Writing for Procrastinators
with Beth Slattery
Genres: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, The Writing Life, Reading, Memoir, Young Adult/Children's Lit, Novel, Short Story, Essay, Writing for Performance
Online
Online Open to all levels
Open to all levels 8 Sessions
8 Sessions In stock
If you love writing but somehow end up deep-cleaning your kitchen instead of opening your draft, you’re not alone. No, you’re not broken: You’re just a writer with a complicated relationship to momentum.
This honest, supportive eight-week class is designed for anyone who puts off doing the thing they want to do most: write. Whether you’re stuck on a project or stuck in a pattern, we’ll help you shift out of the loop with insight, structure, and sneaky joy. Together, we’ll explore why we procrastinate (hint: it’s not laziness) and how to build a writing practice that works with your brain, not against it.
Through weekly reflections, curated readings (Brenda Ueland, Elizabeth Gilbert, Steven Pressfield, and more), and trauma-informed, ADHD-aware strategies, you’ll learn how to unblock yourself gently but effectively. You’ll choose a short personal project to focus on and receive individualized instructor feedback to help you carry it through—one step at a time.
Each session includes group discussion, practical tools to overcome writing procrastination, and at least 20 minutes of in-class writing time.
You’ll leave with more than just a finished draft of a project you’ve been avoiding—you’ll have a toolkit for building accountability, compassion, and sustainable writing habits.
Most importantly, you’ll have proof that you can do this, again and again. No shame. No pressure. Just progress.
Perfect for writers who struggle with motivation or distraction and want a fresh, humane way to reconnect with their work and writing process.
This Class Focuses On:
- Generative Writing: Focuses on producing new writing through prompts and exercises.
- Writing Life & Process: Focuses on developing writing habits, overcoming procrastination, or sustaining creative momentum.
What to Expect:
- Goal Setting & Accountability: Includes tools or practices to help students stay motivated.
- Project-Based: Students will work toward completing a specific project (e.g., a story, poem, or essay).
- Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation.
- Prompts & Exercises: Class features guided writing activities.
- In-Class Writing Time: Class will include dedicated time to write.
- Work Outside of Class: 1–2 hours of writing or reading outside of class per week.
Students say…
“Beth is an excellent instructor for all types of writers and very kind, fair, patient w/ students who like to talk a lot in comparison to others. The personality test tie-in to procrastination was very helpful, plus just learning how many books exist on the subject for beating writing blues.”
“Beth knows her stuff so, so well. She knows when to encourage, when someone needs gentleness, when they need a more firm hand, and most importantly she knows *how* to do all these things. Each week's reading was well chosen and had something interesting and important to impart. The discussions always left me with something to think about. I could go on, but most importantly, I appreciated Beth's personal touch. Having an instructor who cares about you as a writer, even though there are so many people in the class, and who will give tailored feedback and advice, makes all the difference.”
Registration Dates:
- May 20: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- May 27: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- June 1: Last day of Early Bird discount
- June 3: Scholarship applications open at 10:30 am PT
Beth Slattery
Beth Slattery moved to Seattle after eighteen years of teaching creative writing and literature at Indiana University East. Since her relocation, she has been writing and editing. Beth is currently working on a collection of personal essays about her mid-life marriage to a Zimbabwean, a move from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, and a reluctant acceptance of the call to adventure. Her most recent publications appear in Assay: A Journal of Nonfiction Studies and Southern Women’s Review. Beth’s recent editing work includes being a “beta” reader for an author with a multi-book publishing contract, content and copy editing of a personal essay collection, and providing comprehensive editing services on an edited academic volume that was later published by Oxford University Press. She has an M.A. in fiction writing from Miami University and an M.F.A. in creative nonfiction from the University of Southern Maine—Stonecoast.
Describe your teaching style.
I'm a firm believer that we learn best when we discuss subjects, ask big questions (that sometimes don't have answers), and then apply that new knowledge (or questions) to our writing. In other words: we talk a lot; we write a lot. Added bonus: we have fun.
FAQ
Complete FAQEach 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.
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.
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.
-
We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.
-
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 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 policy 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.
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.
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.
Make a Donation
Donations made throughout the year help fund our programs and operations.
