Pathway: Discover & Explore

Discover & Explore Offerings

Perfect for beginners or the creatively curious, this pathway offers a welcoming space to build confidence, uncover new interests, and connect with other curious readers and writers.

Spring Student Reading
Spring Student Reading | May 8

The Loft presents an evening of student readings! Come join us for a showcase of some of the Loft's talented students, as they read some of their own work.

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Square promotional image for a picture book craft talk featuring author and illustrator Don Tate. Don Tate stands smiling in a denim shirt, hands clasped. His signature is prominently displayed over his torso. The background is bright pink with a grid texture and a border of illustrated picture book covers. Large bold text reads: “The ABCs and 123s (and other cliches) of Picture Book Writing.” The Loft Literary Center logo appears at the top, along with a black and white calendar icon showing May 31.
Craft Talk: ABCs and 123s of Picture Book Writing | May 31

Please join us for a craft talk on writing picture books with the 2024 McKnight judge in Children’s Literature, Don Tate!

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Girl looking at bulletin board for resources
Community Postings

Find an event, book club, writing partner, or other literary resource. Or post your own! 

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Discover & Explore Classes
In-Person
Single Session
A Class for Writers of Color and Indigenous Writers: The ABCs of Narrative Construction
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Price
$40.00
$36.00 (Friend)
David Mura
In-Person
Single Session
A Class for Writers of Color and Indigenous Writers: Writing Immersive Worlds and Authentic Cultural Representation in Children’s Literature
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Price
$40.00
$36.00 (Friend)
Payal Doshi
Online
Single Session
Revolution, Revelation, and Joy: A Class for Queer and Trans Writers
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Price
$74.00
$66.60 (Friend)
W.L. Bolm
In-Person
Single Session
Let's Talk: Writing Dynamic Dialogue–Summer Edition
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Lillie Gardner
Online
Single Session
Imagining a Better World Through Speculative Fiction (June)
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Cristeta Boarini
Online
Single Session
Imagining a Better World Through Speculative Fiction (July)
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Cristeta Boarini
Online
Single Session
Summer Sampler: Fiction with Cristeta Boarini
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Price
$8.00
$7.20 (Friend)
Cristeta Boarini
Online
4 Week
Discovering the Lyric Essay: Writing Against the Norm in 4 Weeks
Date
Jul 23, 2025 - Aug 13, 2025
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Price
$148.00
$133.20 (Friend)
Alexis M. Wright
Online
Single Session
Summer Sampler: Creative Process with Brenda Hudson
Date
Time
Wednesday, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Price
$8.00
$7.20 (Friend)
Brenda Hudson
Online
Single Session
Flash Memoir: Life Stories in Under 500 Words
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Brenda Hudson
Online
Single Session
Poetry About a Difficult Past: One Approach
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Price
$74.00
$66.60 (Friend)
Elisabeth Blair
Online
Single Session
Pitching for Publication
Date
Time
Saturday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Shawna Kenney
Online
Single Session
Writing as Renewal: A Toolkit for Restorative Storytelling
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Lyndsey Ellis
Online
Single Session
Summer Sampler: Short Story with Maggie May
Date
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$8.00
$7.20 (Friend)
Maggie May
Online
6 Week
6-Week: Compelling Character Creation for Every Genre
Date
Jul 9, 2025 - Aug 13, 2025
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Price
$222.00
$199.80 (Friend)
Maggie May
Online
Single Session
Summer Sampler: Fiction with Rafael Frumkin
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Price
$8.00
$7.20 (Friend)
Rafael Frumkin
Online
6 Week
Audio Storytelling
Date
Jul 9, 2025 - Aug 13, 2025
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Price
$222.00
$199.80 (Friend)
Clare Boyle
In-Person
6 Week
6-Week: Introduction to Fiction
Date
Jul 16, 2025 - Aug 20, 2025
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Price
$222.00
$199.80 (Friend)
Holly Day
In-Person
8 Week
8-Week: Writing About Music
Date
Jun 19, 2025 - Aug 7, 2025
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - Thursday, 8 p.m.
Price
$296.00
$266.40 (Friend)
Kevin Schwandt
Online
Single Session
Social Media Strategy: Content and Conversation
Date
Time
Thursday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Price
$74.00
$66.60 (Friend)
Rachel Werner
Online
Single Session
Introduction to Food Writing
Date
Time
Thursday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Rachel Werner
Online
6 Week
6-Week: Beneath the Surface–Exploring Subtext
Date
Jul 17, 2025 - Aug 21, 2025
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - Thursday, 8 p.m.
Price
$222.00
$199.80 (Friend)
Allison Wyss
Online
6 Week
The Fab Five in 6 Weeks: Writing With the Senses
Date
Jun 17, 2025 - Jul 22, 2025
Time
Tuesday, 10 a.m. - Tuesday, 12 p.m.
Price
$222.00
$199.80 (Friend)
Kimberly Lee
In-Person
Single Session
When and Where: Creating Place for Writers of Color and Indigenous Writers
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Price
$37.00
$33.30 (Friend)
Carolyn Holbrook
Online
Single Session
Experimentation with Hybrid Memoir
Date
Time
Saturday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Marianne Manzler
In-Person
4 Week
4-Week: Writing Novels for Middle Grade
Date
Jul 24, 2025 - Aug 14, 2025
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - Thursday, 8 p.m.
Price
$148.00
$133.20 (Friend)
Kat Shepherd