creative writing workshops seattle

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Hugo House is a nonprofit literary arts organization that aims to make writing accessible. Everyone has a story to tell. Whether you’re a new writer wanting to learn, an experienced author seeking a supportive environment to share your work, or a reader looking for new books to love—at Hugo House, you’ll find ways to explore your creativity, whatever your interest or budget.

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Whether you’re struggling to write your first poem or have a few novels under your belt, Hugo House offers classes, workshops, and other programs to help you achieve your writing goals. Our classes are taught by published writers who are also stellar teachers. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. What they all have in common: a love of words.

Exploring Chapbooks

Instructor: Bill Carty. This class will combine readings, discussions, and workshops of chapbooks, studying both contemporary and historical collections.

Upcoming Events

Works in progress (virtual), an evening with mathias svalina, write with hugo house with alma garcía, write with hugo house with jeanine walker, a special event with steve almond: how to conquer writer’s block and the other evil voices inside you.

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Jenne Hsien Patrick, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Neena Viel, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Celeste Chan, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Adelle Dimitui, 2023-24 Hugo Fellow Mid-Year Check In

Featured free resource, open mic events.

Works in Progress is Hugo House’s semi-monthly writing open mic series inclusive of diverse formats. Read your work—poetry, fiction, essays, memoirs, plays, music, comedy, and more—and connect with your literary community.

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7 Best Creative Writing Classes in Seattle

Showing 7 courses that match your search.

Three-Day Critique Workshop

Cascade Writers

This workshop offers a unique opportunity for writers to submit up to 4000 words of their work for critique in a group setting, led by industry professionals including Arley Sorg and Cat Rambo. The program includes pitch sessions to an agent, one-hour workshops, and panel presentations on various writing and publishing topics. It's a chance to polish the first pages and chapters of your project, with optional casual gatherings to network with other writers, editors, and agents​​​​.

Website: https://cascadewriters.com/2024-three-day-critique-workshop/

Categories: Science Fiction and Fantasy

Start date:

Prerequisites: 4000 words of your novel, short story, or whatever project you are working on.

Business Writing: Proposals, Reports & Documents

Professional & Continuing Education

This 7-week online course is perfect for technical and non-technical professionals looking to advance their careers through well-crafted business narratives, proposals, and reports. With no formal admission requirements, it caters to individuals with foundational English writing skills and familiarity with style guides. The course, priced at $949, emphasizes clear, concise writing, document structure, audience consideration, and effective editing, requiring a weekly commitment of 7 to 9 hours.

Website: https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/business-writing-reports-p...

Categories: Business

Open all year round

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Writing Children's Literature

Explore the enchanting world of children's picture books in this 9-week online course. Ideal for those keen on writing for children, it covers the unique challenges of this genre, blending text and illustration. You'll learn about story structure, narrative voice, and the art of revising work. The course promises practical experience in drafting a picture book, requiring a weekly commitment of 7 to 9 hours​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.

Website: https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/writing-childrens-literatu...

Categories: Kids

How to Write a Novel

Your story matters. Unlock your potential with daily video lessons from bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley, and finish your first draft in just 3 months. Learn more →

Fiction Writing: The Novel

Dive into the intricacies of novel writing with this 9-week online course. It's tailored for intermediate to advanced fiction writers working on novels or story collections. The curriculum includes enhancing prose, structuring novels, and creating compelling scenes, with an expected weekly commitment of 7 to 9 hours. The course emphasizes practical application, aiming to produce polished prose and a structured plan for your book​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.

Website: https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/fiction-writing-the-novel

Categories: Book and Fiction

Prerequisites: Experienced writers who are finishing (or currently working on) a publishable work.

The Art of Writing

This online course, spanning 9 to 10 weeks, is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their writing skills, from beginners to more experienced writers. Focusing on fundamental writing principles and practices, it covers key aspects like crafting strong sentences, showing versus telling, language refinement, and effective editing. The course, which is part of a certificate program, also delves into using strong nouns and verbs, maintaining tension, and amplifying conflict in writing.

Website: https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/the-art-of-writing

How to Get Published

Seattle Writing Workshop

This one-day intensive workshop, scheduled for May 11, 2024, offers a comprehensive guide on getting published. Open to writers of all genres, it features classes on writing, publishing, and marketing, with options for one-on-one pitches to literary agents. It's an in-person event at the Seattle Convention Center, ideal for aspiring authors seeking publication​​​​​​.

Website: https://theseattlewritingworkshop.com/

Categories: Publishing

Screenwriting 101

Rekindle School

Taught by an independent Seattle filmmaker, this class covers the screenplay writing process, including structure, identifying target audiences, and marketing. Students will practice writing scenes and short scripts and receive feedback on their work. The course spans four Monday sessions at $150, offering practical knowledge and writing experience.

Website: https://www.classesandworkshops.com/writing-classes/class...

Categories: Screenplay

So you’re looking for creative writing classes in Seattle

Looking to sharpen your writing skills? You’re in the right place. Join a creative writing class in Seattle to get a headstart to finally finish that novel that you’ve been dreaming about for years.

This directory of the best writing courses in Seattle is meant to help you locate the right one for yourself.  We’ve included filters for price and genre so that you can quickly sort through the writing classes. And before you commit to any one writing class, consider the following questions:

• Who is the instructor?
• What is the price of the writing course?
• How far away is the writing course in Seattle? Is there a remote alternative?
• How long could the course last?

Got any questions about finding the right writing class in Seattle for you? Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . Good luck!

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The 2024 Seattle Writing Workshop

Get your writing published: may 11, 2024, the 2024 seattle writing workshop: may 11, 2024.

This writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (200 total). All questions about the event regarding schedule, details and registration are answered below. Thank you for your interest in the 2024 Seattle Writing Workshop! We are very proud of our many success stories where attendees sign with agents following events — see our growing list of success stories here .

(Please note that this is an in-person event. We at Writing Day Workshops plan both online/virtual as well as in-person events. This next SWW is an in-person event happening in Seattle on May 11, 2024. See you there.)

WHAT IS IT?

This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Seattle Marriott Bellevue. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. Writers of all genres are welcome.

This event is designed to squeeze as much into one day of learning as possible. You can ask any questions you like during the classes, and get your specific concerns addressed. We will have literary agents onsite to give feedback and take pitches from writers, as well. This year’s agent and editor faculty so far includes:

• literary agent Kesia Lupo (The Bindery)
• literary agent Katie Reed (Andrea Hurst Literary)
• literary agent Lisa Gouldy (Corvisiero Literary)
• literary agent Adria Goetz (KT Literary)
• literary agent Alisha West (Victress Literary)
• literary agent Jynastie Wilson (LCS Literary Services)
• literary scout Rae Loverde (Donald Maass Literary Agency)
• literary agent Leslie Varney (Prentis Literary)
• literary agent Micah Brocker (Corvisiero Literary)
• literary agent Kate Rogers (K.O. Media Management)
• literary scout Kate MacGregor (MacGregor & Luedeke Literary)
• literary agent Scott Eagan (Greyhaus Literary)
• editor Tess Jones (Egret Lake Books)
• and possibly more to come.

