1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature
3. poetry

HAPPY 4OTH ANNIVERSARY, LOFT!
W
ho could’ve imagined that a collection of writers engaged
in wordplay in the aisles of Marly Rusoff’s tiny Minneapolis
bookstore would form what would become one of the nation’s
leading nonprofit literary centers? In 1974, the writers started
hosting readings in the bookstore’s loft and on August 22, 1975, the
group incorporated, naming Jim Moore, Phebe Hanson, Patricia
Hampl, Michael Dennis Browne, and Ellen Kennedy to the first board
of directors. Want to know more? Visit loft.org/history for a quirky
snapshot history of the Loft’s first 40 years.
Whether you are reading this Loft Quarterly for the first time or
you’ve been a member of this beautiful organization for decades, I
hope you feel that the Loft is your home—the place to nurture your
creativity and love of writing. The resource to get inspired by new
work or learn how to get published. The spot to find your voice.
Over the years, writers have come to the Loft to learn how to start a
literary center in their communities. We are proud of the role we’ve
played to mentor these organizations and now have colleagues
across the country: Grub Street in Boston, Hugo House in Seattle,
CityLit in Baltimore, and Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver
(to name just a few). I’ve always told their leaders that the Loft
has been successful because it emerged from the community and
continues to serve the community.
This April, we are thrilled to welcome the national literary
community to Minnesota for the Association of Writers and Writing
Programs’ (AWP) national conference. The Loft will be presenting
a live Talking Volumes, with host Kerri Miller and writers Louise
Erdrich and Charles Baxter, along with nightly events at Open Book.
Stay tuned for specific celebrations to mark the Loft’s 40th
Anniversary, but in the interim, you can help us celebrate the way
you always have: browse these pages, take a class, become a member,
put the Loft in your will, come to a reading, buy lots of books, and, of
course, read and write often.
Fighting for your writes,
Jocelyn Hale
Executive Director
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
4
Class & Registration Info
8
Education Profile
10
Mark Your Calendars
14
Online Classes
22
Adult In-Person Classes
36
Youth Classes
40
Ask Esther
44
Writers’ Block
OUR
MISSION
The Loft advances the artistic development of writers, fosters a
thriving literary community, and inspires a passion for literature.
The Loft Literary Center
Suite 200, Open Book
1011 Washington Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Loft Website | www.loft.org
Loft Offices | 612-215-2575 (T–F)
Loft Fax | 612-215-2576
Loft Education Line | 612-379-8999
CLASS INFO
What to Bring | Unless otherwise noted in the description, all you need is pen and
paper. Some teaching artists will also collect a small copy fee on the first day of
class. Bring a sweater as some classrooms may be chilly. Make sure your laptop is
fully charged.
Class Size | Most classes range up to 17 participants; 1- and 2-day classes may have
up to 35.
Acceptance | The Loft reserves the right to refuse a registration for any reason.
Location | Most Loft classes take place in Open Book at 1011 Washington Avenue
South, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Parking | Limited free parking is available in Open Book lot on the east side of the
building. There are also parking meters and pay-parking lots and ramps nearby.
Handicapped parking is available in marked spots.
Take the Bus, Train, or Bike | For routes, connections, and schedules, call 612373-3333 or visit www.metrotransit.org. Bike racks are located at the rear of the
building.
Basics | “Basics” classes are designed to provide a safe environment to explore
creative writing. Classes will generally cover more than one genre to let students
sample, and most students will have never taken a creative writing class before.
4
| CLASS & REGISTRATION INFO
Beginning | “Beginning” classes are for writers with little or no experience in
writing classes, but who know they want to expand their knowledge of craft, usually
in a specific genre.
Intermediate | Writers with some experience in genre specific instruction
who seek to deepen their understanding and hone their craft should consider
“Intermediate” classes. Students in these classes are familiar with craft terms such
as plot, point of view, rhythm, and alliteration. These classes may introduce the
workshop model, though class time will not exclusively focus on student work.
Advanced | Writers with significant experience who seek assistance and feedback
with revision should consider “Advanced” classes. Classes will often feature a
workshop component where student work will be shared and critiqued. Advanced
level students should already be comfortable with the workshop model and have a
working draft before signing up.
Open to All Levels | “Open to All Levels” classes can be useful to a writer at any
level. They are often focused on topics other than craft.
Workshopping | Intermediate and advanced level classes may include workshop
components. A workshop means that student work is shared and critiqued in class.
Discussion is moderated and contextualized by the teaching artist. A successful
workshop requires participants to articulate why a piece/section/line of writing
does or does not work.
5
Need to Cancel? A nonrefundable fee of 15% is included in each registration.
Partial refunds will be granted for cancellations received before the second class
meeting of a multi-week class; or before the first meeting of a single- or doublesession class; or start of the second week of an online class. We cannot refund for
missed classes. In the rare instance that a teaching artist determines he or she
cannot meet the needs of a student, the student’s full tuition will be reimbursed.
Class Cancellation | Classes that do not meet minimum enrollment may be
cancelled a minimum of 3 business days prior to the first class meeting with full
refunds to all students. Register early.
Weather Cancellations | Cancellations are extremely rare. The Loft follows the
lead of the U of M, Twin Cities campus; if classes are cancelled there, consider
them cancelled at the Loft. If concerned, call 612-379-8999 or check www.loft.org.
An announcement on the Loft home page will confirm cancellations by 3:30 p.m.
weekdays, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. Sundays.
PAYMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Payment Methods | No installment payments. Space cannot be held before
receiving full payment. A $20 fee is assessed for bad checks. If an agency,
business, or other organization is paying student fees, payment is due at the time
of registration. (Purchase orders or intent to pay notification cannot be accepted.
We do accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.)
Scholarships | The Loft has established a scholarship pool for Loft classes, both
youth and adult. For more information or to apply, please visit
www.loft.org/scholarship.
| CLASS & REGISTRATION INFO
CANCELLATIONS
REGISTRATION INFO
Online | Visit www.loft.org/classes. Select your classes, check out
teaching artist profiles, and register.
In Person | Stop in at Open Book during regular Loft office hours, 9 a.m.–
5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Loft administrative offices are closed on
Mondays. This is a great option if you’re looking for advice about what
class to take (appointments also available).
By Phone | Dial 612-379-8999. Loft education staff will be available to
help you with your registration during regular office hours, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Tuesday through Friday.
By Fax | Dial 612-215-2576. Fill out the registration form and send it
“Attention: Education.” This option is only available when fees are paid by
credit card.
By Mail | Download and print the registration form at www.loft.org and
send with your check, money order, or credit card information to:
6
| CLASS & REGISTRATION INFO
The Loft Literary Center, Attn: Education
Open Book, Suite 200, 1011 Washington Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Please note: It is best to register early to help our teaching artists prepare
and ensure the class does not get cancelled. For this reason, all multiweek
classes now offer early bird discounts (see class listings for details). We
evaluate registration numbers between 7 and 3 days before a class start to
decide whether to run it. Classes that do not meet a minimum enrollment
may be cancelled a minimum of 3 business days prior to the first class
meeting with full refunds for all registrants.
