Coquie Hughes

By Jasminum McMullen

Writuals explores how our city’s rich literary heritage, cultural diversity, and iconic spaces inspire routines that fuel the work of local authors.

Coquie Hughes is an award-winning independent filmmaker, writer, and director celebrated for pushing the boundaries of storytelling through bold, innovative, and emotionally resonant narratives. Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, Coquie has spent nearly three decades creating thought-provoking films that center Black, LGBTQ+, and urban experiences with honesty, heart, and depth.

CLHOF: What are your “writuals,” and how have they evolved?

Coquie Hughes:  My “writuals” are fluid. I don’t wait for inspiration, I provoke it. Sometimes it starts with a random conversation I overheard, or an image that won’t leave my mind until I write it down. I put on some old school 70s/80s RnB, and then I just let the characters tell me what to do. In my early days, I used to write trying to “get it right.” Now, I write to get it out. No censor, no filter, just truth. My ritual now is simple: listen, trust, and don’t judge the first draft.

CLHOF: If you could have coffee with any Chicago author, past or present, who would it be and why? How has their work or legacy influenced your writing?

Coquie Hughes:  I’m gonna be honest, I don’t really read books like that. My inspiration comes from screenwriters who also direct their own work. If I could bend the rules a little, I’d have coffee with Spike Lee. His voice is unapologetic, rooted in culture, politics, and rhythm…and that’s how I approach my own writing. He’s not afraid to make people uncomfortable if it means telling the truth. On the flip side, Quentin Tarantino’s style is bold, witty, and full of unexpected moments. I study how both of them use dialogue, pacing, and visual storytelling to shape a world that feels alive. They taught me that as a writer/director, you don’t just tell the story, you control the world it lives in.

CLHOF: Chicago is a city known for its activism and social consciousness. How, if at all, do these civic engagement and social justice elements find their way into your writing rituals or themes? Do you feel a duty to reflect or challenge the city’s socio-political landscape in your work?

Coquie Hughes: Absolutely. As a storyteller, I see it as my responsibility to document, disrupt, and dream. I write about forgotten people in unforgettable ways. My scripts and plays are filled with themes of injustice, resilience, and community survival…not because it’s trendy, but because it’s truth. I’ve lived it. I’ve seen it. And I know the power of art to shake folks out of silence. Whether I’m writing about the overlooked women of the Black Panther Party, a lesbian couple navigating domestic violence, or a supernatural twist at a gas station robbery, I’m writing to remind people their stories matter.

CLHOF: Name a movie shot in Chicago that best describes your writing style.

Coquie Hughes: The Matrix meets Cooley High. My writing blends the surreal with the real. I love bending reality, flipping expectations, and adding layers of symbolism like The Matrix. Even though The Matrix wasn’t shot in Chicago, the Wachowski siblings who created it are from here, and that Chicago influence still shows up in the way they build worlds. At the core, my stories are about real people navigating real life, much like Cooley High. It’s a mix of grit, nostalgia, and depth with some mind-bending twists along the way. I write to wake folks up but also to remind them where they came from.

CLHOF: What advice would you give someone who wants to write and publish in the city?

Coquie Hughes: Don’t wait for a seat at the table. Build your own. Use what you got. This city is full of talent, resources, and stories waiting to be told. Collaborate, self-publish, stage a reading in a community center, shoot your short on your phone. Just start. Stay rooted in your truth and don’t let rejection redefine your purpose. You’re not just writing a story, you’re adding your voice to the legacy of a city that never stops speaking.

Jasminum McMullen is an Associate Board Director at the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, interested in engaging writers from or living in Chicago about their writing rituals. Her writing has appeared in Black Joy Unbound, Mamas, Martyrs, and Jezebels, and Past Ten.