By the end of the day, you will have all the tools you need to move forward on your writing journey. This independent event is organized by coordinator Chuck Sambuchino of Writing Day Workshops , with local help with the amazing Seattle Writers Meetup . E-mail Chuck to register for the event at [email protected] and tell him you’re interested in the Seattle event specifically.

EVENT LOCATION & DETAILS:

9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 11, 2024 — at the Seattle Marriott Bellevue, 200 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.

THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS (MAY 11, 2024):

What you see below is a quick layout of the day’s events. The topics below are mostly set, but subject to change. You can see a more detailed layout of the day’s classes on the Schedule Page here .

Please Note: There will be 2-3 classes/workshops going at all times during the day, so you will have your choice of what class you attend at any time. The final schedule of topics is subject to change, but here is the current layout:

8:30 – 9:30: Check-in and registration at the event location.

BLOCK ONE: 9:30 – 10:30

1. Revising the Memoir Manuscript . While revision is vital for any genre, in addition to meticulous attention to writing craft, memoir writers must navigate unique challenges and more complicated personal considerations.

2.Knock ’em Dead: Tips on Writing Mystery, Thriller, and Crime . Beginning with understanding the kind of novel that will be the best vehicle for your idea (mystery vs thriller?), this workshop will help you develop your own best process to write your book, offer tips on staying focused, and give pointers on effective editing.

3. Understanding the Publishing Industry in 2024 — From Hybrid Publishing to Artificial Intelligence and Everything in Between. How are traditional publishing and self-publishing changing? What kind of writer is attractive to an agent currently? What is hybrid publishing? How will A.I. (artificial intelligence) help or hurt writers in the years to come? All these questions, and more, will be addressed during the speech.

BLOCK TWO: 10:45 – 11:50

1. Getting (Traditionally) Published by Small and University Presses . There’s a lot you need to know, to find, target, prepare, and submit to these publishers. Learn what’s expected, what not to do, and how to increase your chances for success with these publishers that value high quality literary work above platform, prior sales, and bestseller potential.

2. Everything You Need to Know About Agents and Query Letters . This workshop is a thorough crash course in dealing with literary agents, and giving yourself the best chance of snagging one.

3. Outlines For Pantsers: How to Outline Your Book Even When You Don’t Enjoy It . This workshop will show how to chart your story with an outline grid that gives you the freedom to write part of your story where you feel like it today.

(What you see here is a quick layout of the day’s events. See a full layout of the day’s sessions, with detailed descriptions, on the official Schedule Page here .)

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN: 11:50 – 1:15

Lunch is on your own during these 85 minutes.

BLOCK THREE: 1:15 – 2:30

1. “Writers Got Talent”—a Page 1 Critique Fest (Fiction and Memoir) . This is a chance to get your first page read (anonymously — no bylines given) with attending agents commenting on what was liked or not liked about the submission.     2.  How to Sell a Nonfiction Book . This session is completely devoted to nonfiction book proposals.

3. Write Picture Books That Sell: Avoid the Top 10 Picture Book Pitfalls . In this workshop you’ll gain a better understanding of the picture book market, its challenges and opportunities, and what agents and publishers currently seek.

BLOCK FOUR: 2:45 – 3:45

1. Open Agent Q&A Panel. Several attending literary agents will open themselves up to open Q&A from SWW attendees. Bring your questions and get them answered in this popular session.

2. The Five Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was Published . In this speech, a published author helps you navigate the challenges that lie ahead by sharing advice on patience and perseverance, the importance of developing craft, the value of networking, and more.

3. An Agent Explains the Editing Process . In this class, you will learn how to Be a good self-editor, how to tighten your writing, and how to avoid “manuscript killers” that keep you from a stellar manuscript.

BLOCK FIVE: 4:00 – 5:00

1. How to Market Yourself and Your Books: Talking Author Social Media, Blogging, and Platform . Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, everyone could use some helpful guidance on how to effectively market themselves and sell more books.

2. So You Have an Agent or Book Deal — Now What? This session will explain what to expect in the submission process, what it’s like to work with a publishing house editor, how to sell multiple books in your career, and much more.

3. Writing Young Adult and Middle Grade in an Ever-Changing World of Technology . Technology and social media figure heavily in the lives of today’s teens. How do you write what’s current without it going out of style before your publication date?

SESSIONS END: 5:00

At 5 p.m., the day is done. Speakers will make themselves available by the workshop’s bookstore for a short while to sign any books for attendees.

Agent & Editor Pitching: All throughout the day.

————-

PITCH AN AGENT OR EDITOR:

ADDED ONLINE PITCHING : To ensure that writers have a robust and diverse lineup of agents & editors to pitch, 2024 Seattle Writing Workshop attendees will have the ability to also pitch literary agents at the Writing Day Workshops *online* event that follows the 2024 SWW on our calendar.

That event is the Pittsburgh Writing Workshop , May 31 – June 1, 2024, which will have 30-40 agents taking one-on-one Zoom virtual pitches.

This means that 2024 SWW attendees can have access to pitching all those online PWW agents — pitches still at $29 each — without being a formal registrant for the online May/June 2024 event. (That said, if you want to formally register for the Pittsburgh conference and have access to all classes and panels, let us know, as there is a discount for confirmed Seattle attendees.)

If you are interested in this added pitching opportunity, the first step is to get formally registered for Seattle. Following the SWW conference on May 11, 2024, we will be in touch with all Seattle attendees and ask them if they want to partake in pitching online agents at the 2024 PWW (May 31 – June 1) . At that time, you can communicate your pitch requests and purchase meeting time.

        More 2024 agents to be announced as they are confirmed. You can sign up for pitches at any time, or switch pitches at any time, so long as the agent in question still has appointments open.

These one-on-one meetings are an amazing chance to pitch your book face-to-face with an agent, and get personal, individual feedback on your pitch/concept. If the agent likes your pitch, they’ll request to see part/all of your book — sending you straight past the slush pile. It also gives you an intimate chance to meet with an agent and pick their brain with any questions on your mind.

(Please note that Agent/Editor Pitching is an add-on, separate aspect of the day, for only those who sign up. Spaces are limited for these premium meetings, and pricing/detail is explained below.)

———

$199 — EARLY BIRD base price for registration to the 2024 SWW and access to all workshops, all day. As of fall 2023, registration is now OPEN. To register, just email [email protected] and say you want to sign up for the Seattle event.

Add $29 — to secure a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with any of our literary agents or editors in attendance. Use this special meeting as a chance to pitch your work and get professional feedback on your pitch. (Spaces limited.) If they wish, attendees are free to sign up for multiple 10-minute pitch sessions at $29/session — pitching multiple individuals, or securing 20 minutes to pitch one person rather than the usual 10. Here are four quick testimonials regarding writers who have signed with literary agents after pitching them at prior Writing Day Workshops events. (Our bigger, growing  list of success stories an be seen here .)