QUESTIONS?
CALL 612-379-8999 DURING OFFICE HOURS OR EMAIL [email protected]
PROGRAM
WHO’S ALREADY PARTICIPATING
loft.org/residency
| EDUCATION PROFILE
RESIDENCY
7
The Loft's Teaching Artist
INTERVIEW WITH LEWIS MUNDT
Outside of working full time as the
Loft’s Education Assistant, Lewis Mundt
keeps seriously busy as editor-in-chief
of Beard Poetry, director and coach
of the Hamline University Poetry
Slam, producer of the New Sh!t Show
Minneapolis, and one half of the spoken
word duo, Sharkhooks. With so many
irons in the fire, Lewis is definitely a
leader in our literary community. So
we thought it was time to get to know
one of our own a bit better. Here’s what
Lewis shared with us about all the great
things he’s been up to lately:
How do you find the time (and motivation!) for all of your literary
endeavors?
It’s second nature to me, to just keep really, really busy. I’m also not super
great at staying focused on one thing for too long, so having a thousand
different avenues to go down, that are all still literature based, is really good
for me.
Your first New Sh!t Show—which has just one rule: everything on stage
must be 100% new work—was this past April. What inspired you to bring
New Sh!t to Minneapolis?
8
| EDUCATION
PROFILE
I really wanted to take advantage of the fact that artists in the Twin Cities
are producing so much new work, and encourage them to get on stage with
it. We’ve had a poet—Zayne, the Loft’s Tech Manger—do live Java Coding in
front of us. Other poets have done hip hop for the first time in public. And
one of our past Loft interns got on stage for the first time.
Let’s talk about Beard Poetry. How did it start and what sort of work do
you strive to publish?
Beard Poetry started because when I put out my first staple-bound
chapbook, I put “Beard Poetry” on the back. What I really want to do with
Beard Poetry is offer affordable, high-quality publications for readers and
writers.
What I don’t want Beard Poetry to be is so literary that it’s not really
palatable. What I want to put out with Beard Poetry is work that anybody
can pick up and read, and feel like they’re engaging with literature. But also
not feel shut out.
9
Slam started as a bar game in Chicago in
the late 80s at a place called the Get Me
High Lounge. Poets come to the stage, read
their work, and five audience members,
who are complete strangers to the poets,
score them. The founders thought, if we
make it kind of wacky and put scores on it,
maybe add some money, people will come
watch people do poetry. And it worked!
As a spoken word artist yourself, why
perform poetry? Why say it out loud?
When I was a student at Hamline, Caroline
Forché said to me, “Now that you’ve
decided to be a writer, you are beholden
to the tradition of oral storytellers, and
the poets who came before you.” That, for
some reason, hit a switch in me. And so I
think that’s why I continue to do spoken
word.
As we know at the Loft, the Twin Cities
Literary community is vibrant and always
growing. What do you love most about it?
I love the Twin Cities literary scene
because it feels so possible. I wanted to
start the New Sh!t Show, and I had two
conversations, and suddenly we had a
schedule and a venue. I mean, if you want
to do something, there’s probably someone
else in the city who wants to see it happen
and has a resource they’re willing to lend
out to you.
What’s your favorite thing about working
at the Loft?
Everything. I’ve been here for 14 months
and there hasn’t been a day I’ve not wanted
to come to work. Our staff, constituents,
and students are excited about something
that I’ve chosen to dedicate my life to.
I work in customer service, but what
I’m selling and speaking on behalf of is
writing. And I can’t think of a better thing
to advocate for.
| EDUCATION PROFILE
For those of us who are slam poetry
novices, what is a slam show like?
|EVENTS
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12/1 | Monday | 7 p.m.
Talking Volumes: Richard Ford
Fitzgerald Theater
Richard Ford is the author of the Bascombe novels, which include The
Sportswriter and its sequels, Independence Day—the first novel to win the
Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award—and The Lay of the Land, as
well as many widely anthologized short stories.
12/5 | Friday | 7 p.m.
Foreword Closing Ceremony 2013–14
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the Foreword apprentices.
Barbara Draper, LeRoy Sorenson, and Erin Halden will read selections of
work completed during their two years in the program.
12/7 | Sunday | 2 p.m.
Second Story Reading Series
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
The Loft’s reading series for young adult and middle grade authors
continues. Check loft.org for details.
12/12 | Friday | 7 p.m.
Art of Series Student Reading
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
Cap off the Loft and Graywolf’s classes celebrating the Art of Series with a
student reading.
1/23 | Friday | 7 p.m.
Mentor Series: Diego Vazquez, Jr.
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
The Loft’s Mentor Series kicks off with Diego Vazquez, Jr. reading with
participants.
|EVENTS
V
2/4 | Wednesday | 9 a.m.
Poetry Out Loud: Semifinal Competition
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
The Loft will host Minnesota’s Poetry Out Loud semifinals competition.
2/5 | Thursday | 9 a.m.
Poetry Out Loud: Semifinal Competition
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
The Loft will host Minnesota’s Poetry Out Loud semifinals competition.
2/6 | Friday | 9 a.m.
Poetry Out Loud: Semifinal Competition
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
The Loft will host Minnesota’s Poetry Out Loud semifinals competition.
2/8 | Sunday | 2 p.m.
Second Story Reading Series
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
The Loft’s reading series for young adult and middle-grade authors
continues. Check loft.org for details.
2/20 | Friday | 7 p.m.
Mentor Series: Matt Rasmussen
The Loft at Open Book (Performance Hall)
12
|EVENTS
The Loft’s Mentor Series continues with Matt Rasmussen reading with
participants.
TAKE IN A MINNESOTA POETRY OUT
LOUD COMPETITION THIS YEAR.
Poetry Out Loud is an exciting national recitation competition for
high school students. Participants build self-confidence and master
public speaking skills while learning about art and literature. The
Minnesota State champion receives an expense-covered trip to
Washington, D.C. to compete for $20,000 in college tuition.
ONLINE
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| ONLINE CLASSES
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Loft online classes allow you to join a
vibrant community of writers under
the guidance of an experienced
teaching artist no matter what your
location or schedule may be. Contact
the education department at 612-3798999 or visit loft.org and watch videos
detailing the Loft online classroom
experience.
NE
ONLINE
CLASSES
15
Back to Basics: Creative Writing Techniques | Jackie Cangro
Beginning | 1/12–3/8 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1503
In this class, we will learn the key components of creative writing as the
building blocks of good storytelling. We’ll study the major elements of
fiction or memoir writing: dialogue, suspense, narration, setting, openings,
characterization, and point of view.
CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE
Middle Grade Fiction | Kurtis Scaletta
Intermediate | 2/2–3/29 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1536
In this class, we will explore some of the qualities that make a book a hit with
young readers, with an emphasis on developing a character-driven story.
