn About Scholarships

Telling Life Stories

So you want to tell your story—but how? Is memoir your best option, or are you more interested in a personal essay? This class offers you the chance to try out several genres in creative nonfiction—from memoir to lyricism, nature writing to travel writing—as you develop your voice. You’ll read contemporary authors—from David Sedaris to Michelle Zauner, Isabel Wilkerson to Pico Iyer—and try out several short, exploratory assignments in nonfiction.

Registration dates:

March 13: Scholarship Donation Day (Learn more.)

March 14: Member registration opens

March 21: General registration opens

What to Expect from an Asynchronous Class with Hugo House:

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!

Susan Meyers

Susan Meyers

She/Her/Hers

With 25+ years of experience coaching authors and teaching at four top-ranked universities, Susan V. Meyers currently directs the Creative Writing Program at Seattle University. She holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a PhD from the University of Arizona, and has been a writer in residence at more than a dozen different arts centers nationally and internationally. Both her nonfiction book on immigration and her circus-centered historical novel, Failing the Trapeze, have won major awards, including the Nilsen Award and grants from the Fulbright Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, 4Culture, Artist Trust, and the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. Her essays and stories have likewise been nominated for The Best American Series and several Pushcart Prizes and have recently appeared in Creative Nonfiction, The Rumpus, Calyx, Hippocampus, and The Minnesota Review. You can find her at susanvmeyers.com