Happy August, Lofters!
We have several great events coming up, and we have news on our next anthology, our next conference, and our newest groups.
We're on Instagram, and we have a very active closed Facebook group (visit the group, and request to join!).
Check our calendar for the most up-to-date information on our full slate of critique groups, think tanks, and more.
Read on, write on, and we hope to see you soon!
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StoryQuest 2019: Registration Now Open!
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It's time for our second StoryQuest conference! StoryQuest 2019 will be held on Saturday, October 5 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Loft.
StoryQuest is a new kind of conference. It’s a day’s journey through the process of becoming a successful writer. You will leave with your manuscript in a vastly improved place and with all the tools and support you need for success in the future.
Last year's debut conference focused on picture books. StoryQuest 2019 is for novelists—middle grade, YA, new adult, or adult.
We have three fantastic mentors—AC Gaughen, Tara Sullivan, and Francisco X. Stork—and a full day of learning.
Registration is now open! Visit our StoryQuest 2019 page for more information!
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The Loft's Next Anthology: "Friends and Anemones"
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We are going to publish another anthology!
Our next illustrated poetry anthology, Friends and Anemones: Ocean Poems for Children, will take authors and illustrators from finished draft of poems and illustrations through collaborative critiques from peers, into work with art directors and editors, to marketing alongside our veteran marketing team, and finally to getting their polished product into the hands of fans through events at local booksellers, libraries, schools, and other local communities.
As with your previous anthologies, the poems and illustrations will come from you! Check out our information page to learn what we are looking for, how to submit, and guidelines and dates!
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Classroom Skype Visits
a craft chat with author Josh Funk
Tuesday, August 13, 7:30 pm
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Thanks to recent technology, authors and illustrators can Skype into schools across the world. But how do you set up these virtual visits? What do you talk about? How do they differ from in-person visits? What are the pros and cons? Author Josh Funk has virtually visited hundreds of schools in the past few years, and in this craft chat, he'll share tips, best practices, and lessons he's learned to get you on the path to wowing student audiences across the globe!
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Author Panel: Navigating a Book Debut
Thursday, August 22, 7:30 pm
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Your book is finally going to be out in the world! But how do you prepare for this major step in your writing journey, and what pitfalls should you avoid? From picture books to middle grade and young adult novels, authors Rajani LaRocca, Cathy Ballou Mealey, Kate Narita, and Rebecca Kim Wells will share their experience and advice for navigating a book debut. Moderated by Rebecca Caprara.
- Free! ($5 donation requested from non-members)
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Getting Unstuck: Four Approaches For Moving That Project Along
a craft chat with author Chris Tebbetts
Sunday, August 25, 1:30 pm
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Special weekend craft chat! Writing is a perpetual balancing act between willful acts of creation and spontaneous moments of discovery. And sometimes—often—it feels as though it takes way more effort than it is "supposed" to take. How can we overcome that resistance? How can we up our own productivity, whatever that might mean for each of us? Author Chris Tebbetts will identify strategies for getting unstuck and look at four things we can always do when we're feeling stalled at any phase of the creative process.
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Making Your Money Work For You
a workshop with financial expert Kara Perez
Monday, September 9, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
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Tracking your writing income often plays second fiddle to the actual writing. But for your bank account and the IRS, where that money goes is important! We'll talk through systems and tools that track your overall writing income, from freelance pieces to book advances, and cover some common expenses that can be written off on your taxes. We'll also cover tracking income as it comes in, tools to send invoices and track business spending, common expenses to write off on taxes, and what paperwork you need to keep for financial and legal reasons.
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Condensed Tropical Thunder: Picture Book Manuscripts Step-by-Step
a one-day class with Charlesbridge editor Karen Boss
Saturday, September 28, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
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Did you want to take Karen's Topical Thunder six-week class but couldn't carve out the time? This condensed version is for you! We'll look at six specific topics as they relate to crafting picture-book manuscripts: beginnings, endings, pacing, plot, character, and language. People who take this intensive will be eligible to take the follow-up class, Rolling with the Thunder, the next time it's offered.