Add $69 — for an in-depth, personal critique of your one-page query letter from Chuck Sambuchino, one of the day’s instructors. (This rate is a special event value for Seattle Writing Workshop attendees only.) Registrants are encouraged to take advantage of the specially-priced critique, so they can send out their query letter with confidence following the workshop. Also, if you are meeting with an agent at the event, you’re essentially speaking your query letter aloud to them. Wouldn’t it be wise to give that query letter (i.e., your pitch) one great edit before that meeting?

Add $89 — for an in-depth personal critique of the first 10 pages of your novel. Spaces with faculty for these critiques are very limited, and participating attendees will either 1) get an in-person meeting at the workshop, if the faculty member is attending the live event, or 2) get a 10-minute phone call with the faculty member, and have notes passed along via email, if the critiquer is not attending the live event. Options:

• Historical fiction, romance, young adult contemporary (in-person meetings): Faculty member Noelle Salazar , a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you at the 2024 SWW for 15 minutes to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the in-person meeting.
• Inspirational fiction, romance, historical fiction (in-person meetings) : Faculty member Bronwyn Scott , a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you at the 2024 SWW for 15 minutes to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the in-person meeting.
• Romance, mystery, thriller, adventure. historical fiction (in-person meetings) : Faculty member Wendy Kendall , a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you at the 2024 SWW for 15 minutes to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the in-person meeting.
• Women’s fiction, contemporary/mainstream fiction, literary fiction, young adult, and memoir (virtual critiques) : Faculty member Kimiko Nakamura , a literary agent and writing coach, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Children’s picture books and middle grade (virtual critiques) : Faculty member Brittany Thurman , a published author, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting. If you submit a picture book, it must be 1,000 words or fewer (can have illustrations or not).
• Commercial women’s fiction, thriller/suspense, thriller with romantic elements, cozy mystery, YA thriller, young adult in general, middle-grade, literary fiction, and fantasy (virtual critiques) : Faculty member Amberly Finarelli , a former literary agent and current writing coach, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss her thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• Science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, young adult SFF, urban fantasy (virtual critiques) : Faculty member Wesley Chu , a published novelist, will get your work in advance, critique the first 10 double-spaced pages of your book, meet with you online (Zoom, etc.) or by phone for 15 minutes sometime before the workshop to discuss his thoughts, and pass along written critique notes before or after the meeting.
• More critique options possibly forthcoming

How to pay/register — Registration is now open. Reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: [email protected] , and he will provide specific instructions for payment and registration to get you a reserved seat at the event. Payment is by credit card, PayPal, or check. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Seattle workshop specifically.

REGISTRATION:

Because of limited space at the venue (Seattle Marriott Bellevue, 200 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA), the workshop can only allow 250 registrants, unless spacing issues change. For this reason, we encourage you to book sooner rather than later.

Are spaces still available? Yes, we still have spaces available. We will announce RIGHT HERE, at this point on this web page, when all spaces are taken. If you do not see a note right here saying how all spaces are booked, then yes, we still have room, and you are encouraged to register.

How to Register : The easy first step is simply to reach out to workshop organizer Chuck Sambuchino via email: [email protected] . Chuck will pass along registration information to you, and give instructions on how to pay by credit card, PayPal, or check. Once payment is complete, you will have a reserved seat at the event. The SWW will send out periodic e-mail updates to all registered attendees with any & all news about the event. Because Chuck plans different workshops, make sure you note that you’re inquiring about the Seattle workshop specifically.

Refunds : If you sign up for the event and have to cancel for any reason at any time, you will receive 50% of your total payment back [sent by check or PayPal]. The other 50% is nonrefundable and will not be returned, and helps the workshop ensure that only those truly interested in the limited spacing sign up for the event. (Please note that query editing payments and manuscript editing payments are completely non-refundable if the instructor has already edited your work.)

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Leslie Varney of Prentis Literary

She specializes in adult speculative fiction — science fiction and fantasy — for adults, young adult, and middle grade. Leslie has also established herself as a specialist in genre-bending fiction, enthusiastically representing authors whose works defy easy classification.

“It was never my plan to learn to read. In fact, I resisted it with all my five-year-old might, which was fairly significant. My favorite times were when my dad would read to me and I was afraid that when I learned to read myself, those lovely times would end. But my dad’s plan was different and his will was equal to mine. After many knock-down battles, and lots of Dick and Jane, I reluctantly learned.”

“I grew up during the mid-70s on my family’s hippie farm, situated in a small middle-class town in the Hudson Valley. This would have made me unique in any case, but the fact that we had no television was downright bizarre. While all my friends were watching re-runs of the “Brady Bunch” (again), I was re-reading “A Wizard of Earthsea” (again). Or “Watership Down”, “A Wrinkle in Time”, “The Crystal Cave”, whatever was around. Luckily for me, there were always books around. And, since my dad’s favorite books tended to the fantasy and science fiction genres, my house was a fantastic playground of interesting ideas and wonderful stories. I was known as the weird kid who always had a book with her. If you couldn’t find me, I was probably hiding in Oz. Instead of doing my boring chores, I was Laura Ingalls Wilder, and her chores were exciting frontier adventures! There were no limits when it came to stories and there was always somewhere wonderful to visit.”

“I am pleased as punch that now I get to help authors bring new worlds, new ideas, and new magic to the literary world. I will always love the oral story-telling tradition, but my appreciation for the written work knows no bounds and I love being a part of bringing that passion to new readers. It turns out that my dad’s plan was better than mine after all.”

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Micah Brocker of Corvisiero Literary

Micah has spent the last five years in the business world helping entrepreneurs and artists fulfill the financial and legal knowledge needed to succeed. It has been her lifelong dream to foster careers for all artists, in particular authors and screenwriters. At Corvisiero Literary Agency, she is interested in fostering her client’s careers from the start and building their businesses with them. ​ In both film and novels, she is interested in YA contemporary stories that deal with messy relationships and issues that can help young adults put words to their experiences. She is also looking for YA science fiction and urban fantasy that provide an escape while still helping us connect to the everyday troubles of growing up.

In adult fiction, she loves women’s fiction and upmarket fiction that deals with burdensome secrets, messy relationships, and a character with a deep desire to change their life, the world etc., especially with a psychological, sci-fi, or romantic twist!

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Alisha West of Victress Literary

“We work with all genres of literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction but are especially interested certain genres.”

In fiction, the agency seeks:

• Adult – Contemporary, Family Saga, Historical, Horror, LGBTQIA2+, Literary, Mystery, Suspense/Thriller
• Young Adult – Contemporary, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Literary, Mystery
• Middle Grade – Contemporary, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Mystery

In nonfiction, the agent seeks : cultural/social issues, history, humor, journalism, LGBTQIA2+, memoir, music, pets, sports, true crime, women’s issues.

