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.

Loft Sampler Classes
Summer Samplers

Not sure which class to take this summer? Try out a sampler. Meet the teaching artist, fellow students, and dive into a quick lesson and see if you want to explore more deeply. 

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The Loft Writing Network 2
The Loft's New Writing Network

Get to know the Loft better, find connections with other writers, and even sign up for peer feedback and peer accountability sessions. 

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Movement Werk Event
Movement Werk

Please join us at this Juneteenth celebration led by the Minneapolis Poet Laureate Junauda Petrus entitled Movement Werk.

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Discover & Explore Classes
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Poetry with Halee Kirkwood
Date
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Halee Kirkwood
Halee Kirkwood
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Daily Writing with Heidi Newbauer
Date
Time
Thursday, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
blonde woman with a black and white blouse and a pearl bracelet smiling
Heidi Newbauer
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Screenwriting with Bo Kaprall
Date
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Bo Kaprall
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Creative Nonfiction with Briana Gwin
Date
Time
Monday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Briana Gwin
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Kid Lit with Lisa M. Bolt Simons
Date
Time
Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Lisa M. Bolt Simons
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Memoir with Nora Murphy
Date
Time
Wednesday, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Nora Murphy
Nora Murphy
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Audio Storytelling with Clare Boyle
Date
Time
Thursday, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Clare Boyle
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Mapping Your Creativity with Rachel Werner
Date
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
headshot of a bi-racial woman with reddish hair who is smiling
Rachel Werner
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Hybrid Forms with James Ellis
Date
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
James Ellis
James Ellis
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Creative Nonfiction with Savannah Brooks
Date
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Brooks leaning against and staring out a window while wearing a burnt-orange dress
Savannah Brooks
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: How to Get Published with Rachel Werner
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
headshot of a bi-racial woman with reddish hair who is smiling
Rachel Werner
Discover & Explore
In-Person
Single Session
Introduction to Narrative Podcast Writing
Date
Time
Saturday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Price
$74.00
$66.60 (Friend)
headshot of white woman with brown hair near a sunny window
Lillie Gardner
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Screenwriting with Lillie Gardner
Date
Time
Tuesday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
headshot of white woman with brown hair near a sunny window
Lillie Gardner
Discover & Explore
Online
8 Week
Kid Lit 101
Date
Jun 17, 2026 - Aug 12, 2026
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Price
$296.00
$266.40 (Friend)
Lisa M. Bolt Simons
Discover & Explore
Online
Sampler
Summer Sampler: Middle Grade Writing with Kristin Johnson
Date
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Price
$12.00
$10.80 (Friend)
Kristin Johnson
Kristin Johnson
Discover & Explore
In-Person
4 Week
Tarot for Creative Writing Generation, Structure, and Process
Date
Jun 18, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026
Time
Thursday, 6 p.m. - Thursday, 8 p.m.
Price
$148.00
$133.20 (Friend)
Cassandra Snow
Discover & Explore
Online
Single Session
Expressive Writing Practices for Serenity, Creativity, and Joy
Date
Time
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Kimberly Lee
Kimberly Lee
Discover & Explore
Online
6 Week
Storytelling with Sound: Intro to Audio Production
Date
Jun 25, 2026 - Aug 6, 2026
Time
Thursday, 10 a.m. - Thursday, 12 p.m.
Price
$222.00
$199.80 (Friend)
Clare Boyle
Discover & Explore
Online
Single Session
Fascination and Fiction
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Jessica Alexander
Jessica Alexander
Discover & Explore
Online
Single Session
Short Fiction Writing and Story Submission for Novices
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
Jenn Bouchard
Jenn Bouchard
Discover & Explore
Online
Single Session
Writing Power to the People
Date
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
blonde woman with a black and white blouse and a pearl bracelet smiling
Heidi Newbauer
Discover & Explore
Online
6 Week
The Beginner's Guide to Starting Your Novel in Six Weeks
Date
Jul 8, 2026 - Aug 12, 2026
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.
Price
$277.50
$249.75 (Friend)
Tamara Hogan sits on a couch, holding a cup of coffee
Tamara Hogan
Discover & Explore
In-Person
4 Week
Discovering Your Memoir's Lead Character
Date
Jul 15, 2026 - Aug 5, 2026
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Price
$148.00
$133.20 (Friend)
John Moe
Discover & Explore
Online
Double Session
Shadows and Sunshine: Writing and Reading about Grief
Date
Jul 18, 2026 - Jul 25, 2026
Time
Saturday, 9 a.m. - Saturday, 12 p.m.
Price
$111.00
$99.90 (Friend)
Lisa M. Bolt Simons
Discover & Explore
Online
Single Session
How to Get Your Work Accepted at Literary Conferences
Date
Time
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Price
$74.00
$66.60 (Friend)
Lyzette Wanzer
Discover & Explore
In-Person
Single Session
The Writing Process, Identity & Technique: How to Unlock Your Creative Potential
Date
Time
Wednesday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Price
$55.50
$49.95 (Friend)
David Mura
Discover & Explore
Online
Double Session
Developing a Daily Creative Writing Practice
Date
Aug 8, 2026 - Aug 15, 2026
Time
Saturday, 10 a.m. - Saturday, 12 p.m.
Price
$74.00
$66.60 (Friend)
blonde woman with a black and white blouse and a pearl bracelet smiling
Heidi Newbauer