The Loft Blog

A few weeks ago, we listed the best virtual fests you could tune into in May and June. Now July is up. Keep on reading to find ways you can stay plugged into the lit scene even while you're staying home.

Every post in this series will include a weekly reading and a list of prompts in response to that reading. Some of them will be focused on craft; some will ask you to evaluate content. This week, we're focusing on the short story "Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu and the importance of scene.

This week's Family Book Club pick is SLAY by Brittney Morris. This wonderfully imaginative and poignant YA title celebrates community while recognizing the inherent risks marginalized people encounter when creating or finding their own.

Every post in this series will include a weekly reading and a list of prompts in response to that reading. Some of them will be focused on craft; some will ask you to evaluate content. This week, we're focusing on "in lieu of a poem, i'd like to say" by Danez Smith and the power of finding joy.

This week's Family Book Club pick is The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld. This beautifully illustrated picture book explores what friendship looks like in the face of sorrow and has to support—and be supported by—those you love.

For summer, we've refocused our efforts from a daily social media prompt to a weekly series that offers a reading and series of prompts that stem from the reading. We believe this is more educational, engaging, and thorough when it comes to thinking through our own writing in relation to the world.

School is officially out for the summer! But with COVID still significantly affecting our country, we recognize this summer may look a little different—a lot more at-home time with the family, for one. That's why we've started this new series, as a way to offer more activities for your family.

I AM (Artist in Motion) is an interview series meant to spotlight indigenous artists and artists of color in the Twin Cities. The twelfth and final in the series, this interview is with Valérie Déus, a Haitian artist, poet, and radio host, among other occupations.

For many people, writing is more than work—it means producing true works of art. Though many perceive literature as an art form of a bygone era, that is definitely not the case. In fact, quality writers can simultaneously produce artistic content while also making a great living.

One week ago today, Minneapolis and the world witnessed the murder of George Floyd by members of the MPD. Our community and country has a long, permissive legacy of police violence and trauma aimed at the Black community. The Loft unequivocally stands with the #BlackLivesMatter

One of the pandemic silver linings that Wordplay 2020 really highlighted is that a virtual community can exist anywhere and everywhere. You didn't need to buy a plane ticket or gas up your car to attend—it was all happening right there in your home. Well, Wordplay isn't the only virtual lit fest.

I AM (Artist in Motion) is an interview series meant to spotlight indigenous artists and artists of color in the Twin Cities. The eleventh in the series, this interview is with Keno Evol, poet and founder and director of Black Table Arts.