Educational Programs

Accomplished writers teach classes of various lengths throughout the year. Classes are geared to a range of interests and are designed for writers at all levels of development. The Loft offers classes in poetry, short story, memoir, fiction, and many other forms. Other practical classes introduce you to the realities of a writing career: working with agents, submitting to publishers, and more. There are no grades or academic requirements. Tuition is based on a sliding fee scale, with both scholarship and work-study opportunities available.

Intensive weekend seminars feature presentations and courses by prominent authors, publishers, illustrators, agents, and other professionals in specific genres (children's literature, memoir, travel writing, magazine writing, and fiction writing). These extremely popular festivals are scheduled throughout the year.

The Loft also offers a variety of programs for both children and teens from age 6 to 17. The summer program gives young writers a chance to work with their peers and with experienced instructors who can feed the creative needs of young people. The culmination of the summer youth program is a public reading for family and friends.

Programs for Readers

If you love good books—if you're passionate about literature—the Loft hosts events designed for you. Throughout the year, opportunities abound to hear outstanding area writers reading their work, discussing their literary influences, and talking about their careers. Call the Loft or check the Loft's event calendar at www.loft.org for a current list of readings, panel discussions, and other inspiring happenings. 

Mentoring Programs for Writers

At the Loft, you can study with established mentors who can help you hone your craft. Each year, several local emerging writers have the chance to study with mentors from across the country. The long list of past Loft mentors includes some of the most highly acclaimed writers of our time—writers like former U.S. poet laureate Rita Dove, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa, memoirist Maxine Hong Kingston, and many more.

Loft mentorship programs include:

• The Loft Mentor Series in Poetry & Creative Prose offers twelve emerging Minnesota writers the opportunity to work with six nationally acclaimed writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

• The Loft Inroads program offers up to eight writers the opportunity to engage in nine weeks of craft seminars, individual conferences, and public readings with an established local mentor who shares their ethnic heritage. Latino and Native American cycles took place in 2008 – 2009.

• The Shabo Award for Children's Picture Book Writers is offered to children's picture book writers to develop "nearly there" manuscripts into publishable pieces.

Grants and Awards for Writers

Minnesota writers can apply for Loft grant and award programs, including:

• The McKnight Artist Fellowships for Writers, which offer major fellowships to writers of poetry, creative prose, and children's literature. Winners are selected by nationally known, out-of-state judges. Writers with significant publication credits are eligible.

• The Minnesota Writers' Career Initiative Grant provides financial support and professional assistance to Minnesota writers. Two to four winners will be selected to receive grants of up to $10,000 to underwrite career development plans of their own design.

Publications

• A View from the Loft, the Loft's award-winning literary journal, is now an online publication. Each week, the View features original articles by well-known authors on the writing life along with articles about the art, craft, and business of creative writing.

• The Loft website features up-to-date information on all Loft events and competitions, previews of upcoming readings, text and audio excerpts from the work of prominent local and national authors, complete class catalogs, resource listings and links for writers, information on grants, calls for submissions, news about Loft members, and much more.

Other Programs and Services

• The Loft Writers' Studios, located in Open Book, were designed just for writers. These inspiring spaces are furnished with hand-crafted writing tables, windows with views of downtown Minneapolis, comfortable writing chairs, heating and air conditioning, and Internet connections.

• The Loft Book Club Room is a lovely furnished "living room" adjoining the third floor patio deck for use as a meeting space by writer and book groups.

• The Rachel Anne Gaschott Ritchie Resource Library features books by Minnesota authors and Minnesota small presses, along with regional and national literary journals, books by Loft instructors, books on writing, literary resource references, poetry anthologies, and poetry videotapes.

• The Loft Shop offers Loft gift certificates, T-shirts, tickets, and other Loft merchandise as available. Call 612-215-2575 or stop in. Watch for more merchandise coming soon to the website.

• The Loft offers general and specific referral information on literary opportunities and events, both locally and nationally. Call 612-215-2575 or stop in.