The agency is NOT interested in : Picture books, religious, high fantasy, graphic novels, short stories, westerns, inspirational, business, finance, gardening, home decorating & design, religious, self-help, spirituality

Alisha has had a life-long love affair with stories, earning a BA in English and an MA in Women’s and Gender Studies. Her thesis, Exploring the Missing Pieces: Readers, Religion and Societal relations in One Magazine, 1954-1963, concerns one of the first widely circulated gay and lesbian magazines published in the U.S. (downloaded 300+ times). Her personal essay, “Walking Sweet Dee,” took third place in the Adult Short Topic category of the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association’s Literary Contest in 2022.

After bonding with Lizz during the after party of the PNWA awards ceremony, Alisha jumped at the chance to join Victress Literary as an editorial assistant in November 2022. Because of her commitment, cheerleading, and creativity, she was promoted to Junior Agent in May 2023. Her favorite tasks include reading submissions and editing manuscripts from Victress clients.

When Alisha isn’t reading, editing or writing about women’s rights and queer history, she enjoys playing with her fur babies (Roary Gilmore, Sweet Dee and Charlie Kelly), practicing guitar, gaming, and watching all the best stories film has to offer with her partner, Matt.

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Katie Reed of Andrea Hurst & Associates

Katie began her career in publishing with Andrea Hurst Literary Management while pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English and has worked in the publishing field for over a decade. As a literary agent, Katie loves discovering new talent, building lasting connections with her authors, and working diligently to represent books readers will love.

Katie currently works as an agent and literary scout, and is looking for compelling, standout projects to champion. She is open for submissions in the following genres:

• Commercial Women’s Fiction with a strong hook and market appeal
• Historical Fiction (Favorite authors include Ruta Sepyts, Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, Taylor Jenkins Reid)
• Women’s Suspense/Thriller (especially with unreliable narrators or an ending with an unforeseen twist)
• Fiction with a fantastical angle (a la The Midnight Library by Matt Haig)
• Retellings, similar to Circe by Madeline Miller
• Young Adult Contemporary or Fantasy
• Middle Grade

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Adria Goetz of KT Literary

Adria got her start in publishing as an intern at Martin Literary Management in 2013. She represents picture books, middle grade, graphic novels (all ages including YA), and adult fiction.

She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, as well as the Columbia Publishing Course. In 2019, she was selected as a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree. Adria has eclectic taste but particularly enjoys projects that are tinged with magic, have so much heart you can practically hear their heartbeat, and have a compelling, commercial hook. In her spare time she can be found rewatching Gilmore Girls for the millionth time, listening to Taylor Swift, and dreaming about the mossy stone cottage in the woods she would like to live in one day.

“I look for books that delight readers, that help readers escape, that make readers feel seen, that help inspire wonder and imagination, that cultivate empathy and compassion, that comfort readers and make them feel safe, that take the reader on an adventure, that uncover fascinating stories from history’s footnotes, that make people laugh or cry or jump from fright, that ask nitty gritty questions and don’t settle for easy answers, that inspire reflection and conversation, that make people disappointed when they have to close the book and go to bed, and books that add a touch of magic to readers’ lives.”

PICTURE BOOKS WISHLIST:

• Picture book author/illustrators—I’m definitely open to receiving PB submissions from authors, but I am primarily looking for author-illustrators right now. I’m open to many different illustration aesthetics from hand-drawn to digitally rendered to collage/cut paper to more unconventional mediums. I love having a wide range of styles on my list, and the main thing I’m looking for is a unique, distinctive look. Some of my favorite illustrators include Juana Martinez-Neal, Vashti Harrison, the Fan Brothers, David Litchfield, Anne Lambelet, Brian Selznick, Carson Ellis, Frank Morrison, and Emily Winfield Martin.
• Humor—I want the next hilarious, commercial-feeling, NYT Bestseller. It’s important to me that kids really love and are delighted by the books I represent. Since humor is a great entry point into reading for kids who are intimidated by books, I take silly books seriously. 🙂 Some of my favorite humor-driven books are: We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, Dragons Love Tacos, The Bad Seed series, Where Bone?, A Spoonful of Frogs, The Day the Crayons Quit, Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats, and Rot: the Cutest in the World.
• Family Narratives—I love books about families and their everyday experiences, especially when the story shows nurturing adult characters. For me, the more specific the story, the better. Examples: Hair Love, Bedtime Bonnet, My Papi Has a Motorcycle, Under My Hijab, Alma, Julian is a Mermaid, Halal Hot Dogs, Tell Me a Tattoo Story, The Ocean Calls.
• Magical books—I love magical stories that feel like the type of book that will stick with a child throughout their life. I love stories that feel like original fairytales/folktales, if that makes sense. Fairies, mermaids, elves, and ghosts are all friends of mine. Anything by The Fan Brothers, David Litchfield, and Emily Winfield Martin. A few of my favorite magical books: The Night Gardener, The Antlered Ship, The Bear and the Piano, The Cloud Spinner, The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore, and Lights on Cotton Rock.
• Adventures—I would love to see more adventure stories in my inbox! Examples include The Greatest Adventure, It’s Not a Bed It’s a Time Machine, Ocean Meets Sky, Stella’s Stellar Hair, and the upcoming masterpiece In the Groves.
• Mermaids—Send me all of your mermaids!! What kind of mermaid have you not seen before? I love when fantastical stories are pure fun but can also provide meaningful yet whimsical representation. I was so excited to get to work on Mermaid and Pirate and am eager to have more mermaid stories on my list.
• Karaoke—I’d love a joyful picture book about karaoke, sort of like the karaoke equivalent of Hip-Hop Lollipop.
• Traditions—I love picture books about family traditions/cultural traditions, especially when there is food, cooking, baking, or recipes involved. I’d also love to see other family traditions, like holiday traditions (loved Night Tree, Mooncakes, The Christmas Book Flood), faith traditions or rituals, house-cleansing or blessing ceremonies/traditions, etc.
• Food—I love picture books about food! Some of my favorites are Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao, Fry Bread, Tomatoes for Neela, Halal Hot Dogs, and Anni Dreams of Biryani, Plátanos are Love.
• Atmospheric—I love a unique atmosphere/strong sense of place in books across the board. Because picture books are fully illustrated, they create the unique opportunity to create a really visually dazzling atmosphere. I think Hello Lighthouse is a great example of this.
• Spooky—I love spooky stories! (And I loved them as a kid too.) Ghosts, haunted houses, cobwebs. Some of my favorites include How to Make Friends with a Ghost, and The Ugly Doodles.
• Creativity—I love picture books about art and creativity, like the The Dot, Ish, The Ugly Doodles, The Wonder, The Storytellers Rule, and Beautiful Oops.
• Sisters—I grew up in a household of four girls, so any stories about sisters will have a special place in my heart!
• Cats—It’s honestly upsetting (to both me and my two cats) that I don’t have a cat picture book on my list yet. Somebody please remedy this for me!

