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Eclectic Cloggers at NW Folklife

On Monday May 26th (Memorial Day), 2:15-2:45pm, on the Open Air Dance Stage at NW Folklife, the Eclectic Cloggers will perform with their band Moonshine & Turpentine, once again taking to the stage with joyful Appalachian-style percussive dances. The annual NW Folklife Festival is free & all ages, and takes place on the Seattle Center campus Friday - Monday of Memorial Day weekend.

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Late Shift, a short film by Britta Johnson starring Alycia Delmore and Anteia DeLaney, plus poetry readings by Sierra Nelson, Rachel Kessler, and Melanie Noel, at the Northwest Film Forum on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 7-8pm. Free & open to the public.

There’s limited seating! Here’s a link to RSVP.

NWFF address: 1515 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

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SPL & Poetry in Public reading May 10th

Saturday, May 10, 2025 · 2:00 - 3:30pm PDT. Doors at 1:30pm

Location: Seattle Public Library-Central Library1000 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98104

This Spring The Seattle Public Library's Guest Curated Series celebrates Poetry in Public, a project that honors and fosters local voices.

Poet Planner Laura Da’ and the 4Culture team worked with Community Liaisons from Poetry in Public’s 2023-2024 Communities of Focus. Together they developed and implemented community workshops and customized outreach in their communities. Through a submission process open to all King County residents, poems inspired by the theme Places of Landing were shared with the public on transit.

This program highlights the work of Sierra Nelson, Poet Planner Laura Da' and featured community members, including current and former Seattle Youth Poet Laureates Mateo Acuña, Sah Pham, and Janae Lu.

Free event. All ages. Open to everyone. More info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sierra-nelson-laura-da-and-guests-tickets-1310738256409

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Hanford Challenge Poetry Contest

Hanford Challenge Poetry Contest Guidelines

You must be a student (any age) enrolled in a school in the United States to participate. 

Poetry must be on the topic of nuclear weapons waste. More information here and here.

Poetry may be any form or language, as long as an English translation is provided.

Submit your poem anytime between Feb 4 - April 30, 2025 via this form. Name, age, email, phone, school, and mailing address required with submission. Permission form is required for students under 18 years old. Your identifying contact information will not be shared with anyone outside of Hanford Challenge. 

One submission per student.

Poems may be selected for posting on social media and the Hanford Challenge webpage throughout the contest.

Cash prizes for at least one and up to 5 winners. Winners announced in May 2025.

Contest will follow the CLMP code of ethics.

Poems will be judged “blind.” Our judge will only be reviewing the submitted poem and will not have access to identifying information about the contestant.

By submitting a poem to our contest, you accept that your poem may appear online and in print with your name and school. We reserve the right to publish or not publish a poem for any reason.

More information, submission link, education & inspiration for the topic and poetry writing here: https://www.hanfordchallenge.org/hotpoetry

2025 Contest Judge: Sierra Nelson

SIERRA SHARES THE FOLLOWING ADVICE FOR ANYONE WRITING FOR THIS CONTEST: 

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Upcoming readings

Wed November 20th, 2024 Reading Murmurations: Local Voices Taking Flight - 7pm-9pm in-person at Common Area Maintenance or Watch Livestream Online.

This four-part reading series features acclaimed poets, writers, and comics artists who teach in SAL’s Writers in the Schools (WITS) program. Nov 20th program will feature Oliver Brickman, Corinne Manning, Sierra Nelson, and Acca Warren! These resident writers come together to read from their own works-in-progress, inspiring the same craft and performance skills they teach in the classroom.

Free (no RSVP necessary; just come) Location: Common Area Maintenance 2125 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

* Thurs December 12th, 2024 "It Goes On" Reading Series, hosted by Jeanine Walker; 7pm-9pm at Hugo House. Free.

December 12th will feature poetry readings by Quenton Baker, Paul Hlava Ceballos, Sierra Nelson, & Ann Teplick, followed by an Open Mic.

Note: Open mic sign up starts at 6pm with doors open, limited slots.

Location: Hugo House (Lapis Theater) 1634 11th Ave, Seattle, WA

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Writ in Water: Year-long Generative Class

“Water often comes up in my own writing, as an image and as an ecopoetic dream terrain…water touches all of our lives: we're made of water, it's all around us (even in deserts and landlocked cities), in our weather, in the ways we travel, connecting all parts of the planet, touching our memories. No matter what their background, everyone already has their own experiences and connections to water to draw on for writing inspiration.” – Sierra Nelson, instructor 

“To look at the sea is to become what one is,” wrote Etel Adnan. Over nine months, we’ll deepen our writer-selves by looking to Water—molecule to ocean, body to vessel, wave to creature, thermal vent to atmosphere, memory to fairy tale—for inspiration. We’ll do eclectic writing experiments (slanting to poetry, open to any genre), with in-class readings and writing time.  

