Scribes

Scribes is an intensive two-week creative writing program for teens. You'll acquire a tool kit of literary forms, pick up exercises and techniques to develop your writer's voice, get serious feedback from your instructors and peers and tour the city with a writer's eye. Sessions are facilitated by professional writers who will help you bring out the best in your work. Each session is composed of 20 students and two instructors. Class runs 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday with lunch and a snack included. Community readings are held at the end of each session.

Session I: July 5-16, 2010 (grades 7-8)
Session II: July 19-30, 2010 (grades 9-12)
Session III: August 2-13, 2010 (grades 9-12)
Tuition: $650, sliding scale

Please note: Sessions II & III for students currently in grades 9–12 are FULL. If you are currently in grades 7 or 8 and are interested in the July 5-16 session, please submit your application as outlined below. If you would like to add your name to a notification list for next year, please email us at youth@hugohouse.org

“My inner writer had never felt so alive than during the hours spent in that Cabaret space of Richard Hugo House. Ideas and words came so easily.”
–Adriane, Scribes alumna

What can you expect from Scribes? Here are some of the highlights from last summer.

Acclaimed guests
Besides your primary Scribes instructors, many illustrious guests visit Scribes to share their knowledge and experience. Singer/songwriter Jon Auer of The Posies performed songs written by Scribes teens. Monologuist Mike Daisey came to discuss his own writing life, and even gave Scribes a sneak preview of his latest show. And several writers’ panels gave Scribes participants a chance to ask questions and engage in discussion about the writing life.

Unique field trips
Just because Scribes is a writing camp doesn’t mean that you’ll be holed up in the House all day long. In Scribes, you'll take trips to neighborhood art museums, parks and city streets to get us out and about, observing the world with writers’ eyes.
 
Hands-on projects
There’s more to writing than simply putting pen to paper. ZAPP (Hugo House's Zine Archive and Publishing Project) provided supplies, inspiration and guidance for making a zine. Book artist Jennifer Borges Foster visited and led a workshop on how to make handmade broadsides. A visit to the Frye Art Museum got Scribes thinking about how to combine story with image, and if and how words can cure the world.

Inspiring prompts
Do you know what blackout poems are? How about Magical Realism? Do you think you could write a story using only book titles? What do you think a spleen would say if it could talk? At Scribes, you will draw inspiration from learning new styles, genres and forms, reading various authors, collaborating with your fellow participants and observing the world around you.

Scribes 2010 Application

Please fill out the following information:

Name:
Grade:
School:
Home address:
City, State & Zip:
Phone:
E-mail:

Which session are you applying for?

Current grades 7 & 8 – Session I: July 5 – 16

Current grades 9 – 12 – Session II: July 19-30

Current grades 9 – 12 – Session III: August 2-13, 2010

New applicants: answer ONE of the following in 500 words or fewer:

-You want to spend two glorious weeks of Seattle sunshine inside, writing? Why!?

-Tell us about yourself. Feel free to fictionalize.

How did you hear about Scribes?

Submit a writing sample of up to 10 pages of creative nonfiction, fiction, memoir or poetry to margotcase@hugohouse.org or by mail to:

Scribes 2010
Richard Hugo House
1634 11th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98122