Topics covered include creating a main character kids want to chase through
the pages of a novel, avoiding stereotypes and clichés, and being attentive to
the inner life of a middle grade novel.
CREATIVE NONFICTION
new class! The Lyric Essay | Casey Patrick
Intermediate | 1/19–3/1 | 6 weeks
Reg $234.00 Mem $210.60 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1508
This class is designed for intermediate writers with some background in
either poetry or nonfiction, and an interest in learning more about the
overlap between the two genres.
new class!
Writing the Medical Narrative | Deborah Fries
Intermediate | 2/2–3/29 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1503
Healthcare professionals and patients each have stories to tell about healing.
This class is for those whose work heals others, and those whose lives have
been forever changed by illness or injury. We’ll read and write narratives of
illness and healing, and explore the challenges inherent in each.
| ONLINE CLASSES
BASICS
CREATIVE PROCESS
Brain Science for Writers | Rosanne
Bane
Open to All Levels | 1/26–3/22 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80
EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1532
Your brain is the wellspring of your
imagination and source of practical skills
needed to transform what you imagine into
tangible results. The better you understand
your brain, the more effective you are.
Weekly check-ins, online exercises, and
forums create an online community to
support each other in optimizing your
creative brain.
FICTION
new class! Is the Hero’s Journey
All There Is? | Olugbemisola RhudayPerkovich
Open to All Levels | 1/12–2/22 | 6 weeks
16
| ONLINE CLASSES
Reg $234.00 Mem $210.60
EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1501
Move beyond archetype and stereotype and
challenge yourself to build rich, satisfying
stories that may be inspired by a variety of
structures, mythologies, and styles. In this
class, we’ll start by examining the Hero
and Heroine’s Journey in fiction, introduce
additional narrative structure ideas and
concepts...and then we’ll play.
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
Reg $234.00 Mem $210.60
EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1537
Whether you’re in the middle of a project or facing a blank page, this class
will fire up your fiction and help you establish a regular writing routine.
Through thought-provoking writing prompts and practical craft-related
discussions, this class offers a fun, supportive push for writers of all levels.
Dynamic Dialogue | Cristina Pippa
Open to All Levels | 1/19–3/1 | 6 weeks
Reg $234.00 Mem $210.60 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1515
Dialogue is not only what characters say to each other, but also what they
don’t say. We will layer subtext and conflict into your dialogue in this class
for all levels, learning to finesse unique speech patterns for individual
characters and to write conversations that feel both natural and dynamic.
Introduction to Fiction Writing: Short Story | Brian Malloy
Beginning | 2/9–4/3 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1541
Each week we will review and practice one or more craft elements essential
to creating compelling fiction, including the five parts of traditional short
story form: summary and scene, point of view, characterization, significant
detail and imagery, and figurative language and theme. We will also review
master works to learn what they can teach us about writing and revising
our own stories.
Reading Like a Writer:
The Best Book Club Ever | Allison Wyss
Open to All Levels | 2/23–5/10 | 10 weeks
Reg $390.00 Mem $351.00 | No class the week of April 6
EB Code ($25 off)=EBWN1542
In this class, writers will use close reading and online discussion to
uncover the secrets of the masters, learning specific craft-related techniques
and practicing those techniques with weekly writing exercises. More
importantly, writers will leave class with the skill to study their favorite
writers on their own.
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| ONLINE CLASSES
Open to All Levels | 2/2–3/15 | 6 weeks
17
Fire Up Your Fiction:
How to Create and Keep Writing Momentum | Jessie Sholl
MULTIGENRE
Your Book Starts Here: How to Plan,
Write, and Develop a Book | Mary Carroll Moore
Open to all levels | 1/19–4/12 | 12 weeks
Reg $525.00 Mem $472.50 | EB Code ($30 off)=EBWN1509
In this online class, you’ll get to know your book—what it is about, how to
structure it, and how to plan to finish it! Designed for writers who have a
book concept or work in progress—be it a nonfiction book, a memoir, or a
novel—or for any writer who needs a fresh look at his or her material.
Your Book Starts Here, Part 2 | Mary Carroll Moore
Intermediate | 1/19–4/12 | 12 weeks
Reg $525.00 Mem $472.50 | EB Code ($30 off)=EBWN1509
You’ve drafted most (or some) of your manuscript, you’ve explored the
inner and outer story, and you’ve put together your storyboard. How
do you merge all the bits and pieces into a strong meaning and clear
emotional arc that will speak to a reader—and get your book published?
Your Book Starts Here, Part 3 | Mary Carroll Moore
Advanced | 1/26–4/19 | 12 weeks
Reg $525.00 Mem $472.50 | EB Code ($30 off)=EBWN1534
Prerequisite: “Your Book Starts Here: Part 2.”
Your memoir, fiction, or nonfiction book manuscript is completely drafted;
you’ve read it through and know where you need to focus your revision
to prepare it for publication. This final class in the series helps you build
authentic voice, thread your theme, and fine tune the pacing of your book.
Strange Alchemy: How Place, People, and
Conflict Intertwine in Fiction and Memoir | Mary Carroll Moore
Open to all levels | 1/26–4/19 | 12 weeks
18
| ONLINE CLASSES
Reg $525.00 Mem $472.50 | EB Code ($30 off)=EBWN1535
How do you create the alchemy that engages readers? In this class, we’ll
look at finding the right balance between place, people, and conflict, and
come away with new writing, revised scenes, and deeper understanding of
what makes your story sing.
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
19
Poetry Playhouse | Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
Intermediate | 1/12–3/8 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1502
Re-invigorate your poetry through innovative writing prompts to access
poetic material from the interior rooms and external spaces of your life.
We’ll explore forms, craft in service to a poem’s deepest intention, revision
as long-term relationship, a variety of poets, and the gifts, challenges, and
miracles of being a workaday writer.
new class! Creating Your Chapbook | Sarah Busse &
Wendy Vardaman
Intermediate | 1/12–3/8 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1506
This class is aimed at poets who have a body of work, perhaps some
publication credits, and are ready to take the next step, creating and
preparing a chapbook manuscript for submission and publication.
new class! Writing Your Life:
Turning Experience Into Poetry | Ellen Birkett Morris
Open to All Levels | 1/19–2/15 | 4 weeks
Reg $156.00 Mem $140.40 | EB Code ($10 off)=EBWN1511
Whether it is Robert Frost’s walk through the woods on a snowy evening or
Billy Collin’s creation of a lanyard at camp, specific events often serve as
an anchor for poems that capture the mystery, majesty, and humor of life.
In this class, we will examine several poems that use specific experiences
to bring the reader to universal conclusions, and help you create your own.
PLAY- AND SCREENWRITING
new class!
Introduction to Screenwriting | Tony Cammarata
Beginning | 1/12–3/8 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1505
This class is an introduction to storytelling in the short screenplay format.
