The Loft Tumbles Too

*Muah-ha-ha* It’s everybody’s favorite topic. That’s right, people, we wrap up the Top 10 list with the ten worst film adaptations of literature. So get your snark on and head on over to today’s Writers’ Block to see if you agree.

BUT…once the snickering dies down, perhaps we should consider throwing them a bone or two because a lot of things seem like a good idea at the time.

So as fun as it is to bash works of art that take years to reach fruition, it’s also a subject most of us know a little too well. After all, we’re writers.

Oh, okay, you don’t have to feel sorry for Catwoman.

On today’s Writer’s Block, teaching artist Lyda Morehouse confesses that she finally learned the “secret handshake” for getting published. No, it’s not a batch of freshly baked cookies delivered to an agent’s desk (probably wouldn’t get past security, anyway), AND, no, it’s not a Wiccan chant to be performed on every other solstice. As Lyda notes, the answer is “surprisingly easy and accessible.”

Aaaaaaaaand…you’ll just have to visit the Writers’ Block to find out what the answer is.

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We know you’re pressed for time, so have you ever considered taking a single session class at the Loft? Running anywhere from two hours to full-day, these are great options for people on the go or who simply want a taste of what we have to offer. For example, on Saturday May 11, we’ll have two two-hour classes: “Introduction to How-To Writing” and “Un-romancing the Stone: How to Write Engaging Nonfiction about Nature.” On the same day, we’ll offer the all-day “Writing the World: Creating the Travel Journal,” a great opportunity to work the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. So check them out and sign up for a class today!

It’s time to get your britches in a twist (or breeches, if you prefer)! On today’s Writers’ Block, it’s a list of the 10 best and 10 worst literature-to-film adaptations. This is always a heated issue, but intern Emma tries to deviate between the obvious and the overlooked to give you some fresh selections. Part I is all about the good, so be sure to catch next week’s Part II for the bad and the ugly.

And, yes…we know this can bring out the worst in people, so it’s okay to rant and scream at your computer screen. Or send us your own list to let us know what you think (and just how wrong, wrong, WRONG we are)!

Hey, want to know how much we love you? Well, we’re giving away TWO tickets to attend Talking Volumes: Isabel Allende on May 8, 7:00 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul. All you have to do is tweet to us (@loftliterary) why you love Talking Volumes by Thursday morning (May 2). Even better? This isn’t a popularity or creativity contest—simply include the hashtag #talkingvolumes with an honest answer, and you’ll automatically be entered to win. So…do you feel the love?

We’re in the middle of a great Mystery Writing Conference this weekend, but our next conference is just around the corner. At the Children’s & Young Adult Conference (May 17-19), you’ll be able to enjoy panel discussions like “Where’s Papa Going with that Axe?”:The Sharp Work of a Good Opening, Sex and YA Literature: Choices & Consequences, and Picture Book Dummies: Why, Why Not, and How? Also enjoy keynote presentations by David Small and Donna Bray, tips on publishing, and multiple networking sessions. 

So if you’re interested in creating Children’s, Middle Grade, or Young Adult Literature, or you’re simply a fan, register now!

Flickr CC: http://www.petadviser.com (top), Pop Culture Geek (bottom left), and lorenkerns (bottom right)

On today’s Writers’ Block, Lisa M. Bolt Simons dishes on her personal history with the travel bug and how it inspired her single session class Writing the World, where students get to write about their travels (real or imagined!) and then head down to the Minnesota Center for Book Arts to craft a beautiful handmade travel journal. Read more about her class and travel adventures HERE.

Flickr CC: jaaron

The time has come to confront the naysayers and defend the noble art of the pun. We’re initiating this mission with today’s Writers’ Block, where we interview Art Allen, a pun enthusiast and the organizer of PUNDAMONIUM, the first pun-slam event of its kind (and sponsored by the Loft). Here’s a taste:

5. Is there a current pun in media or pop culture that you wish would disappear?

You know what, there isn’t a pun in popular culture I would do away with. Not one. When I see a pun that starts to edge into irksome territory, I usually consider it and then do this.

Read more from our interview with Art Allen and don’t forget to attend PUNDAMONIUM! Monday, April 29, 8:00 p.m. at Republic • 7 Corners.

Yeah, we’re kinda disappointed you didn’t show, but we forgive you.

So if you missed the latest Mentor Series Reading, we’ve got the videos uploaded on the Writers’ Block. Catch Jewell Parker Rhodes, Jennifer Bowen Hicks, and Paige Riehl in action HERE!