MIDDLE GRADE WISHLIST:

• Magical Realism or Fantasy—I love any stories with light touches of magic or fantasy that are still accessible to readers who aren’t “genre readers.” I tend to prefer fantasy that is grounded in the real world. Some of my favorite magical MG tales include Circus Mirandus, No Ordinary Thing, and The Elephant’s Girl. I’d be delighted to work on a fresh-feeling mermaid story. And I’d love to see anything that is set at a magical boarding school or academy.
• Graphic Novels—I am open to taking a look at anything here, especially contemporary realistic, magical realism, fantasy, and historical fiction. I’m really eager to work on a historical fiction GN. Some of my favorite MG graphic novels: Pashmina, Witch Boy, and Measuring Up. I’d also like to put out into the universe: I would love to find the next Brian Selznick type of creator that doesn’t shy away from hybrid, unconventional formats.
• Historical Fiction—I am a history lover and enjoy historical fiction that feels like it’s shining a spotlight on a historical footnote type of story that was glossed over by textbooks. I want to see a hook/premise that I think will appeal to young readers, and an engaging voice. I’m open to epistolary novels or novels in verse as well. Examples: Brown Girl Dreaming, Ship of Dolls, House Without Walls, and Indian No More.
• Mystery—I’m hungry for a good mystery! I will never forget reading The Dollhouse Murders when I was in fifth grade and having to close the book for a moment because I was so scared. (But I loved it.) I want to work on books that inspire that same level of book-induced fright! Give me an Agatha Christie-esque whodunit. I especially love mysteries that have a little cheekiness to them.

YOUNG ADULT WISHLIST:

• Graphic Novels—Right now in the Young Adult space, I am exclusively focused on graphic novels. (I do represent YA novels if preexisting clients write them, though!) I’m open to a wide range of genres and art styles here. I’d especially love to find something very atmospheric where the setting is a crucial element to the story. My favorites include Pumpkinheads, The Prince and the Dressmaker, The Girl from the Sea, Isla to Island, and Batter Royale.

ADULT FICTION WISHLIST:

• Upmarket/Book Club Fiction—If you dream of Reese Witherspoon ushering you into her book club, then I want to see your work! When I think of upmarket/book club fiction, I think of stories with wide appeal that are engaging and accessible reads, but still have enough layers to lend themselves well to discussion. I love the feeling when I finish reading a book and immediately need to talk to someone about it. I love interesting voices/POVs, rhythmic language, and I’m a sucker for a dual timeline. The biggest thing I’m looking for is a good hook and a compelling writing style. I always love humor and heart too. Some of my favorites include Lessons in Chemistry, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Violeta, Where’d You Go Bernadette, Daisy Jones & The Six, Room, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, All the Lonely People, and A Man Called Ove.
• Thrillers/Mystery—I love pageturning thrillers, and want to work with people who want to build their careers around writing them. I’m really looking for a hook here. I love Gillian Flynn, Jessica Knoll, and Lisa Jewell. I would love to see a fresh take on the genre from a POV we haven’t seen featured as prominently. Some of my favorite thrillers include Luckiest Girl Alive, The Woman in Cabin 10, Final Girls, Verity, Sharp Objects, Dark Places, and Then She Was Gone. I’d love to work on something as atmospheric as Lavender House and The Only One Left. I would also love to see something more in the mystery category that has a cheeky tone and engaging voice and feels very smart like The Maid or Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murder.
• Romance/Romantic Comedies—I’d love to receive more rom com submissions! I’m especially looking for something with a great commercial hook and an interesting protagonist. I welcome tropes of all stripes, especially enemies to lovers, slow burn/friends to lovers, fake relationships, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and so on. Some of my favorites: Beach Read, The Unhoneymooners, Real Men Knit, Maybe in Another Life, The Flatshare, The Rosie Project, Waiting for Tom Hanks, Red, White, & Royal Blue, and The Suite Spot. I’d love to see some speculative rom coms too, like The Ex Hex and The Dead Romantics.
• Cozy Fantasy/Magical Realism—I love stories with light touches of magic/speculative elements such as magical realism, grounded fantasy, cozy fantasy, and magic-tinged rom coms. Think “a little bit of magic and a whole lot of heart” like The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic.
• Unique Format—I love stories that are told in unique formats, whether that be epistolary (Love & Saffron), e-epistolary/mixed media (Where’d You Go Bernadette), transcripts (like Daisy Jones & The Six), a unique POV (think Room), or a mix of things like Acts of Violet. If it’s slightly outside a traditional novel format or voice, send it my way!

NOT QUITE MY CUP OF TEA:

Memoirs Sports stories (I quit tee-ball when I was 4 and faked stomach aches to get out of P.E., so I’m afraid I am not your gal.) Space operas Amish fiction Angels/Demons Ancient historical fiction Shakespeare-inspired projects Greek mythology Arthurian legend-inspired projects High/Epic SFF (Several of my fantastic colleagues at KT Literary do work in this space though—check them out!) Military/FBI/espionage thrillers Dystopian

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Scott Eagan of Greyhaus Literary Agency

Scott  opened Greyhaus Literary Agency in 2003 with three goals in mind:

• To remain a small agency focusing only on romance and women’s fiction • To provide educational opportunities for writers in these genres and to make efforts to enhance the romance and women’s fiction genres. • To assist with increasing communications between the professional publishing community and the writers.

Being a small agency as well as being focused on a small number of genres allows me the chance to work closer with my writers as well as staying up with the every-changing trends in romance and women’s fiction.

Greyhaus Literary Agency is officially RWA-Recognized.

Scott’s education includes a BA in English Literature, A MA in Literacy and a MA in Creative Writing. Scott is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and still dabbles in writing as a hobby. Outside of the agency, Scott is an instructor with the UCLA Extension Program teaching in the Publishing. He also provides critiques with Writer’s Digest and does book reviews with Publishers Weekly . His family continues to keep him busy with one who swims competitively, one who rides Hunter/Jumper equestrian and one who dances.

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Kate Rogers of K.O. Media Management

Kate loves stories with graphic/illustrated elements or multimodal components. All ages (children’s books, middle grade, young adult, and adult) welcome, as long as there is a visual component! Genres include humor, horror/thriller (bonus if it’s entry level for a younger audience!), romance, light sci-fi, light fantasy (not currently open to high-fantasy of any kind), contemporary realistic fiction, and narrative non-fiction. She is interested in diverse, character-driven narratives that subvert familiar tropes or conventions. Bonus points if your story includes non-conventional, interactive formats.

Kate has worked in customer service at Vroman’s Bookstore in her hometown of Pasadena, California, and as the Assistant Director for Communications and Marketing for Stevens Court Community Council in Seattle. A University of Washington graduate with a double major in English and Cinema Media Studies, Kate can often be found reading, checking movies off her watchlist, or painting (sometimes even at the same time!).

Get to Know a Literary Scout in Attendance: Rae Loverde of Donald Maass Literary Agency

At the 2024 SWW, she will be acting as a literary scout — taking pitches at the workshop on behalf of one or multiple co-agents at her agency.