Students will examine story structure, character development, and
practical application and leave with the tools and techniques needed to
create interesting and entertaining short screenplays.
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| ONLINE CLASSES
POETRY
PUBLISHING AND CAREER
Book Proposal Boot Camp | Ashley Shelby
Open to All Levels | 1/19–3/8 | 8 weeks
Reg $312.00 Mem $280.80 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1507
Led by a former Penguin acquisitions editor and author, “Book Proposal
Boot Camp” is a high-intensity basic training for writers with a nonfiction
book idea, the readiness to write sample chapters, and the desire to get
their proposal in the hands of agents and editors. By the end of this class,
you will have a completed book proposal, a sample chapter, a query letter,
and insider knowledge of the publishing industry, including how to
successfully query agents.
new class! Jumpstarting Your Writing Career | Kris Bigalk
Intermediate | 2/2–3/15 | 6 weeks
Reg $234.00 Mem $210.60 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1539
Looking to move your writing career to a new level? Learn about proven
ways to improve artistically, write more, and publish your work. We’ll also
cover ways to earn income to fund your writing and how to network with
other writers, both online and off. By the end of the class, you will have a
portfolio of materials and resources you can use to move your career to the
next level.
YOUTH
See page 36 for details.
Crafting Unique Story People | Mindy Hardwick
(Ages 13–17) 1/12–2/8
My Community of Writers | Katie Wojtalewicz
20
| ONLINE CLASSES
(Ages 13–17) 1/26–4/12
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
DOES YOUR MANUSCRIPT
STAND OUT?
Give your manuscript its best shot.
The Loft’s renowned teaching artists can now work with
you one-on-one to deepen your skills, get a manuscript
ready for publication, and finally complete that
long-term project.
EDITORS INCLUDE
Fiction and Nonfiction
Esther Porter
Sarah Stonich
Patricia Weaver Francisco
Erin Hart
Ben Barnhart
Heather McPherson
Anitra Budd
Poetry
Jude Nutter
Esther Porter
Screen- and Playwriting
Cristina Pippa
Sarah Stonich
Children’s and Young Adult
Carrie Mesrobian
Megan Atwood
Elizabeth Law
Kurtis Scaletta
Molly Beth Griffin
Esther Porter
Laurie Lindeen
Carrie Mesrobian
IN-PERSON
ADULT CLASSES
22
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
Yes, it’ll be cold, and yes, it’ll get
dark early, but this winter is no time
to hibernate. The Loft in-person
lineup is full of offerings to help
you make and keep your writing
resolutions. Cozy up to the Loft
fire. We can’t wait to see you here.
23
new class!
Writing Short Prose | Evelyn Klein
Beginning | Wednesdays | 1/21–2/25 | 6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1527
$2 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
This class introduces elements of writing that lead to vivid descriptions
and vibrant narratives in all genres. We will read and discuss brief sample
excerpts for fundamentals, and then we will work on guided in-class
exercises.
CHILDREN’S & YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE
new class!
Picture Books:
Leaving Room for the Illustrator | Megan Maynor
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 12/13 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
Picture book writers need to “leave room for the illustrator,” but what does
that mean? Using contemporary picture books as examples, we will discuss
what can be cut from the text, what you want to include, and what it looks
like when it all comes together beautifully.
new class!
Mama Writes: From
Childrearing to Children’s Stories | Elizabeth Verdick
Beginning | Mondays | 1/19–2/23 | 6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1514
$2 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
Reading to babies and children creates a bond with them—and to the
books of childhood. As a mom you might say, “I could have written that”
or “I wish I would have written that.” Students will stop wishing and start
writing, in this introduction to writing for the children’s market.
new class!
The Boom Moment:
Telling Effective YA Stories | Bryan Bliss
Open to All Levels | Wednesdays | 1/21–2/25 | 6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1525
Three act structure isn’t hard, but it is a fundamental skill of storytelling.
This class will help any young adult writer unlock the potential of their
stories, using popular YA novels, movies, and television shows as our
guide.
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
BASICS
new class!
Picture Book Dash | Stephanie Watson
Open to All Levels | Thursdays | 1/22–3/12 | 6–8 p.m. | 8 sessions
Reg $280.00 Mem $252.00 Low $196.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1529
Discover how dashing off stories can help you leave your inner critic in
the dust, clear out clichéd and “safe” ideas, and find your strongest, truest
material. Using a variety of story-starters, you’ll surprise yourself by
writing more, faster—and perhaps better—than you ever have before.
CREATIVE NONFICTION
Beginning Memoir: Finding the Story | Angela Foster
Beginning | Saturday | 12/13 | 1–4 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
$2 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
Through the use of prompts and free writes, we’ll put our memories on
paper. We’ll talk about the basics of memoir and the details that bring
them to life. You’ll leave this class with at least three weeks in-progress and
ideas for many more. Join us in a safe, supportive environment.
Writing About Music | Keith Harris
Open to All Levels | Mondays | 1/19–2/23 | 6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1512
Describing how music sounds, articulating its subtle emotional effects,
avoiding the idiosyncratic and persistent body of cliché that has gathered
around the subject—with the assistance of a veteran music critic and
editor, you will develop these skills while gaining a sharper appreciation of
the music you enjoy.
Writing Memoir: Let’s Get Started | Nancy Raeburn
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| IN-PERSON CLASSES
Beginning | Wednesdays | 1/21–3/11 | 6–8 p.m. | 8 sessions
Reg $280.00 Mem $252.00 Low $196.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1522
$8 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
If you’ve been wanting to write about your life and have been stopped at
the blank page, here is a chance to get your feet wet in an informal and
supportive atmosphere.
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
25
Legacy Writing:
Captured Moments for Future Generations | Brenda Hudson
Open to All Levels | Wednesdays | 1/21–3/11 | 10 a.m.–noon | 8 sessions
Reg $280.00 Mem $252.00 Low $196.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1526
Create a written legacy of your life! You will be guided through supportive
journaling techniques to create vignettes or—captured moments—of
important life events. At the end of class, you will have a collection of
stories and the know-how to continue your legacy writing, if desired.
The Healing Memoir | Roxanne Sadovsky
Open to All Levels | Thursdays | 1/22–4/16 | 10 a.m.–noon | 12 sessions
Reg $420.00 Mem $378.00 Low $294.00 | EB Code ($25 off)=EBWN1528
$5 copy fee payable to the teaching artist. No class 4/9.
In this class, we’ll discuss what distinguishes the successful healing
memoir from those often referred to as “self-indulgent” or exposé, review
master works, and inspire our own writing through exercises and sharing
of student work.
new class!
Wish You Were There: Perspective & Place in
Creative Nonfiction | Bronson Lemer
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/7 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $70.00 Mem $63.00 Low $49.00
This class will examine the role of place in contemporary creative
nonfiction. Students will examine how perspective plays a role in the
variety of forms the nonfiction of place may take, including literary
journalism, memoir, travel writing, nature writing, and personal essay.
