The post The Stories That Guide Us appeared first on Hugo House.

Join more than 500 fellow Hugo House writers who have transformed their writing journey with this course.

Are you an aspiring writer eager to embark on a fulfilling writing career? Don't waste time trying to figure it out on your own. The Writer's Welcome Kit is your ultimate guide to save 100 hours of hard work and worry, bridging the gap from aspiring writer to productive writer.

Discover a groundbreaking e-course that not only equips you with the essential knowledge but also provides access to the same resources used by seasoned professionals to achieve publication success.

Why Choose the Writer's Welcome Kit?

Comprehensive and Flexible Learning:

Delve into a six-week journey that covers crucial aspects of your writing life, presented in a 100-lesson e-course. Explore chapters on How to Start, Your Writing Practice, Your Reading Practice, Your Writer's Craft, Your Writing Business, and Your Writing Life.

Wisdom from the Best:

Gain invaluable insights from New York Times best-selling and award-winning authors, including Jess Walter, Claire Dederer, and Jane Wong, through exclusive audio interviews.

Practical Templates for Efficiency:

Embrace efficiency with 10 essential document and spreadsheet templates meticulously curated to jumpstart and manage your writing life. These templates mirror what seasoned writers use to stay productive throughout their careers.

Unlimited Access, Anywhere:

Embrace the freedom to learn at your own pace and from anywhere in the world. Whether you're on a desktop or mobile device, the Kit adapts to your schedule and preferences.

What You'll Get:

100 bookmarks:

Indispensable resources for writers, from literary magazines to online writing tools and free access to ebooks. Tap into a wealth of knowledge to elevate your writing career.

100 interactive flashcards:

Master grammar and literary devices like a seasoned pro. Our online flashcard app makes learning enjoyable and impactful, empowering you to wield language with confidence.

100 inspiring writing prompts:

Unlock the depths of your creativity and immerse yourself in your characters' voices with thought-provoking prompts. With endless possibilities, these prompts are your gateway to boundless writing potential.

Is This Kit Right for You?

The Writer's Welcome Kit benefits writers of all genres who are ready to embrace a dedicated and purposeful writing life. Whether you write fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, this course is tailored to elevate your writing journey to new heights.

Don't let your writing dreams linger any longer. Join the ranks of hundreds of thriving Hugo House writers who have already transformed their lives with the Writer's Welcome Kit.

Enroll now and pave your way to becoming the writer you've always aspired to be. The world is waiting to discover your voice – unleash your full writing potential today!

The post Writer’s Welcome Kit appeared first on Hugo House.

The freedom to design your life.

How long have you dreamed of working on your own schedule, without a boss, from anywhere you’d like to work? How great would it be to decide what time you wake up? How freeing would it be to choose who you work with and which projects you take on?

More people than ever are creating careers like this for themselves. Once you learn how to create a steady stream of clients through marketing and networking (without feeling salesy), you can as well. This course walks you through the habits and systems that will help you design your day, week, and months so that you can ultimately design your creative life. 

The 12-week course includes:

• 60 lessons to educate you on the business side of writing.
• 60 projects to complete, each an important step in setting up your systems.
• 30 templates to help you set up invoices, draft letters, and develop marketing content.
• Interviews with editors, successful freelance writers, and clients sharing their insights, successes, and advice.

The post Freelance Going Pro appeared first on Hugo House.

Registration dates: 

August 7: Scholarship Donation Day

August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am

August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am

August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing.

The post Beautiful Facts appeared first on Hugo House.

Payment plans are available for this class. Please email education@hugohouse.org to get a payment plan started.

Guest speakers: Three guest speakers will be featured, including 1) a middle grade author, 2) a YA author, and 3) a literary agent

Syllabus: Available by request. Please email welcome@hugohouse.org.

No class dates: 11/29/2023, 12/6/2023, 12/20/2023, 12/27/2023, 1/3/2023, 2/21/2023, 4/10/2023

Registration dates: 

August 7: Scholarship Donation Day

August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am

August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am

August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing

_______

CLASS FAQS WITH INSTRUCTOR KAREN FINNEYFROCK

Who is this class best suited for? How much writing experience do I need to take this class?

This class is open to all writers working on manuscripts intended for middle grade or young adult readers. I have had students in the class with completed drats and students starting with chapter one. It is useful to have an idea for your story before starting the class but not required. You will get the most benefit from the class if you generate at least 80 pages as we begin workshop in January.

What will I learn over the course of this yearlong?

You will learn or review the novel writing skills you need to complete your book: Concept, Genre, Story Structure, Voice, prose style & POV, Character, Conflict, Setting and Tone, Scene, Dialogue, Subtext & Tension, and Plot. You will learn what Kidlit readers, agents and editors are looking for. You will practice gripping your reader and increasing your tension as we work to make our books un-putdownable.

What's the balance of in-class generative writing, lecture, and workshop?

Lecture=30%, In-class generative writing=10%, Workshop=60%

How much time outside of class will I need for this class each week?

