Yearlong in Songwriting
with Noah Zanella
Genres: Poetry, Writing for Performance
Online
Online Open to all levels
Open to all levels 30 Sessions
30 Sessions "I always say there is an entire education in writing on A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie." —Noah Zanella, instructor
We all have them: the songs we’ve played on repeat because they captured exactly how we felt, the mixtapes we made that said everything for us, the records we keep on hand for the day our lives finally catch up to them.
Many of the most enduring songs are, at heart, great writing set to music.
But what makes a well-written song? How do songs move us the way they do?
In this yearlong class, we'll approach songwriting as a literary form, reading lyrics as works of literature in their own right while examining the tools songwriters use to create meaning within individual songs and across an entire record.
Writers and poets interested in economy of language, musicality, imagery, compression, and experimentation will find just as much to explore as songwriters. After all, songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Joanna Newsom, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Sufjan Stevens, and Phil Elverum have shown that songs can be as ambitious and rich as any poem, essay, or novel.
No musical experience is required and you won’t be asked to sing, play an instrument, or read music. Whether you’re a seasoned songwriter, an aspiring lyricist, or simply curious about what lyric writing can teach about writing, this class offers a space to hone your craft and develop your ear for language.
Each month, we’ll close-listen to select records and write song lyrics of our own. We'll experiment with a range of approaches to songwriting, including writing from words first versus melody first, fragmentation and collage, abstraction, repetition, concrete narrative, non-narrative imagery, and more to discover what possibilities they unlock in our own work.
You’ll have the opportunity to share your raw and revised drafts and receive practical, line-by-line feedback from your instructor and peers. Lyrics may be shared as text on the page, performed live, or presented as a recorded demo, depending on your preference.
By the end of the course, you'll have a collection of song lyrics—whether you’re building toward an EP, a full album, a chapbook, or a larger project—along with a practiced revision process and a wealth of writing experiments to return to whenever you feel stuck.
Most of all, you’ll have spent the better part of a year training both your ear and your intuition, refining your sense of what moves you as a listener and, in turn, your ability to recognize when a line of your own needs reworking and when it’s doing exactly what you want it to do.
This class is best suited for writers open to a process-based approach that values exploration, experimentation, and discovery. It may not be the right fit for writers seeking a more linear, prescriptive approach.
Artists and records we’ll study in class include:
- Anais Mitchell: Hadestown
- The Beatles: Revolver and Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Big Thief: Capacity and Masterpiece
- Bob Dylan: Blonde on Blonde and Blood on the Tracks
- Bright Eyes: I’m Wide Awake Its Morning
- Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal
- Car Seat Headrest: Twin Fantasy and Teens of Denial
- Conor Oberst: Ruminations
- Courtney Barnett: Sea of Split Pees and Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit
- Daniel Johnston: Don’t Be Scared; Hi, How are You?; Songs of Pain; and Yip/Jump Music
- The Districts: Telephone
- Florist: Emily Alone and Florist
- Hurray for the Riffraff: Life on Earth
- Joanna Newsom: Milk Eyed Mender and Ys
- Jonathan Richman: I, Jonathan
- Joni Mitchell: Hejira
- Kool Keith: Dr. Octagon
- Lady Lamb: Ripely Pine
- Lupe Fiasco: Tetsuo and Youth
- Leonard Cohen: The Future
- Lou Reed: Berlin
- MF DOOM: Madvillainy
- The Microphones: The Microphones in 2020 and Mount Eerie
- Milo: Things that Happen at Day
- Modest Mouse: This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
- Mount Eerie: Night Palace and Sauna
- Nas: Illmatic
- Neko Case: Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
- Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
- Noname: Telefone and Room 25
- Of Montreal: Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies; Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer; Paralytic Stalks
- Paul Simon: Graceland
- Pavement: Brighten the Corners; Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain; Wowee Zowee
- Pixies: Doolittle, Surfer Rosa
- The Roots: Things Fall Apart
- Slothrust: Everyone Else, Of Course You Do, Parallel Timeline
- Songs, Ohia: Magnolia Electric Company
- Sonic Youth: Bad Moon Rising, Daydream Nation, and Dirty
- Soul Glo: Diaspora Problems
- St. Vincent: Actor
- Sufjan Stevens: Carrie and Lowell
- A Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory
- assorted works from Dan Reeder, Emperor X, The Mountain Goats, and more
This class focuses on:
- Creative Play & Exploration: Playful, experimental writing activities designed to break creative blocks and spark ideas.
- Close Reading & Analysis: Engaging deeply with published texts to examine craft, language, and style.
- Workshop: Students submit work and receive feedback from the instructor and/or classmates.
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).
- Lecture: Instructor-led teaching
- Class Discussion: Facilitated class conversation
- Prompts & Exercises: Class features guided writing activities.
- In-Class Writing Time: Class will include dedicated time to write.
- In-Class Sharing: Students are invited to share their writing aloud or in small groups during class.
- Instructor Feedback: Students receive direct feedback from the instructor.
- 2-3 hours of reading and/or writing outside of class per week.
Students say…
“I could listen to Noah talk about songwriting forever. He is so thoughtful and expansive while simultaneously specific, and his brain just worked for me. I really loved the combination of readings and active work. Getting feedback and also listening to the songs written by my classmates was extremely valuable. I'd never tried turning my poetry into songs before, and I think I may have a new writing love! It is great to have words to explain why a song is well-written. I truly loved taking this class and I'd love to take another class with Noah in the future. It doesn't hurt that we clearly have similar taste in music :)”
"Noah is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. The readings and prompts were great. The way the class was structured worked really well.”
“Noah is a very fun and knowledgeable instructor who brought a variety of perspectives and writing challenges for us to try. I also loved the dynamic and cohesion of our group. It was a very good writing experience and helped me explore new genres.”
“Noah isn't afraid to bring up and explore the really BIG ideas behind why we write and why it works and matters. Love that!!”
Registration Dates:
- August 11: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- August 18: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT
- August 25: Scholarships open
- August 30: Last day of Early Bird discount
This class is not eligible for a member discount. Learn more here »
Noah Zanella
I am a nonbinary writer and musician from Chicago. I have an MFA in Poetry from Columbia College Chicago. I was the recipient of the 2022 Elieen Lannan Academy of American Poets Prize. I'm trying not to miss it all.
Website: noahpzanella.wixsite.com/my-site
LinkedIn: Noah Zanella
Describe your teaching style!
My focus is always on generating work. No matter how far we get into the intellectual or the abstract, my approach is primarily concerned with the development of writing practices (what actually happens, day to day, as we show up to the page—how does the work get made?). There is also an emphasis on the training of one’s attention as being a part of the craft of writing. Henry James’s advice to writers: try to become one of those upon whom nothing is lost.
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.
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- Login to your account.
- Go to “My Account.”
- Select either the “Classes” or “Events” tab.
- 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.
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!
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