Finally, students will apply these ideas through a series of writing
exercises.
new class!
It’s Tense: The Impact of Using
Past or Present in Creative Nonfiction | Kate Hopper
Open to All Levels | Saturdays | 2/14 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
Through class discussion and short writing exercises, we will explore the
benefits, challenges, and drawbacks of using past versus present tense as
we craft our lives on the page. Participants will leave the class with a clear
sense of how tense affects voice, reflection, and structure.
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
new class!
Writing Family | Laura Flynn
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/28 | 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $105.00 Mem $94.50 Low $73.50 | $5 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
Family members offer irresistibly enticing material for memoirists and
essay writers. We’ll spend the day exploring fearlessness and emotional
distance while trying our hand at writing portraits, scenes, dialogue, and
reflections depicting family relationships.
Letter Writing: A Lost Art | Robin Rozanski
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/28 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $70.00 Mem $63.00 Low $49.00
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| IN-PERSON CLASSES
Whether passing along advice to children or expressing your romantic
soul, real letters are satisfying in a way that emails aren’t. This isn’t about
calligraphy, it’s about sharing life and thoughts—the philosophical with
the personal. We’ll look at historic correspondence, practice with writing
prompts, and start our own letters.
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
27
new class!
Getting Out of Your
Way on the Page | Laura Munson
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 12/6 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $122.50 Mem $110.25 Low $85.75
No matter where you are in your creative journey, this class will help you
feel inspired, with clearer intention, and a renewed permission to play on
the page and create what you want to create.
new class!
The “Sketchbook” for Writers | Emma Torzs
Open to All Levels | Tuesdays | 1/20–3/10 | 10 a.m.–noon | 8 sessions
Reg $280.00 Mem $252.00 Low $196.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1519
$10 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
In this class, we’ll take inspiration from the idea of an artist’s “sketchbook”
and explore how to sketch with our words: how to rapidly observe and
record in a way that captures a scene, gets to the heart of a physical
description, and conveys emotion to our readers.
The Journal as a Source for Your Writing | Roseann Lloyd
Open to All Levels | Saturdays | 2/7–3/21 | 1–3 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1540
This class offers techniques that open the journal as a source book
for further writing. We’ll work on transforming journal entries into
writing that is more shaped: short memoir pieces, short braided creative
nonfiction, poems from fragments over time.
Confidence Builder | Robin Rozanski
Open to All Levels | Saturdays | 2/14 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $61.25 Mem $55.13 Low $42.88
Sometimes writing can seem daunting, and even seasoned and successful
writers experience periods of doubt. This class examines the creative
cycle and presents exercises and tips for writers of all levels and genres
to increase their confidence in order to write boldly and look forward to
sharing with readers.
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
CREATIVE PROCESS
new class!
The Story of Us:
Journaling to Our Children | Janna Krawczyk
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/21 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
In this class, students will begin a journal for their child/children
to capture the small stories otherwise lost in the swift movement of
childhood. Students will fill pages with snapshots of moments, memories of
their childhoods, and stories of parent and child together.
FICTION
new class!
The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot | Mary Rockcastle
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 12/6 | 10 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $35.00 Mem $31.50 Low $24.50
Subtext is the material we don’t see—it rests between the lines, in a gesture
or tone of voice, in the staging of a scene. It gives a story depth and
meaning and can reveal the inner lives of characters. Having read Charles
Baxter’s illuminating book, The Art of Subtext, we will examine the ins and
outs of subtext, discuss examples from the text, and try our hand at a few
specific techniques for creating it on the page.
Brick by Brick: How to Build a Novel | David Housewright
Beginning | Mondays | 1/19–4/13 | 6–8 p.m. | 12 sessions
Reg $420.00 Mem $378.00 Low $294.00 | EB Code ($25 off)=EBWN1513
No class meeting 4/6.
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| IN-PERSON CLASSES
In this class, we begin with a basic question: what is your novel about?
From there it’s a step-by-step process of determining the proper POV,
discovering the correct narrative voice, creating escalating conflict, making
plot choices, exploiting setting, developing believable characters, and
putting the appropriate dialogue in their mouths—all in order to build your
book and explore your theme with power and style.
new class! An Introduction to
Writing Short Stories | Robert Voedisch
Beginning | Tuesdays | 1/20–3/10
6–8 p.m. | 8 sessions
Reg $280.00 Mem $252.00 Low $196.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1517
In this class, we will break down short stories into their individual
elements—character, plot, point-of-view, setting—and examine how each
piece works to create a rich, complete story. We will look at the big, primal
questions that drive every story—Who
are these characters? What do they
want?—but we will also look at the
smaller, more technical aspects of
writing.
new class!
Using Fanfiction to
Improve Your Writing | Lyda
Morehouse & Rachel Gold
Beginning | Wednesdays | 1/21–2/25 |
6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Community
Postings
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00
EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1524
Whether you write fanfic purely for fun
or are working on original work as well,
fanfic is a wonderful training ground
that allows you to work on elements
of craft in a playful setting. Topics will
include: improving dialogue, mastering
plot twists, crafting compelling
sentences, and enjoying point of view.
Novel Intensive | Mary Gardner
Advanced | Thursdays | 1/22–4/16 | 6–8
p.m. | 12 sessions
Reg $420.00 Mem $378.00 | No class meeting
4/9.
To apply for this class, please submit a 10-20 page
MS Word manuscript sample to [email protected]
with a one-page personal statement that discusses
your writing background and why you want to
take this class by January 8, 2015. Be sure to
include your name, address, email address, and a
daytime phone number.
This class is for students who have
drafted at least one-third of a novel.
Everyone will exchange ideas and
possibilities for each other’s work
in class, as well as have a private
conference with the teaching artist.
Looking for or recruiting
for a book club or writing
group? Seeking places to
submit work? Or maybe
you’re just ready to share
some exciting news with
the Loft community?
The Loft’s community
postings are free. Connect
with your fellow writers
today.
loft.org/postings
new class!
Invocation of Plot through Character: What Has to
Happen? | Joshua Wilkes
Open to All Levels | Mondays | 2/16 & 2/23 | 6–8 p.m. | 2 sessions
Reg $70.00 Mem $63.00 Low $49.00 | $2 copy fee payable to the teaching artist
In this class, we will explore the problems that arise from wedging a
character too tightly into a mismatched plot. Participants should prime
their thinking with a piece of their own work—a short story or novel
chapter—that frustrates owing to an incompatibility of plot and character.