We’ll generate new drafts in fall, workshop in winter, and culminate our time together with chapbook-making and a celebratory reading in spring. Leave with a beautiful pool of new drafts and starts, a sense of connection to a community of fellow writers, and a personal chapbook that pulls together the writing and revisions you’ve generated in class. 

Students say… 

“Sierra Nelson is a treasure…Sierra is thoughtful, encouraging, supportive and enthusiastic. This is the fourth class I have taken from her.” 

“Sierra has been such a delight to have as a teacher. She is so warm and generous and it set such a wonderful tone for the class. The materials she pulled from were so interesting and varied and provided such great jumping-off points for our writing exercises. I appreciated her open-endedness in regards to the invitations/assignments. Enough specificity/direction to help "unstick" my writing, but a lot of leeway as well. She organized the class with a great depth of topics and exercises and guests (clearly a lot of effort went into her preparation), sometimes taking me out of my comfort zone in the best ways! This was a fabulous class, and I would love to take another one from Sierra. I am already missing our Monday nights together.” 

Registration Dates:  

August 13: Member registration opens at 10:30 am PT   

August 20: General registration opens at 10:30 am PT  

September 1: Last day of Early Bird discount 

To register:

photo by Sierra Nelson

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A Year with the Moon Class Reading 7/1

I am so proud of my students from this year with the moon! If you want to come hear them read from their moon works in this culminating online celebration -- send me a message & I'll get you the Zoom.

You are cordially invited to our final celebratory A Year with the Moon Class Reading on Moon-day July 1st, 2024, at 7:30 p.m., online via Zoom, on the Waning Crescent in the sign of Taurus, 26.19% illuminated with a tilt of -39.91°, at a distance of approx. 372,768.54 km (or 231,627.63 miles), but felt in our hearts to be less than a nanometer. 

Come hear a selection of new works and chapbook excerpts by our class writers in conversation with the moon and celebrating our 9 months of collective and personal lunar engagement. 

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Leanne Dunic & Isaac Yuen Book Launch Reading at Elliott Bay Books Sun 6/9 7pm - Q&A w/ Sierra Nelson

Leanne Dunic & Isaac Yuen with Sierra Nelson on Sunday June 9th, 2024 @ 7:00PM - 8:00PM

Leanne Dunic and Isaac Yuen launch their latest books with the help of local Seattle poet Sierra Nelson. (Elliott Bay Book Co, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122. Free and open to the public.)

In Wet by Leanne Dunic, a transient Chinese American model working in Singapore thirsts for the unattainable: fair labour rights, the extinguishing of nearby forest fires, breathable air, healthy habitats for animals, human connection. She navigates place and placelessness while observing other migrant workers toiling outdoors despite the hazardous conditions. In photographs and language shot through with empathy and desire, Wet unravels complexities of social stratification, sexual privation, and environmental catastrophe.

In a time of dirges and elegies for the natural world, Utter, Earth by Isaac Yuen features odes to sloths, tributes to trilobites, and ringing endorsements for lichen. For animal lovers and readers of Brian Doyle, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Amy Leach, each essay of this one-of-a-kind collection combines joyous language, whimsical tangents, and scientific findings to remind us of and reconnect us with those to whom we are inextricably bound. Highlighting life that once was, still is, and all that we stand to lose, this living and lively mini encyclopedia (complete with glossary) shines the spotlight on the motley, fantastical, and astonishing denizens with whom we share this planet.

BIOS: Leanne Dunic transgresses genres and form to produce projects such as One and Half of You (Talonbooks, 2021) To Love the Coming End (Book*hug / Chin Music Press 2017) and The Gift (Book*hug 2019). She is the leader of the band The Deep Cove and lives on the unceded and occupied Traditional Territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ peoples.

Isaac Yuen is a first-generation Hong Kong Canadian author. His work has appeared in AGNI, Gulf Coast, Orion, Shenandoah, Tin House, and numerous other publications. He has held residencies and fellowships at the Jan Michalski Foundation for Literature in Switzerland and the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Institute of Advanced Studies in Germany. Utter, Earth is his first solo book.