From October-December, all outside of class time will be for students to write their stories at their pace. Beginning with workshop in January, you will spend approximately three hours a week reading and commenting on work by other students.

How much feedback will I receive on my work, peer, or instructor?

You will get feedback in three forms: Big Group Workshop (two times, ten pages each time), Instructor Feedback (two editorial letters on big group submissions), and Small Group Workshop (more information feedback approximately 6-8 times.) In general, students get feedback on about 80 pages of work.

Who will we be reading?

Writers may include: Tracy Deonn, Tomi Adeyemi, Holly Black, Ruta Sepetys and Justina Ireland.

The post Yearlong in Young Adult & Middle Grade Fiction appeared first on Hugo House.

Registration dates: 

August 7: Scholarship Donation Day

August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am

August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am

August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing

The post You’ve Been Rejected, Now What? appeared first on Hugo House.

New start date: 10/16

New end date: 6/24

Sometimes you have a story to tell, and you don't know yet the genre in which it wants to be told. In this craft-focused class, we will read fiction, essays, autofiction, and memoir from around the globe. We will generate fresh writing, discuss roadblocks, find pathways, and workshop your pages as you work with the support of a cohort. You will find your voice, your story, your form. Sonora Jha draws on her experience as a novelist, an essayist, a memoirist, and a journalist to design exercises and writing prompts that work for your chosen genre. Get ready to spark both memory and imagination as you craft a compelling voice, unforgettable characters, vivid story arcs, distinct points of view, and complex narrative tension to write the story that is uniquely yours to tell. Expect to leave with a draft of a book or a strong revision.

Payment plans are available for this class. Please email education@hugohouse.org to get a payment plan started.

Guest speakers: Six guest speakers will be featured, including authors of fiction and memoir/essays and industry professionals, such as agents and editors/publishers

Syllabus: Available by request. Please email welcome@hugohouse.org.

No class dates: 12/18/23, 12/25/23, 1/1/24, 1/8/24, 1/15/24, 2/19/24, 5/27/24

Registration dates: 

August 7: Scholarship Donation Day

August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am

August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am

August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing

_______

CLASS FAQS WITH INSTRUCTOR SONORA JHA

Who is this class best suited for? How much writing experience do I need to take this class?

This is best suited for those who have started work on a book/writing project and are interested in generating more writing, learning more craft, workshopping their pages, receiving feedback from the instructor and cohort, learning from published authors and industry professionals, and learning where to submit their work for publication.

What will I learn over the course of this yearlong?

You will immerse yourself in the craft of storytelling, with lessons in plot, character, narrative tension, settings, description, dialogue, and other elements of storytelling for fiction and non-fiction. You will read excellent literature and learn from guest sessions by authors of those books. You will also learn how to pitch your work to agents and editors.

What's the balance of in-class generative writing, lecture, and workshop?

Typically, we have 45-60 minutes of lecture and discussion, 20 minutes of generative writing to prompts, and 30-40 minutes of workshopping.

How much time outside of class will I need for this class each week?

This depends on how much time you devote to writing from prompts handed out in class, reading the books prescribed, and workshopping. Typically, 2-6 hours will keep you on track with your project; more will help you make greater strides.

How much feedback will I receive on my work, peer, or instructor?

You will receive considerable feedback, with individual Zoom sessions each quarter with the instructor and in-class workshopping as well as peer groups set up for writing outside of class time (optional)

Who will we be reading?

In the past, students have read and had guest lectures from Megha Majumdar (A Burning), E J Koh (The Magical Language of Others), Aimee Nezhukumathatil (World of Wonders), Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (My Monticello), Putsata Reang (Ma and Me), and New York agents and editors.

The post Yearlong in Storytelling appeared first on Hugo House.

Payment plans are available for this class. Please email education@hugohouse.org to get a payment plan started.

Guest speaker: Heather Monley, O. Henry Award-winning short story writer

Syllabus: View sample syllabus here

No class dates: 10/31/2023, 12/19/2023, 12/26/2023, 1/2/2024, 1/9/2024, 4/2/2024, 4/9/2024

Registration dates: 

August 7: Scholarship Donation Day

August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am

August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am

August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing

_______

CLASS FAQS WITH INSTRUCTOR RAMÓN ISAO

Who is this class best suited for? How much writing experience do I need to take this class?

All levels are welcome! In seven years of teaching the class, I've had many students who have never written a story and many students who are more seasoned. The class is structured so that everyone can get plenty out of the experience. It's part of what makes the class interesting.

What will I learn over the course of this yearlong?

Jim Krusoe says that writing has three steps: Play, Look, and Fix. In this class, we'll go over the multitude of methods and practices of writing drafts (play), noticing what could be improved (look), and coming up with a plan of how to make it better (fix)., and figuring out ways to make it even better. Along the way we'll not only study elements of crafting good fiction, but putting those elements into practice, one by one, to make sure you can use them in your own writing.

What's the balance of in-class generative writing, lecture, and workshop?