MULTIGENRE
Writing Peace Into Your Life | Michael Moore
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 12/13 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
Through readings, writing assignments, guided meditations, and
discussion we will explore what peace is, focusing on self, home, and the
larger world. The goal of this class will be to consciously explore the nature
of peace through writing.
new class! Basics of Observational Behavior:
Study the Funny | Tiffany Hanssen
Open to All Levels | Tuesdays | 1/20–2/24 | 5:30–7 p.m. | 6 sessions
30
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
Reg $157.50 Mem $141.75 Low $110.25 | EB Code ($10 off)=EBWN1520
$2 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
Writers of fictional and nonfictional prose who approach humor as a
subject to be taken seriously, studied, and applied with skill will benefit
from this class. We’ll study examples from humorists (Carl Hiassen,
Garrison Keillor) and comedians (Mike Nichols, George Carlin),
participate in written exercises, and come out with a concrete list of tools
to draw upon when a manuscript needs a shot of funny.
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
31
Beginnings and Endings | Marge Barrett
Open to All Levels | Tuesdays | 1/20–2/24 | 6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1518
$2 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
A gripping beginning and an avid ending act as bookends to any piece
of writing. We’ll learn how to craft introductions and conclusions so our
readers enter a piece engaged and leave gratified. We’ll celebrate with a
final reading of our great beginnings and endings (with middles too!).
Developing Your Story: Achieving Arc | Kate St. Vincent Vogl
Intermediate | Wednesdays | 1/21–2/25 | 6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1523
$3 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
In this class, we will study how great writers develop a strong narrative
arc and learn how to employ their techniques in our own writing.
Write On! Six Weeks of Exercises,
Prompts, and Practice to Get You Writing | Margaret LaFleur
Open to All Levels | Thursdays | 1/22–2/26 | 6–8 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $210.00 Mem $189.00 Low $147.00 | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1531
In this class, designed for writers of both fiction and nonfiction, students
will use writing prompts and exercises to get into the practice of writing.
Six weeks will yield at least six new starts and newfound confidence to face
the blank page.
new class!
The Work and Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe:
A Class for Readers and Theater-Goers | Jocelyn Hale
Open to All Levels | Thursdays | 1/22–2/5 | 7:30–9 p.m. | 3 sessions
Reg $108.50 Mem $97.65 Low $75.95
Cost of the class includes theater ticket. Come to the first class
having read Poe’s Eureka prose poem, “The Raven,” and “Ligeia.”
Read and discuss the work of Edgar Allan Poe. Attend a performance
based on Poe’s final days, “RED-EYE to HAVRE de GRACE,” at the Walker
Art Center. Conclude by returning to the Loft to discuss Poe’s work in the
context of the show with co-creator Jeremy Wilhelm.
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
new class!
Descriptive Language | Aurelia Wills
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/7 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75.
Descriptive language is a writer’s most powerful tool for creating what
John Gardner called the best fiction—a vivid and continuous dream. Readings, discussions, and exercises will focus on strengthening a writer’s
ability to use all five senses in descriptions, to deftly use adjectives and
adverbs, and to recognize the importance of specificity.
NEW MEDIA
Writing for the Web | Amy Simso Dean
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 12/13 | 1–4 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75 | $1 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
Dominate this brave new world of micro-blogging, blogging, and websites.
Explore how online writing is different from writing print materials. Learn
online writing techniques, including dos and don’ts. Discover how to
increase the chances your words will be found and read.
PLAY- AND SCREENWRITING
Screenwriting Nuts & Bolts | Miriam Queensen
Beginning | Tuesdays | 1/20–4/14 | 6–8 p.m. | 12 sessions
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| IN-PERSON CLASSES
Reg $420.00 Mem $378.00 Low $294.00 | EB Code ($25 off)=EBWN1521
$5 copy fee payable to the teaching artist. No class meeting on 4/7.
This class will explore the important elements of screenwriting: premise,
structure, format, character, theme, narrative description, and dialogue. Inclass writing exercises and take-home assignments will help students balance keeping track of the forest (character arc, plot, and overall structure)
and the trees (vivid language, pithy dialogue, and a clean, accurate format).
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
33
new class!
Crafting the Poetry Book | Todd Boss
Advanced | Mondays | 1/19–2/23 | 6–9 p.m. | 6 sessions
Reg $315.00 Mem $283.50 | $10 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
To apply for this class, please submit your MS Word poetry manuscript to [email protected] by
December 7, 2014. You will be notified of your registration status no later than
January 7, 2015.
Using three contemporary classic poetry collections as references, we’ll
workshop one another’s poetry manuscripts in terms of how they hold up
as a book: thematically, progressively, structurally, tonally, and otherwise.
Part book club, part workshop, this intensive will train participants in concepts related to building poems into a collection.
new class!
Chasing the Poem (Part 1): The Long Journey from
Inspiration to Completion | Jude Nutter
Beginning | Tuesdays | 1/20–3/24 | 6–8 p.m. | 10 sessions
Reg $350.00 Mem $315.00 Low $245.00 | EB Code ($20 off)=EBWN1516
$10 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
This class—Part One of a two-part class—will focus on craft and the
generation of new material. Students will be given weekly writing prompts
and learn about/experiment with essential craft issues. Students do not
have to commit to Part Two (focusing on revision and workshopping),
but those who do will be assigned reading and revision exercises in
preparation for the summer 2015 offering of Part Two.
Poetry: The Voice of the Heart | Thomas Smith
Open to All Levels | Thursdays | 1/22–4/16 | 6–8 p.m. | 12 sessions
Reg $420.00 Mem $378.00 Low $294.00 | EB Code ($25 off)=EBWN1530
Small copy fee payable to the teaching artist. No class meeting 4/9.
This class encourages poets at any level of development to bring more
emotional honesty and openness into their work. This is a generative
rather than an analytical class, with in-class writing exercises to widen our
expressive range.
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
POETRY
Bearing Witness: Writing about War | Jude Nutter
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/7 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $122.50 Mem $110.25 Low $85.75
Whatever the era, poets have confronted, from a variety of perspectives,
the subject of war. We will read/discuss a variety of poems, write our own
poems in response to conflicts past and present and look at the technical
devices poets have used to capture and contain the reality of war.
Poetry and Place: The Noise and
Whip of the Whirlwind | Mike Rollin
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/21 | 9 a.m.–2 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $87.50 Mem $78.75 Low $61.25 | $5 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
Landscape, history, myth, people, wonder, and bewilderment: writing
about place allows us to explore them all. Spend the day reading authors
from around the world, investigating the many dimensions of place, and
drafting new work about the places that thrill and haunt you.
new class!
In Search of Lorca’s Duende:
Poetry that “Burns the Blood” | Katharine Rauk
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/28 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
According to Federico García Lorca, the mysterious source of creative
inspiration is the duende. In this class we will examine poems, as well as
other genres Lorca felt were particularly steeped in duende—dance, music,
and the bullfight—to prepare for some writing exercises that might rouse
this potent energy.
34
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
PUBLISHING AND CAREER
Crafting the Nonfiction Book Proposal | Kate Hopper
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 12/6 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $70.00 Mem $63.00 Low $49.00 | $3 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
In this four-hour class, you’ll begin to craft a book proposal in a stepby-step process that will help you distill your book’s “hook,” understand
the components of a strong proposal, and begin to create an “about the
author” section and marketing plan.