Sierra Nelson is a Seattle-based poet, lyric essayist, and multimedia performance artist. Nelson’s books include The Lachrymose Report (PoetryNW Editions) and collaborative I Take Back the Sponge Cake (Rose Metal Press), and she edited the cephalopod-inspired poetry anthology Three Hearts (World Enough Writers). A MacDowell Fellow and Carolyn Kizer Prize winner, her poems have appeared in journals and anthologies including Cascadia Field Guide and I Sing the Salmon Home.

More event info: https://www.elliottbaybook.com/events/20240609

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Upcoming Readings: January 2024

* Thurs January 18th (in person), 7:00-8:30pm

Kevin Craft & Friends (Book Launch for Traverse) at Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum (93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA). Free & all ages.

Featured Readers: Katharine Ogle, Rebecca Hoogs, Jason Whitmarsh, Sierra Nelson, & Kevin Craft; Chris Haugen (Guitar).

* Tues January 23rd (in person), 7:00 pm 

Cascadia Field Guide Reading at 3rd Place Books Seward Park (5041 Wilson Ave S., Seattle, WA). Free & all ages.

Featured Readers: Betsy Aoki, Christianne Balk, Kevin Craft, Laura Da', Kathleen Flenniken, Rebecca Hoogs, Robert Lashley, Claudia Castro Luna, Shankar Narayan, Sierra Nelson, Christianne Balk, & Martha Silano. 

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Winter Solstice Conjuring Cabaret

Dec 21st (in person), starting 9:00 pm, Winter Solstice Conjuring Cabaret at The Rendezvous (2322 2nd Ave, Seattle), with Anna Oxygen, Erin Jorgensen, Rachel Kessler & Sierra Nelson / Vis-a-Vis Society, Miwa Matreyek, Emily Nokes, Emcee Betsy B.

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Readings

MURMURATIONS Nov. 29th, 2023 (in person & online), 7pm, Murmurations: WITS Teaching Artists Reading, at Common Area Maintenance (CAM), 2125 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA.  Free & all ages. More info & to watch: https://lectures.org/event/murmurations-11-29-23/ & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slh3Re46yS8

CASCADIA FIELD GUIDE READING (Seattle) Jan. 23rd, 2024 (in person), 7pm, Cascadia Field Guide Reading, at 3rd Place Books - Seward Park, 5041 Wilson Ave S., Seattle, WA. Free & all ages. Featured Readers: Betsy Aoki, Kevin Craft, Laura Da', Kathleen Flenniken, Rebecca Hoogs, Robert Lashley, Claudia Castro Luna, Shankar Narayan, Sierra Nelson, Christianne Balk, and Martha Silano. 

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"A Year with the Moon: Creation, Workshop, Chapbook" Class Fall to Spring

A Year with the Moon: Creation, Workshop, Chapbook with instructor Sierra Nelson. Weekly creative writing circle inspired by and infused with the Moon, meeting Online Oct 2nd to June 17th, Mondays 5:00-7:00 p.m. PST. Fall - generative prompts, Winter - workshops & continued generative writing, Spring - chapbook making & sharing. Plus guest artist visits! Open to all genres. Registration open now via Hugo House.

Let the moon help you connect to your own creative process!

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Register now: Generative writing class inspired by the Cascadia Field Guide (Saturdays in August, Online)

For more info & to register:  https://hugohouse.org/product/writing-with-the-cascadia-field-guide/ 

Writing with the Cascadia Field Guide, with instructor Sierra Nelson

Class Description: Dive into the poems, art, and naturalist insights in Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry — learning about fascinating creatures and plants living in "Cascadia" (the bioregion stretching from Alaska to California, land and ocean). Then we'll generate our own writing (open to any genre) using in-class prompts inspired by the readings and diverse authors. Your own writing can connect to any ecosystem; you don't have to live in Cascadia. You'll leave this class with deepened wonder, new drafts, and a reinvigorated creative process. 

Discount code offered for book purchase. 

Term: Summer 2023

Start Date: August 5, 2023

End Date: August 26, 2023

Day of Week: Saturday

Time: 1:10pm - 3:10pm PT 

Level: Open to all levels

Audience: Adult

Location: Online (via Zoom) 

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Poetic Peepshow w/ Nicelle Davis 7/7 3:30pm PST Online

To register for the Zoom Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poetic-peepshow-poets-expose-one-g-rated-part-of-the-body-poetically-tickets-654393958947?aff=oddtdtcreator 

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Cascadia Field Guide Reading 6/20, 7pm at Seattle Library Downtown; registration open for Cascadia-inspired HH class

Cascadia Field Guide: Ecology, Poetry, & Art Reading 

Tuesday, June 20, 7 pm Location: Seattle Public Library - Central Branch (Downtown), 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA

Cascadia Field Guide reading and celebration with readers: Lyanda Fern Lynn Haupt, Claudia Castro Luna, Sarah Van Sanden, Derek Sheffield (editor), Allen Braden, Betsy Aoki, Erin Fox, Martha Silano, and Sierra Nelson. 

