Yearlong in Poetry II: Workshop
with Leigh Sugar
Genres: Poetry
Online
Advanced
30 Sessions
Whether you're continuing your poetry study and craft, working on a collection, or diving back into your writing, this yearlong workshop is designed for those who want to push their limits and grow within a supportive, accountable cohort.
Each week, we'll kick off with a close reading of a poem to uncover how the writer Did That. We’ll focus on contemporary poets, with an emphasis on poets of color, disabled poets, multi-lingual poets, queer poets, and experimental poets. Examples include Fady Joudah, CA Conrad, Shane McCrae, Claudia Rankine, Layli Long Soldier, Terrance Hayes, and Srikanth Reddy.
We'll also learn to approach form from a lens of curiosity, exploring when it’s effective to challenge or resist conventional forms, looking at how research can augment the creative process, and thinking about how these elements relate to our own practices—when to use them and when to eschew them in the service of our art.
Each week, we’ll workshop 5-6 writers’ pieces, with a focus on each writers’ personal goals rather than advancing a formula for what poetry “should be.” Bring new work, old drafts, or pieces in progress—everything is welcome.
Leave with at least 10 new poems, 20+ new starts, a wealth of prompts, and a vibrant community of poets to support and encourage you throughout your creative journey.
What to expect:
- Workshop: students submit work for critique from the teacher and class.
- Craft Discussion: teachers and students explore essential elements of the craft.
- Feedback from both peers and instructor.
- 2-3 hours of reading and/or writing outside of class.
Q&A with instructor Leigh Sugar:
Who is this class best suited for? How much writing experience do I need to take this class?
This class is best suited for writers looking for community, gentle structure, and generative support. In this workshop, we resist ideas of "good" and "bad" and instead focus on the making process and curiosity around our own work and that of our peers. This yearlong workshop is for folks interested in pursuing MFAs, those who recently (or not so recently!) finished/left their writing programs, those working on long-term projects, those who've abandoned projects and want some help in reentering the writing world, and those who simply want to write a lot and be around others who also want to write a lot.
Sessions will be more focused on workshopping our own poems and developing our unique critical language to discuss poetics rather than learning new forms or introducing poetic tools. It's recommended that you feel comfortable sharing your work and are excited about digging into workshop without a lot of scaffolding around what workshop means, and that you're comfortable with basic terms we use to discuss poems.
What will I learn over the course of this yearlong?
The *loose* themes guiding this class include form, not-form (anti-form?), and research. We will explore these ideas not so much as explicit prompts (though sometimes they may be), but more as general elements of making: Which forms do we gravitate towards? What do these forms communicate, perhaps unconsciously, to the reader? How can we use form to destabilize the reader's expectations? How might we resist form?
Along with those questions, this is also a generative, supportive workshop. You are welcome to engage as much or as little with these topics as serves you. Most important is the community we form and the creativity and curiosity stoked to generate new work and re-engage retired pieces.
What's the balance of in-class generative writing, lecture, and workshop?
Generative writing – around 15-20 minutes; lecture (reading & discussion) – 15-20 minutes; workshop ~80 minutes
How many times can I expect to be workshopped?
10-12 times, depending on class size.
How much feedback will I receive on my work? Will it be from peers or my instructor?
Per-workshop feedback from instructor and peers; opportunity to speak further with instructor (or peers, if they want!) via email or Zoom
Who will we be reading?
Mostly contemporary poets with heavy emphasis on Black poets, poets of color, disabled poets, multi-lingual poets, queer poets, and experimental poets. Some examples include Fady Joudah, CA Conrad, Shane McCrae, Claudia Rankine, Layli Long Soldier, Terrance Hayes, Srikanth Reddy, and many more!
What will I come out of this yearlong with?
At LEAST 10 new poems, including at least 2 edited versions. Additional notes for new poems from in-class exercises. A community of writers to support and encourage you as you move forward in your creative life!
Anything else you want your students to know?
As a facilitator, I understand my role not as the “expert,” but as a person to observe and guide the group, provide resources, offer ideas and feedback, participate, and step in to guide should the need arise. I’m most interested in learning with you, and being in this poetry cocoon together!
Students say…
“Leigh is generous and an excellent facilitator. Learning with her feels like experiencing the now and future of poetry.”
“[Leigh] is fabulous! And I look forward to taking anything else that she offers!!”
Learn better in person? Don’t miss Yearlong in Poetry with Bill Carty.
Registration Dates:
- August 13: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- August 20: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- September 1: Last day of Early Bird discount
This class is not eligible for a member discount. Learn more here »
Payment plans are available for classes with 8+ sessions. Email education@hugohouse.org to inquire about payment plan options.
Leigh Sugar
Leigh holds an MFA from NYU. She has taught at CUNY, NYU, Poetry Foundation, and more. Leigh’s debut collection is FREELAND (Alice James, 2025), and she edited "That's a Pretty Thing to Call It: Artists teaching in prisons" (NVP, 2023).
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.
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We charge a 5% nonrefundable administrative fee for all payment plans.
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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.
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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.
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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. 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.
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