Pricing: reg=regular | mem=member | low=low-income
EB Code= Early Bird Code. Expires Dec 12. Only valid for online registrations.
35
The Art and Practice of Interviewing | Nolan Zavoral
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/7 | 1–4 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
$5 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
No matter what you’re writing, you may need to acquire information to
pass on to the reader. In other words, you’ll have to interview someone. It’s
not as easy as it sounds. Good interviews require planning and execution.
In this class, you’ll learn nuts-and-bolts skills, and practice them.
Beginner’s Guide to Grantwriting
for Creative Writers | Lesley Nneka Arimah
Beginning | Saturday | 2/14 | 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $87.50 Mem $78.75 Low $61.25 | $1.50 copy fee payable to the teaching artist.
This class will serve as an introduction to the grant writing process for
creative writers.
Publicity for Authors | Linda White
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/21 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $70.00 Mem $63.00 Low $49.00
Don’t let your book collect dust! Whether self-published or working with a
traditional publisher, there are things you should know about what you can
do to get your book out there. This class will cover broadcast, print, and
online media, including tips on social media, websites, and blogs.
new class!
The Writer’s Life:
Building Your Life as an Author | Kathryn Kysar
Open to All Levels | Saturday | 2/28 | 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $87.50 Mem $78.75 Low $61.25
This class will introduce how to build your life as a writer, including
discussions on author websites, social media, blogging, book reviews,
author interviews, readings, resumes, grants, and residencies. This
whirlwind class will help you expand, stabilize, and juggle your writer’s life.
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| IN-PERSON CLASSES
new class!
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
CLASSES
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
| YOUTH CLASSES
YOUTH
YOUTH
UTH
YOUTH
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YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
UTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
UTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
YOUTH
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YOUTH
YOUTH
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Stories About Pets: A Loft/MCBA Combo Class | Holly Day
Saturday | 12/6 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $58.50 Mem $52.65 Low $40.95
In this class, we’ll work on writing and sharing stories about our own pets,
both real and imaginary, then we’ll venture downstairs to Minnesota Center
for Book Arts, where students will work with a book artist to construct
their very own hand-made book!
AGES 9-11
new class!
All Write Now | Kate St. Vincent Vogl
Saturday | 12/13 | 9 a.m.–noon | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
Discover the secrets of how to write so your friends can’t wait to read the
next page. Meet others who love writing as much as you do! Come ready to
work on one of your story ideas or start a new one through the writing we’ll
do in class. Are you ready to write?
AGES 12–14
new class!
Write All About It | Kate St. Vincent Vogl
Saturday | 12/6 | 1–4 p.m | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
Discover the secret of how to set up your tale so your readers can’t wait
to turn the next page. Bring what you’ve been working on or bring that
story idea you can’t wait to develop though in-class writing prompts. Come
ready to write!
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| YOUTH CLASSES
AGES 6-8
AGES 13–17
new class! online class!
Mindy Hardwick
Crafting Unique Story People |
Open to All Levels | 1/12–2/8 | 4 weeks
Reg $156.00 Mem $140.40 Low NA | EB Code ($10 off)=EBWN1504
Characters are the key to story, but how do we craft compelling characters
that go beyond the cookie cutter variety? In this class, we’ll look at
archetypes as well as the sociology and pyschology of all our story
characters in order to propel our stories into new territories.
new class! online class!
Katie Wojtalewicz
My Community of Writers |
Open to All Levels | 1/26–4/12 | 12 weeks
Reg $234.00 Mem $210.60 Low NA | EB Code ($15 off)=EBWN1533
This online class for teens ages 13–17 will enable you to hear what works
and what doesn’t work in your writing, receive expert advice from a
teaching artist, and be inspired through writing stretches that will make
your imagination buzz. If you want to gain a community, take your
manuscript or writing to a new level, and grow as a writer, this is the class
for you!
AGES 15-17
This is Hard to Talk About:
Writing Difficult Subjects | Carrie Mesrobian
Saturday | 12/13 | 1–4 p.m. | 1 session
Reg $52.50 Mem $47.25 Low $36.75
38
| YOUTH CLASSES
In this class, we’ll read excerpts from recent books that deal with difficult
subjects and then talk about how we can explore such topics in our own
writing, in a way that’s realistic, provocative, and complex.
39
Every time someone
at your business communicates,
IT’S AN INVITATION
Is your invitation
the best it could be?
The Loft’s award-winning writers will help your business
> Create meaning
> Move people to act
> Find its creative spark
> Learn narrative strategy
> Have a distinct voice
> Tell a compelling story
> Create captivating copy > Be consistently clear
LEARN MORE: • LOFT.ORG/WORK •
Classes that start in December, January, February listed here.
More classes listed at loft.org
| ONLINE CLASSES
LOFT WRITING
AT WORK
?
ASK ESTHER
ADVICE FOR THE EVERYDAY WRITER
Every issue will feature Esther Porter
answering questions from writers. Have
a question for Esther? Send it our way at
[email protected].
41
A well-rounded character, just like any real person, will grow in
complexity over time. Within the finite structure of a fictional
story, it’s a writer’s job to guide the reader through this complexity,
showing only the relevant details.
Most readers enjoy surprise, so you’re smart to avoid giving away
too much too soon. On the other hand, when we hold back too much,
a moment that’s meant to be a subtle surprise can instead seem
to come from left field. So if your reader says the character feels
disjointed, or like two separate people, you may need to add some
connective tissue to the skeleton.
Create an outline of your story and plot out its pivotal surprises,
then fill it in with the smaller details that lead up to each big reveal.
What aspects of this character would suggest a conflict of emotion?
Are you creating a compelling dissonance between the character’s
thoughts and actions? Use the space in your scenes to plant these
details and to suggest the motivations for your character’s future
decisions.
There’s no denying the difficulty of providing enough information
so the reader can enjoy a steady drip of “Mystery” in one arm and
“Discovery” in the other. It may seem as though successful writers
are magicians—con artists at a Ouija board, performing incantations
to bring these characters to life—but just like any art, the skill comes
with practice and more practice and more practice. The exciting
thing about fiction is that we can create these details out of thin air,
specifically to reach this balance for surprise. It is a delicate magic
that requires endless experimentation. Returning and returning and
returning to the page with new eyes.
What advice do you have for a writer who struggles to stay
disciplined?
It’s somewhat humbling to answer this question, because right now
I’m answering it past my deadline. I struggle with self-discipline on a
regular basis, and I’m only starting to recognize what drags me away
from it.
Everyone has their own reasons for not doing what they’re
“supposed” to do. People even struggle to do the things that make
them happy. Writing can be difficult work and we’re often scared
we won’t live up to our expectations. We’re scared we won’t be able
to write in a way we once felt proud of, that it won’t be brilliant and
we’ll finally prove we were never any good. We’ll be found out as the
imposters we’ve always been.
| ASK ESTHER
How can I successfully weave a character’s back story through my
novel? I don’t want to include too much of their history too soon
and kill the story’s momentum.