Her co-agent Cameron McClure is seeking the following:

• projects that combine genre style plotting with literary quality writing
• anything speculative
• science-fiction and fantasy
• mystery and suspense
• projects with multi-cultural, international, environmental, and LGBTQIA+ themes.
• Some of Cameron’s clients include Robert McCammon, Robert Jackson Bennett, Ada Palmer, Micaiah Johnson, Jonathan French, S.B. Divya, Molly Tanzer, Andy Marino, Ruthanna Emrys, and Amy Alkon.

She is interested in adult genre fiction only — no YA or MG. And she is not interested in adult literary fiction, mainstream fiction, women’s fiction, or chick lit.

Get to Know an Agent in Attendance: Kesia Lupo of The Bindery

“I’m currently Associate Literary Agent at the Bindery, a boutique agency based in Colorado – although I’m personally based in the Bay Area. I am actively building my list of primarily fiction writers. Although I started at the Bindery in May 2023, I have over ten years of experience in the publishing industry.

“In my last job, I was Senior Editor at UK children’s book publisher Chicken House, where I’d been working my way up from Junior Editor since 2015. Here, I acquired and edited children’s fiction for middle-grade and YA readers and worked with wonderful writers including Jasbinder Bilan, James Nicol and Emma Read (MG) and Ben Oliver, Molly Morris, Naomi Gibson and Mellissa Welliver (YA). I consider middle-grade and YA my specialty and would love to represent authors writing for these age-groups.

“I started my career as an assistant at Pan Macmillan London back in 2013, largely working for wonderful SFF/Horror imprint Tor – I loved the authors I worked with there who included Adrian Tchaikovsky, Adam Nevill and Genevieve Cogman. I’d love to return to my roots and represent adult genre fiction in SFF and Horror.”

She is seeking:

“I’m an omnivore in my reading taste and I would love my list to reflect that – so, while I’ve tried to be exhaustive, if you have something that doesn’t quite fit then please don’t hesitate to query anyway! In general, I’m looking for fiction for middle-grade, YA and adult readers – with a smattering of popular, accessible non-fiction.

“Across age groups, I’m a big fan of original fantasy, accessible but smart science fiction, paranormal or creepy horror, thrillers (especially if they have a shocking twist!), dark academia and basically all stories that help me escape or make me question everything.

“I majored in History so I love a bit of historical fiction too, as long as it’s done in a fun and accessible way – and I enjoy romance. For nonfiction, I’m looking at narrative nonfiction with broad appeal – I love books about psychology and big political, cultural or historical topics.”

Steamy in Seattle

May 10 3PM-5PM at Wisteria Hall Tea & Conversation with Fantasy Romance Authors L. Penelope and Melissa Marr A Clarion West Fundraiser!

On-Demand Classes

Building Trans Inclusive Worlds with SA Chant Explore how trans and nonbinary people exist in systems—legal systems, magic systems, & epic sci-fi bureaucracies alike.

April Class Highlight

Introduction to Writing YA Speculative Fiction with Diana Ma Tips, examples, and writing exercises to help you start your journey to writing speculative YA.

Workshops for people who are serious about writing

Clarion West is a nonprofit literary organization that runs an acclaimed six-week residential workshop every summer, online classes and workshops, one-day and weekend workshops, a reading series every summer, and other events throughout the year.

At Clarion West, you’ll be among award-winning and best-selling writers in science fiction, fantasy, games, horror, and more. Our workshops and classes are taught by world-class instructors from across the field of speculative fiction. Wherever you may be in your career, whether novice or sage, we offer a diverse listing of classes that is packed with valuable information to take your writing to the next level.

What is speculative fiction? There are as many definitions for speculative fiction as there are authors working under its broad umbrella. Learn more about how our community defines speculative fiction.

Our Mission

We support emerging and underrepresented voices by providing writers with world-class instruction to empower their creation of wild and amazing worlds. Through conversation and public engagement, we bring those voices to an ever-expanding community.

We aim to set writers on the path to success, foster greater equity and inclusion in the speculative fiction world, help bring quality speculative fiction to light, and bring writers and readers together.

Speculative fiction—science fiction, fantasy, horror, magic realism, and slipstream—gives voice to those who explore societal and technological change, along with deeper considerations of underlying archetypes of human experience. Although there are fine science fiction and fantasy writers of all ethnicities, races, and genders, historically the field has reflected the same prejudices found in the culture around it, leading to proportionately fewer successful writers of color and women writers than white male writers. Within the limitations of the workshop, Clarion West is dedicated to improving those proportions.

Looking for the Clarion West Six-Week Workshop? Every summer, the Six-Week Workshop offers time away from everyday distractions and encouragement to experiment and take artistic risks. The critique sessions are the heart of the workshop: students learn not only by receiving critiques, but by reading others’ work and constructing their own critiques. Instructors work directly with attendees to present group critiques of newly written stories, participate in discussions about writing techniques or professional concerns, and hold individual or small-group conferences.  Learn more about the Six-Week Workshop.

In addition, we offer instruction throughout the year with workshops and classes that vary in intensity, topic, and number of sessions. We invite prominent authors from across a broad range of speculative fiction to teach our classes and workshops. A few of our most recent instructors include N. K. Jemisin, Samit Basu, Cat Rambo, Ted Chiang, P. Djèlí Clark, Karen Lord, Daniel Abraham, Elizabeth Hand, Cadwell Turnbull, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Amal El-Mohtar, Nicola Griffith, Karen Joy Fowler, Kij Johnson, and Nisi Shawl. Learn more about our online classes and workshops.

You can support Clarion West’s mission to forge new voices in speculative fiction in many different ways.  Learn how you can get involved with the Clarion West community!

Latest News

Apply Now: Summer Write-a-thon Program Intern

Clarion West is seeking a program intern for the annual Write-a-thon (WAT) and Flash Fiction Groups this summer. The Write-a-thon is our largest annual fundraiser…

Apply Now: Summer Write-a-thon Fundraising Intern

Clarion West is seeking a fundraising intern for the summer annual Write-a-thon (WAT). The WAT is our largest annual fundraiser and runs concurrently with our…

Steamy in Seattle 2024

 A Fantasy Romance Tea Party Meet authors L. Penelope and Melissa Marr as they discuss the fantasy romance genre, their own fantasy worlds, and what…

The Salam Award and the Malik Family Sponsor Scholarships for Pakistani and Palestinian Students

We are pleased to announce that The Salam Award and Clarion West Week One Instructor Usman T. Malik (CW ‘14) have offered two new scholarships…

In Memory of Howard Waldrop

By Eileen Gunn Howard Waldrop (September 15, 1946–January 14, 2024) was a subgenre of fiction all by himself. In the 1990s, he was a stalwart…

In Memory of Terry Bisson

By Nisi Shawl Mama said there’d be days like this.  My friend Terry Bisson is dead and gone.  He was an author and editor extraordinaire,…

Connect with Clarion West!  Find us on Facebook  and  Instagram ,  watch our videos on YouTube , or  join our mailing list  for all the freshest news about our workshops, events, and alumni.

