Class

Into the Unknown: The Mindful Writer's Journey

We sit down to write. And sometimes — when we are quiet enough, open enough, patient — words rise from beneath the ordinary mind and surprise us. An image we didn't know we carried. A truth we didn't know we held. A poem we didn't know was waiting.
This is the territory we will explore together.

Drawing on poets and writers who have navigated this experience — Keats, Rilke, Tsvetaeva, O'Connor, Dillard, Kenyon, Oliver and others — we will examine what happens when writers cultivate receptivity and mindful attention as a creative practice. Class time will be a mix of close reading, discussion, and generative writing exercises. There is no workshopping of student work; this is a generative class focused entirely on new writing. Students will write in class and are welcome to share what they write, but sharing is never required.

No prior writing experience is needed — only curiosity and a willingness to slow down. Writers of all levels and genres are welcome. No advance reading or writing required.

Come ready to be surprised.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.