But when we just do the work—when we get into that groove of a
regular writing habit—that fear of failure, like a terrible phobia, starts to
dissipate. You got a fear of elevators? Get on that thing and press all the
buttons. You afraid of fish? Head over to the pet store and force yourself
to stand in the dark, moldy aquarium section in the back. It’s awful. But it
will get less awful. And then it might get good for a while. And then you
might want to buy a few creepy fish to stare at and experience the feeling
of overcoming your fears over and over again. Can you tell I’m speaking
from experience?
My lack of discipline also boils down to my desire to rebel. Who is the
safest person to rebel against? Myself. Because I’d rather live with my
own disappointment than disappoint someone else. I experience a small
thrill as a deadline approaches and I have less and less time to do the
work. I think the more often I recognize myself falling into this trap, the
more I can just get OVER it. That small thrill isn’t worth jeopardizing the
quality of my work.
Ask yourself who and what you’re rebelling against. Find more
worthwhile ways to rebel. Better yet, turn your writing habit into an act
of rebellion so that when you get that itch to act against something, you
do so in a way that empowers you and gives you a voice. You rebel in a
way that is useful to you and hopefully to others. Rebellion doesn’t have
to tear anyone down. Rebellion can be the act of unapologetic creative
expression. And what an incredible fortune to enjoy as human beings. It
is a rare freedom in the expanse of human history, this ability to read and
write.
A wise friend once told me before running a race that the terror I was
experiencing was the dread of the effort. I knew difficult work was
coming my way and I wanted to escape it. When I finally accepted the
fact that it was going to be an arduous run, when my fear became clear
to me, I stopped dreading it. I stopped shaking and I was able to run that
race (side note: I came in dead last).
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| ASK ESTHER
My practical advice? Join a writers group that requires a certain amount
of creative output. Research writing contests and create a submission
schedule for yourself. You might not meet all the deadlines, but it will set
a fire under your seat nonetheless.
Esther Porter is a Founding Editor at Revolver, an arts and culture magazine
based in Minneapolis (www.around-around.com). She earned her English degree at
the University of Minnesota, then spent five years working for Coffee House Press.
She has published four children’s books with Capstone Press. Esther is now offering
editorial services through the Loft’s Manuscript and Coaching program. Learn
more at loft.org/edit.
1
MINUTE
THOUGHT
EXERCISE
→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
GO!
→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
Think about the amazing experiences you’ve
had at the Loft. Those experiences were only
possible thanks to Loft members. You can make
sure the Loft remains a thriving community for
readers and writers by becoming a member.
You can do so with a contribution
of any amount.
JOIN OR RENEW TODAY
WRITING WHEN YOU
HAVE NO TIME
A VISIT
TO THE
’S
WRITER
G
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| WRITERS’
BLOCK BLOG
BLO
BLOCK
A
n unshakeable work ethic runs deep in my family. On my mother’s
side, it’s the paid kind. Work hard and you earn a living. On my father’s
side, it’s the passion project kind that looks a lot more like play than work.
They say on the island where he was born, “We work to live. You Americans
live to work.”
My great aunt, born on a farm in the hard-working Midwest, told me for
years that one day she would finally retire and take a painting class. She
worked every day until her health failed her, and as far as I know, she never
picked up that paintbrush. Meanwhile, my father can be found adding a
touch of ochre to the waves on a painting of the Mediterranean at three in
the morning. He became a musician and an artist as a boy, and even when
he owned his own business and had dozens of employees on payroll, he
1. Use Your Lunch Break. It may be a myth that J.K. Rowling wrote
her first book on coffee shop napkins, but I have to believe that many
published and produced works were written in the spare moments when
writers gnawed on ideas and fueled their brains. It’s also a great way to
relieve the pressures of a stressful workday.
2. Get Off the Grid. It’s so easy to convince ourselves that we need the
Internet for research. The next thing we know, we’re responding to emails
and watching a clip on YouTube. I suggest going to a coffee shop where
you need a password for the Wi-Fi and then...don’t ask for that password.
You can also use an app like Self Control or Freedom to prohibit yourself
from surfing.
3. Use the Buddy System. Identify friends and family members who
will help you get those words on the page. I’ve been lucky enough to
exchange editorial services with one dear writer friend and childcare with
another. One of us writes while the other edits. And switch. One of us
writes while the other keeps the crazy contained. And switch.
4. Sign Yourself Up for Success. Join a writing group, take a class, or
log 50,000 words in November with writers across the world for National
Novel Writing Month. If you have a list of priorities and writing is always
at the bottom, it’s unlikely to get checked off. Find a way to put your
creative work within reach by putting it on your calendar.
5. Surprise Yourself. Productivity can come in quick, unexpected bursts.
You don’t need a laptop or a solid hour. Fifteen to twenty minutes can
offer just enough time to plot your next scene or layer subtext into your
dialogue. My own personal example of shifting my late night writing
habits: I had a commute to teach last summer, but I found I could evade
traffic (and the rigors of getting a toddler ready in the morning) by
leaving before 6:00 a.m. Then, I had at least an extra hour every morning
to devote to my own work. You love to write. At least I assume that’s why
you’re on this site. So make room in your life for what you love. You can
start right now.
Cristina Pippa taught in the Television and Film Arts Program and the Theatre
Department at SUNY Buffalo State College. She completed her BA in the Creative
Writing Program at Columbia University and her MFA in the Iowa Playwrights’
Workshop, where she received the Iowa Fellowship for the Arts. She writes
coverage for screenplays and works as a script doctor.
| WRITERS’ BLOCK BLOG
Some of us are compelled to write that novel or finish that screenplay no
matter what our agenda looks like each day, and some of us need to check
our Facebook feed first. Whatever the demands on your time and energy,
you can take a few steps toward productivity every day.
45
clocked just as many hours in his home studio with his oil paints and his
mandolin. Now in his mid-sixties, he paints full time and makes a living
at it.
Your Voice
Your Clan
Your Edge
Your Story
Your Confidence
Your Creativity
Your Drive
Your First Step
Your Next Step
We Find It Together,
You Keep It Forever.
FUNDERS
Loft activities are made possible through the
generous contributions of Loft members and by
the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State
Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a
legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural
heritage fund. Major support is also provided
by Amazon.com, The William Randolph Hearst
Foundation, Jerome Foundation, The McKnight
Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Target
Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Loft Literary Center strives to be accessible
to all, without regard to race, color, creed, religion,
national origin, veteran status, economic status, sex,
gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation,
or disability. As possible, we will remove barriers
to participation in our programs to persons with
disabilities.
To arrange for accessibility accommodation, please
contact the Loft at 612-215-2575 or [email protected] three
weeks in advance. Accessibility services are partly
supported by the Rachel Vaughan Memorial Fund. For
more information about accessibility see
loft.org/access.
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