UW Youth & Teen Programs

Writers workshop for high school.

This course serves as an introductory-level creative writing workshop. You’ll explore and develop your own voice across various genres, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, spoken word, visual or multimodal media and/or hybrid mediums. You’ll read, share and constructively critique each other’s work in a supportive writing community and build toward composing a final portfolio of creative work. The workshop culminates in a class reading that's open to family and friends. 

What You'll Learn

• How to write across multiple modes of discourse
• How to give and receive feedback one-on-one and with groups
• Strategies for exploring and developing your individual creative voice
• How to create a portfolio of your work

Who Should Register 

This course is for ninth to 12th graders who are interested in creative writing and eager to gather with peers to share inspiration, ideas and approaches to writing. Creative writing experience is not necessary. This course is not for those who need remedial writing help, and all students should have a high level of English language proficiency.

Jessica Holmes

More Information

This online course is taught via Canvas and/or Zoom video conferencing. Classes meet in real time and are not recorded. Activities are held both synchronously and asynchronously. To participate, you should have access to a computer with a high-speed internet connection, a headset and a webcam. 

See the Policies  page for details about registration, refunds, waitlists and more. 

Earn a Digital Badge

After participating in this course, you can claim a  Youth & Teen Programs digital badge  that you can share with prospective colleges, universities and employers and on social media.

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• There’s still room in my Spring Writing Classes  and online writing classes . Sign up early to reserve your spot!
• Learn the secrets of the travel writing trade in my Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class in Burgundy (May, 2024).
• Take a look at my recent publications, All in a Spellbinding Ashland Weekend and All and Nothing: Inside Free Soloing , Baptism by Whitewater: Rafting the Salmon River .

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Writing Classes with The Writer’s Workshop

• Narrative Writing Classes

Have a compelling story? Want to learn the craft of narrative writing? Dr. Nick O’Connell teaches time-honored principles with a relaxed style in a sequence of four enjoyable Seattle writing courses, from nut graph to structure, from lead to climax.

Preview our Narrative Writing Classes

Travel Writing in Europe

This course uses all of an author’s skills—ranging from dramatic scenes, character sketches, concrete detail, point of view, and scene by scene construction—to compose compelling, engaging travel narratives.

Preview our Travel Writing Classes

• Online Writing Classes

Have you always wanted to write but needing a refresher course on the nuts and bolts of creative writing? Would you like to extend and enhance your writing techniques? If so, these online writing classes will help you communicate clearly and effectively in email, reports, letters, essays as wells as learning the art and craft of fiction and nonfiction narrative.

Preview our Online Writing Classes

Reviews from Past Students

I really appreciate all of your great feedback in the online writing class, particularly the fact that you went through my writing very carefully. Although I learned a lot in the Writers Digest Fiction course it was mostly through my efforts – instructor feedback was usually limited to two or three sentences of general comments that were not particularly helpful.  I will stick with you, Jessica Murphy and Scott Driscoll in the future.

Sometimes the most influential people have no idea of the impact they have on others. I just wanted you to know what a tremendous difference you have made to my writing life and to share the great news that an essay of mine will be published in a Seal Press anthology, Ask Me About My Divorce: Women Open Up About Moving On , that is scheduled for release in May 2009. Your kindness, your style, your generous sharing of your craft, your respect for everyone… it all had a deep impact on me and gave me the courage to write from my heart.

I can’t thank you enough for all that I learned from you about crafting a narrative, scene, and character portraits in your Seattle writing classes. Also, your tips for using strong verbs, rich descriptors, and setting up the framework for the book have proven invaluable. I could never have completed the book without the tools and skills you helped me acquire.

GUESS WHAT!!!! Equus has accepted my article! OK, so they are only paying me $50, but I really don’t care about that. Thank you so much for helping me, Nick. I have really enjoyed and benefited tremendously from working through the writing process with you in this online writing class. Your comments and assignments kept me inspired and enabled me to write an article I had been thinking about for a long time. I don’t think that I could have done this without you. This is amazing! Just wanted to share the news!

Do you have a compelling story? Want to learn the craft of narrative writing? Dr. Nick O’Connell teaches time-honored principles with a relaxed style in four enjoyable Seattle writing classes. From nut graph to structure, from lead to climax, Nick has transformed my writing career from scientific researcher to riveting narrative non-fiction author.

Nick O’Connell’s Seattle writing classes really opened up my eyes to using fictional techniques (dialogue, telling detail, characterization) in my nonfiction writing. Writing assignments I produced for Creative Nonfiction were later incorporated into Inside the Pike Place Market (1999). I highly recommend Nick’s classes to other writers looking for direction and inspiration.

Nick’s great sense of humor, his keen eye for clean, compelling prose, and his years of practical writing experience make learning productive and entertaining. Nick successfully guided me through my first job as a newspaper reporter and has provided advice and mentoring since. He’s a great teacher for the beginning writer and a superb coach for the experienced professional.

Thanks to your guidance in the Seattle writing class, my head is spinning with oodles of ways to express myself using the personal essay style. I attended a conference for text and academic authoring in Minnesota a few weeks ago, where three of us actually composed a personal essay on napkins at a reception with a well-stocked bar. I credited you as my inspiration.

Read more reviews

The Storms of Denali: Book Trailer with Nicholas O’Connell

Email or Call Today: (206) 284-7121

Have you always wanted to write but haven’t known where to start?

Have you written in the past but need a refresher? Are you an experienced author who wants to perfect and extend your technique?

We offer a wide variety of writing classes, including Seattle writing classes, travel writing classes and online writing classes to meet the needs of a wide range of writers. All of our instructors have extensive teaching and professional writing experience, allowing them to guide you through the sometimes bewildering world of newspaper, magazine and book publication. We provide expert, constructive criticism to help you master the art and craft of writing.

Find the writing class that’s perfect for you >

Meet your writing instructor Nicholas O’Connell

Hello & welcome!

Learn the secrets of narrative writing in my writing classes and:

• The Writer’s Workshop Review
• Narrative Writing Techniques

I look forward to working with you!

Nicholas O’Connell, M.F.A., Ph.D. Send me an email (206) 284-7121

Writing classes help writers tell compelling stories.

Reach a wide audience and satisfy some of your deepest yearnings for pattern, mystery, and coherence in your life.

Narrative writing allows for great scope and ambition, but it requires commitment to the habit of art to succeed. Our writing classes will help you develop your own habit of art, mastering the art and craft of narrative writing essential to creating fiction and nonfiction stories.

We teach  Seattle writing classes ,  travel writing classes  and a wide range of  online writing classes.

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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth.

Just follow your hero.

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The difference between the right word and the almost right word…

Pleasure in a good novel…

There are only two or three human stories.

One false word, one extra word…

Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you.

Get it down. Take chances.

Writing a novel is a terrible experience.

The forms of things unknown and the the poet’s pen…

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Creative Writing Program

Creative writing news.

The University of Washington English Department's Creative Writing Program offers a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a two-year Master of Fine Arts  degrees in Poetry and Prose. 