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The Speculative Fiction Variety Hour! *
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Join fellow Lofters Dave Pasquantonio and Allison Pottern Hoch for this Frankenstein-esq monthly meet-up focused on unpacking the magic behind speculative fiction. Each gathering, we will take a deep look at one or more pieces of speculative fiction and analyze what makes it tick, how it fits into the genre as a whole, and how we can dissect it and use it for parts (in our own writing or murderbots—you choose). We will leave time at the end for brainstorming, conversation, writing exercises, or whatever floats our intergalactic spaceship (it is a variety hour after all!) (* okay, it’s really 90 minutes—what are we, time travelers?).
Want to learn more? Dave and Allison will be hosting a sample session on Thursday, September 5 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at the Loft. We’ll talk about what speculative fiction is, why it’s awesome, and how it can be useful to writers in all genres. We hope to see you there! No need to RSVP—and if you can’t make this meeting, email Dave and let him know that you’re interested in the group.
Speculative fiction is a spectrum of multiple genres. It can include but is not limited to: science fiction, fantasy, horror, time travel, steampunk, cli-fi, dystopia, magical realism, futuristic tales, alternate histories, paranormal, or some combination therein. Any of these elements can play a primary, secondary, mashed-up, or even miniscule role in a work—it’ll still be able to keep dry beneath the umbrella of “speculative fiction.”
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Poetry Group: Next Meeting
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Excited about our next anthology? Or do you love and/or write poetry already? The next meeting of the Poetry Critique Group is on Wednesday, August 28 from 7:15 pm to 9:15 pm at the Loft. Questions? Contact Bonnie Gold for more info.
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Self/Indie Publishing Group: Next Meeting
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We had a kickoff meeting for a new group focusing on authors who want to self-publish or concentrate on becoming indie authors. We discussed all of the tasks needed to create and publish our works—all of the non-marketing things needed to send a book out into the world, things like ISBNs and covers and formatting and production. This group is perfect for you if you're committed to publishing your work in the next six months. Interested? Our next meeting is on Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 pm. Contact Dave Pasquantonio for more information!
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Our critique groups, think tanks, and write-ins are free for members, and we ask for a $5 donation from non-members. Dates or times can change, so check the Loft calendar for the most current information!
Here is the current list of our groups:
- Adult Critique Group (morning and evening groups)
- Middle Grade Critique Group (morning and evening groups)
- Indie Author Publishing Group
- Picture Book Critique Group (morning and evening groups)
- Poetry Critique Group
- Productivity and Accountability Group
- Query Support Group
- Speculative Fiction Variety Hour
- Teen Writers Think Tank
- Writer/Illustrator Critique Group
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The Benefits of Membership!
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The Writers' Loft is run 100% by volunteers, is fueled 100% by volunteer energy (and caffeine)—and 100% of our membership and programming dues go to rent, programming, and enhancing the Loft experience. Without our members, we'd have no Loft. Thank you, members!
Your support helps the Loft help local writers foster their creativity, strengthen their spirit, and grow professionally by providing them with a quiet writing space, educational programs, opportunities to connect with supportive colleagues, and access to industry experts, as well as opportunities to give back to the greater writing community.
With your membership, we:
- continue to offer great, affordable programming for local writers
- continue to pay our experts fairly
- continue to support young writers and offer all their programming free of charge
- continue to offer quiet writing space and community space
- expand our programming, and
- fund our young writer’s program with free workshops and year-long support for teens.
Paying members receive priority registration and discounts for sell-out events, wait-list preference, and more. Thank you!
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- Make sure to keep hydrated while writing! Use our water cooler for hot or cold water! And use our single-cup pod coffee makers when you need a hit of caffeine. You DO need a hit of caffeine right now, don't you?
- The wi-fi password is displayed in both rooms.
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We love our events, but we also love Lofters who come to the Loft to create, think, write, edit, and draw. Even if there is an event going on, feel free to drop by and be creative in our quiet room. We have coffee and free wi-fi and tables and chairs—everything a writer needs, including inspiration! See you soon!
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