The Loft Tumbles Too

The Haunting of Fairy Tales

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:50:40 -0500

In case you missed it on the Writers’ Block yesterday, teaching artist Charlotte Sullivan shared her Grimm attraction (haha, pun TOTALLY intended) to fairy tales and reminds us why they persist.

“Red Riding Hood” was passed on by peasants, courtiers, philologists, feminists, Marxists, satirists, post-moderns, Joss Whedon…maybe you.

So head on over to the Writers’ Block to check it out. Just don’t tarry along the way…

…unless, of course, it’s to sign up for Charlotte’s classes ”Reading to Write: Fairy Tales“ and ”Finding the Child in Children’s Literature.”

It's Pundamonium 2: LOUDER AND SLOWER

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:03:02 -0500

Because what do you do when you need to say a pun again? You say it LOUDER and you say it SLOWER (we totally stole that verbatim from Pundamonium 2’s Facebook page).

That’s right, in case you missed the premiere of PUNDAMONIUM: Twin Cities Pun Slam, here’s your chance to catch it again…and again…and again! Pundamonium is now officially (or as “officially” as it can get) every fourth Wednesday of the month, which means the next show is this Wednesday! So come to Club Underground at 7:00 p.m. to catch the show.

*insert requisite groan*

Here's to when you realize...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:01:57 -0500

…there really isn’t anything you wouldn’t do to get published.

Don't Panic!

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:30:41 -0500

That’s right—today on the Writers’ Block, it’s “Three Things Not to Worry About in Your Writing—and What You Can Do About It if You Are Worrying.”

Sounds reassuring, right? Well, it is. Teaching artist Kate St. Vincent Vogl reminds us of some uncomfortable-but-suddenly-reassuring-truths, like “If you’re getting writer’s block, you’re on the right track.” So head on over to the real Writers’ Block (you know, with the apostrophe at the end) to see what other sage words she has to offer.

Flickr CC: atomicShed

Here's to when you think what you just wrote is all this...

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:34:15 -0500

And then you realize it’s more like this…

Hey, chin up—we’ve all been there before :)

Revision: 7 Tips to Make it Easier

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:17:04 -0500

You know when you finally complete a draft of your manuscript? And you email all your friends? And pop a (cheap) bottle of champagne? And break into that little happy dance? It’s a wonderful feeling…

…until you realize that the party’s only just begun, because—yes—now it’s the dreaded revision time. On today’s Writers’ Block, Miriam Queensen observes that “revision feels like the scene in Castaway when Tom Hanks’ character has to knock out his own bad tooth.” Yup, that seems about right. Fortunately, she has seven awesome tips on how to make the process a little less painful, and to keep you from doing this:

So to learn more from Miriam, read her tips HERE, and check out the summer classes on screenwriting that she’ll be teaching at the Loft.

Oh, MAN, we're bored today...

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:19:32 -0500

…on the Writers’ Block, that is. On our Literary Roundup, we cover what people are saying about boredom and writing (pssst: it’s not all bad). Edna O’Brien claims that all contemporary writing is inherently boring, while Copyblogger lists eleven ways to avoid boring your reader, and Tessa Hadley at the Telegraph reminds writers that tedium can, in fact, be interesting.

Flickr CC: WarmSleepy

Top 10 Best & Worst Film Adaptations (Part II)

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:51:00 -0500

*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.

The Secret Handshake

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:29:08 -0500

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.

Sign up for Single Session Classes!

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:01:16 -0500

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!

Top 10 Best & Worst Film Adaptations (Part I)

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:13:07 -0500

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)!

Win Two Tickets to Attend a Reading by Isabel Allende!

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:34:02 -0500

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?

The Loft's Children's & Young Adult Conference

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:01:13 -0500

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)

Get That Travel Bug on Paper

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:31:01 -0500

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

PUNDAMONIUM!

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:10:00 -0500

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.

Mentor Series Reading Videos

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:56:57 -0500

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!

Art, Friends, and a Fond Farewell

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:56:58 -0500

Today’s Literary Roundup has a fun article by The Millions on how art introduces us to other art, more good news for our friends over at Coffee House Books (yay!), and a fond farewell to children’s author E. L. Konigsburg. Check it out on the Writers’ Block!

Flickr CC: qthomasbower

bookriot: Potential Husbands from YA Fantasy: A Comparison...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:30:51 -0500

bookriot:

Potential Husbands from YA Fantasy: A Comparison Chart

There’s a lot more where this came from! See the rest at Book Riot.

Connect with the Loft Anytime, Anywhere—With Online Classes!

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:02:49 -0500

That’s right, we’ve broken down the geographical barriers so your summer plans don’t have to interrupt your writing. You can now take a class with the Loft anywhere, like here:

Flicker CC: Moyan_Brenn

Or here:

Flicker CC: Yoni Lerner

Or while making new friends here:

So check out our list of summer online classes such as “Poetry Inspired by Art,” “Novel Workshop,” and our youth class “*CRASH* Course for Teens Writing Fiction.” Registration is now open, so sign up today!

Online classes: it’s not just for distance learners (pssst: calling all introverts!). Also, don’t forget that we offer low-income rates and can provide scholarships for classes.

Reading Between the Lines: 8 Reader Comments & What They Really Mean

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:31:11 -0500

Flicker CC: greenplastic875

Getting writing feedback can be the worst, especially when you know there’s something lurking beneath the carefully crafted comments, like…the truth. On today’s Writers’ Block, intern Emma offers her eight favorite writer comments and reinterpretations of what they*actually* mean.

1. “Soooo…how long did it take you to write this?”
Uh-oh. Your reader is trying to gauge how honest she should be. Chances are, the longer it’s taken you, the less likely she is to tell the truth. So, if you really want useful feedback, here’s what you need to do: lie. Immediately. Even if you’ve been working on that manuscript since the Clinton administration, tell her you just started.

Read the rest HERE on today’s Writers’ Block to find out more on what your readers really think about your work.