Free & all ages.

For more info: https://www.spl.org/event-calendar/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D166918278 

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Summer class registrations now open for Hugo House Class: Writing with the Cascadia Field Guide with instructor: Sierra Nelson

Dates: Saturdays in August (Aug 5th to Aug 26th), 4 sessions total

Time: 1:10-3:10 p.m. Pacific 

Where: ONLINE via Zoom

Class Description: Dive into the poems and naturalist insights in Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry—learning about fascinating creatures and plants living in “Cascadia” (Alaska to California, land and ocean). Then we’ll generate our own writing (open to any genre) using in-class prompts inspired by the readings and diverse authors. Your writing can connect to any ecosystem; you don’t have to live in Cascadia. You’ll leave this class with deepened wonder, new drafts, and a reinvigorated creative process. (Open to all levels of previous experience.)

To register: https://hugohouse.org/product/writing-with-the-cascadia-field-guide/  

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Online Poetry Reading w/ Nicelle Davis & friends (7/7), free workshop 6/30

ONLINE POETRY READING 

Friday, July 7 at 3:30-5:00 PM Pacific (free, online)

A Poetic Peepshow Reading in celebration of the debut of Nicelle Davis’s newest book The Language of Fractions. In this reading, Nicelle and guest readers (including Annette Schiebout, Aruni Wijesinghe, Peggy Dobreer, Alison Turner, Armine Iknadossian, Shelly Holder, Sierra Nelson, Victoria McCoy, Suzanne Lummis, and others) will read new and favorite poems in celebration of the body and its (G-rated) naked parts. 

Register for the ONLINE READING: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poetic-peepshow-poets-expose-one-g-rated-part-of-the-body-poetically-tickets-654393958947?aff=oddtdtcreator

FREE WRITING WORKSHOP

Friday June 30th, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Pacific (free, online)

For this Free Workshop lead by Nicelle Davis inspired by “Poetic Peepshow” and her forthcoming book, the focus will be on specific body parts (G rated) and nakedness. For example, what is a naked finger? Or what is a naked elbow? What is a naked big toe? We will play with the idea of emotional nakedness versus actual nudity. 1 Hour workshop will include: • 3 Writing Prompts • Dedicated time to write. • Time to share our writing.

Register for the ONLINE WORKSHOP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poetic-peepshow-tickets-654365433627?aff=oddtdtcreator 

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Summer Creative Writing Camps for Youth (in person)

* Creative Writing Scribes for 7th-8th Graders: 

Dates: July 17th - July 21st 

Time: 10am - 3pm

Location: In Person at Hugo House (1634 11th Ave, Seattle, WA) 

Instructors: Cassidy Dyce & Sierra Nelson

Description: Creative writing encompasses a wide range of storytelling genres, from fantasy to poetry, memoir to playwriting, and everything in between, including cross-genre and hybrid forms. In this exploratory camp, students will engage with artistic activities, embark on field trips in-person and virtually, and write to creative prompts all designed to ignite their imaginations. The week will culminate with a reading and/or presentation of student work.

This camp is for students entering 7th-8th grade in Fall 2023 and will take place in-person at our facility in Capitol Hill. 

More info & to register: https://hugohouse.org/product/creative-writing-scribes-for-7-8th-grade-2/

* Creative Writing Scribes at Bellevue Arts Museum for 9th-12th Graders

Dates: Aug 21st - Aug 25th

Time: 10am - 3pm

Location: In Person at the Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM, 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA)

Instructors: Meredith Arena & Sierra Nelson

Description: In this camp, a partnership between Hugo House and the Bellevue Arts Museum, students will explore exhibits and materials at BAM, participate in artistic activities, and write to prompts inspired by BAM's collections. Students will write in a range of creative writing genres, from fantasy and poetry, memoir to playwriting, and everything in between, including cross-genre and hybrid forms. The week will culminate with a reading and/or presentation of student work.

This camp is for students entering 9th-12th grade in Fall 2023 and will take place in-person at the Bellevue Arts Museum. 

More info & to register:   https://hugohouse.org/product/creative-writing-scribes-at-the-bellevue-art-museum-for-9-12th-grade/ 

NOTE: All Scribes Summer camps are offered sliding scale. Scholarships are also available by filling out a scholarship application. Questions? Please email youth@hugohouse.org