Founded in 1947 by Theodore Roethke, the Creative Writing Program's tradition of transformative workshops continues with our current faculty:  David Bosworth , Nikki David Crouse ,  Rae Paris ,  David Shields,  and  Maya Sonenberg  (Prose), and  Linda Bierds (part-time) ,  Andrew Feld ,  Richard Kenney,  and  Pimone Triplett  (Poetry).  They include among their many honors fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as prizes such as the Flannery O’Connor Award in Short Fiction and the McCarthy Prize. The list of our alumni publications represents a significant chapter in the history of American literature. 

The MFA Program remains purposely small, admitting only ten students per year. The relatively small size of our program (20 students at most at any given time) allows for close associations to develop among students and faculty. The first year is devoted to participation in workshops and literary seminars, and the second year allows for concentrated work on a creative manuscript and critical essay under the supervision of two creative writing faculty members. 

The BA in English with a Creative Writing Concentration prepares students not only to be more effective communicators and artists, but also creative problem solvers and more nuanced critical thinkers. By situating small, student-oriented writing workshops alongside literary models, Creative Writing classes enhance the broader study of literature and critical theory, helping students gain a greater understanding of the social and cultural forces informing their work. A student completing the program is more able to situate themselves in a larger aesthetic and social context and make more meaningful, informed decisions about their own artistic practice. In addition, through the intense practice of creative writing, students are able to see the world more clearly, in a more nuanced and meaningful manner, and apply these skills to a wide variety of work and life situations.

Director:  Nikki David Crouse

Program Coordinator: Shannon Mitchell 

Graduate Program Advisor: Tim Cosgrove

Undergraduate Program Advising: Humanities Academic Services

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"Keep up the great work. The final class presentation was one of the only times I have seen my child get up in front of a crowd and look comfortable." – Parent, Mercer Island

"What a rewarding experience it has been for me! Not only have I made some new friends...I have overcome my fear of poetry. I can now read a poem with confidence that the beauty and meaning is in the eyes of the beholder…me!" - Poetry Workshop Participant, Seattle

“I loved the play at the end of the session! My kids were SO excited about it. They talked about it for weeks before, what props they needed, who was playing which part. The teacher was really nice and enthusiastic. Thanks!” – Laurie, Seattle

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Seattle Writes is a project to support local writers in the craft of writing and the business of publishing.

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Find more information to further your writing practice, from booklists that take you through the writing process to local non-profits offering programs and networking opportunities.

• Seattle Writes: Publishing A list of books, online resources and recordings on publishing.
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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

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Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

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Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

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Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

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Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

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Young Writers

Lighthouse's Young Writers Workshops are designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing. There are no grades here, just the stories. We offer workshops at Lighthouse including afterschool and weekend workshops, the Young Authors Collective, and summer camps, as well as youth outreach in schools, at juvenile residential treatment centers, and in collaboration with other arts organizations.

For the latest on workshops and events,  sign up for our Young Writers Program e-newsletter . 

Lighthouse connects kids and teens to words, new friends, and a writing community. We offer workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and many other genres and topics. Our classes are taught by published authors and are designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing.

Summer Writing Camps

Lighthouse's Young Writers Camps are led by published and award-winning writers, and each workshop is designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing in young writers aged 8 to 18. Registration for half-day camp and applications for full-day camp will open on January 1, 2019.

School Outreach

The Young Writers Program offers creative writing workshops in public and private schools as well as juvenile residential treatment centers throughout the Denver metro area. Led by working, published writers with a passion for sharing their craft, our outreach workshops provide access to our innovative creative writing programming for young people who cannot come to Lighthouse.

The Young Authors Collective, or YAC, is a group of talented, word-obsessed high school writers dedicated to experimenting with new creative forms, collaborating with other arts organizations, and writing a ton. We meet once a week at Lighthouse to generate new pieces, give friendly feedback, and work towards publication.

Support Young Writers

Our Future Scribes Depend on Your Support. Nearly all of the workshops and projects that will engage 2,300 students this year are free to attend, and for the sessions that do have tuition, such as summer writing camp, financial aid is available for any student who needs it. We want all young people who want to write to be able to do so and for them to be nurtured by the best instructors and mentors available. This only happens with the support of generous donors like you.

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Creative Writing

The Creative Writing program at Seattle University takes the stand that good readers make good writers. Rather than offering a stand-alone writing degree, the Seattle University English Department offers a literature-focused English major with a Creative Writing concentration in the belief that developing critical reading and analytical skills is essential to a writer’s evolution.

Program Benefits

• Literature-focused undergraduate English/Creative Writing degree
• Personal attention from faculty
• Classes in multiple genres
• Seattle University/Elliott Bay Book Company Reading Series
• Visiting writer/professors
• Fragments literary magazine
• Portfolio completion

Emphasizing the craft of writing and the close reading of classic and contemporary texts, Seattle University’s Creative Writing program includes core English classes in British, American and ethnic literature as well as writing courses in multiple genres, including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and playwriting or screen writing.

As a result Creative Writing students not only acquire experience writing creatively, they also hone their skills writing about the great works of literature they encounter as English majors.

Why study Creative Writing? To think outside the norm. To develop the ability to write with wit and grace. To learn to tell compelling stories. These are some of the great benefits of studying Creative Writing. Students who study English and Creative Writing develop strong research, reading and writing skills—skills that easily translate into careers in fiction writing, journalism, academia, marketing, advertising, and technical writing, as well as government, law and business. Learn more about career possibilities here .

Degrees offered:

• Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in English/Creative Writing with  Departmental Honors
• English/Creative Writing minor

The Uniquely Seattle University Experience: Creative Writing Students English majors who read and respond to literature in class and in writing, and in the process learn to see how great writers make language work for them.

The program offers creative writing classes across genres including fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and script writing as well as in special topics such as the graphic novel, science fiction, literary fiction, screenplay writing and others.

While Creative Writing students will have the opportunity to work closely with English and Creative Writing faculty in the English department, they will also have the chance to study with visiting professors from the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant artistic community. Visiting writers have included fiction writer Kathleen Alcalá, Washington State Poet Laureate Sam Green, comic/graphic novelist Peter Bagge, detective fiction writer Skye Moody, science fiction author Steven Barnes, and screenplay writer Stewart Stern.

As part of their program, students can acquire additional experience by contributing to the 50-plus-year-old Fragments literary magazine , attending literary readings at the nearby Elliott Bay Book Company, competing for the Gerald Manley Hopkins SJ writing prize, participating in internships at publishing companies, magazines and arts organizations, studying abroad  in Paris or Ireland and other locales, attending the opera and building portfolios of their work.

Students also will have the chance to become part of the dynamic cultural and literary community that thrives in Seattle, Washington.

Come join us! Contact Dr. Susan Meyers, Director, Creative Writing Program, Department of English, [email protected] .

Kate Koppelman, Ph.D. Chair 206-296-5476 [email protected]

Bridget Hrybiniak Senior Administrative Assistant 206-296-5420 [email protected]

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