Almost every week, we'll read one or two stories from classmates for whom we'll write and deliver constructive feedback. We'll often discuss an assigned reading. In addition, we'll go over an element of writing and practice its usage through prompts, and weird literary experiments.

How much time outside of class will I need for this class each week?

I'd say anywhere from 1-4 hours

How much feedback will I receive on my work, peer, or instructor?

You will submit at least 3 full stories for feedback from myself, and your peers, in workshop. Outside of workshop, we will also be sharing work in the form of literary experiments, or "prompts."

Who will we be reading?

As we progress through the class, I'll assign readings that get us talking and that highlight some techniques we can use in our own writing. These will likely include George Saunders, Sandra Cisneros, Carmen Maria Machado, Zadie Smith, Ottessa Moshfegh, Jamaica Kincaid, Donald Barthelme, Bryan Washington, Yukiko Motoya, Percival Everett, and so many more.

The post Yearlong in Short Story appeared first on Hugo House.

Payment plans are available for this class. Please email education@hugohouse.org to get a payment plan started.

Guest speaker: One guest speaker with expertise in publishing will visit the course.

Syllabus: View syllabus here

No class dates: 11/22/2023, 12/20/2023, 12/27/2023, 1/3/2024

Registration dates: 

August 7: Scholarship Donation Day

August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am

August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am

August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing

_______

CLASS FAQS WITH INSTRUCTOR RUTH JOFFRE

Who is this class best suited for? How much writing experience do I need to take this class?

Writers working in any genre within speculative fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, fabulism, new weird, etc.). All experience levels welcome.

What will I learn over the course of this yearlong?

Generative writing practices, revision strategies, worldbuilding, alternative workshop models, how to incorporate feedback, how to submit work for publication, general industry knowledge.

What's the balance of in-class generative writing, lecture, and workshop?

This class is built around workshop, but each class will hold space for goal check-ins, mini lectures, group discussions, and/or writing prompts.

How much time outside of class will I need for this class each week?

2 to 3 hours

How much feedback will I receive on my work, peer, or instructor?

Students will select the workshop format best suited to them. Generally, this involves a group discussion facilitated by the instructor, though students may choose to workshop in smaller groups or in alternative formats where the student leads discussion.

Who will we be reading?

Contemporary authors publishing speculative fiction today, including writers who have won or been nominated for Hugo, Nebula, Aurora, or World Fantasy Awards

The post Yearlong in Speculative Fiction appeared first on Hugo House.

Payment plans are available for this class. Please email education@hugohouse.org to get a payment plan started.

Guest speakers: TBD—published poets with a first or second book who are also likely teachers of poetry.

Syllabus: Available by request. Please email welcome@hugohouse.org.

No class dates: 10/25/2023, 11/22/2023, 12/27/23, 1/3/2024, 3/27/2024, 4/24/2024

Registration dates: 

August 7: Scholarship Donation Day

August 8: Member registration opens at 10:30 am

August 15: General registration opens at 10:30 am

August 21: Last day of Early Bird pricing

_______

CLASS FAQS WITH INSTRUCTOR DILRUBA AHMED

Who is this class best suited for? How much writing experience do I need to take this class?

This class is well suited for any student interested in a sustained study of poetic form. Students who typically write free verse will find their poetry is strengthened by learning more about the intersection of craft and content across poetic traditions. Participants should have past experience with providing constructive feedback on peer work (at least one workshop).

What will I learn over the course of this yearlong?

Through weekly readings, class discussions, and prompts, students will learn how to “read like a writer,” with a focus on poetic forms that have specific craft constraints and/or thematic traditions, Students will also learn how to provide constructive feedback on peer work while also getting periodic feedback on their own draft poems.

What's the balance of in-class generative writing, lecture, and workshop?

Using guiding questions specific to weekly readings, our class will devote the first hour of class to unpacking key aspects of the relationship between form and content. Classes are discussion-based with the expectation of student participant in small groups and whole class conversations. Workshop will take place weekly during the second hour of class, with a rotating schedule. In-class writing will be limited; however, students will receive weekly prompts inspired by class readings.

How much time outside of class will I need for this class each week?

Students should plan to spend about 60-90 minutes combined on class readings and peer comments for workshop. Time spent on weekly writing prompts varies.

How much feedback will I receive on my work, peer, or instructor?

We’ll focus more on “process” than “product” in this class; as such, this yearlong class provides a rich & supportive environment for growth, exploration, and experimentation with key craft strategies and poetic structures. Students will receive brief written comments from peers after each workshop turn. Instructor will provide verbal feedback during each workshop turn.

Who will we be reading?

Our reading list of poetic forms will focus largely on contemporary poets working within (and reinventing) traditional poetic forms, with acknowledgement of literary ancestors. Weekly readings will include a range of aesthetic approaches, with thought and care given to diverse representation. Readings will include work by (but not limited to) poets such as Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Ellen Bass, Ross Gay, Rick Barot, Safia Elhillo, torrin a. greathouse, Natasha Tretheway, Heather McHugh, Jericho Brown, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, and many, many others….

The post Yearlong in Poetry: A Study of Form appeared first on Hugo House.