iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

This week on the pod: a look inside the Loft's Year-Long Writing Projects featuring a poem by participant Aurora Masum-Javed and a convo with participant Susan Schaars. Full episode: www.buzzsprout.com/2639994/epis...

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Kyle Tran Myhre @guante.info · 05/10/2026

Something I love about spoken word is that it doesn't always lend itself to snappy pullquotes; my favorite performances *build* both in energy and message; you have to listen to the whole thing to get it. Such a striking, generous poem on what can be a difficult topic. (CC: @litbowl.bsky.social)

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Did you miss our convo with Hilal Isler last week? Such a good one, plus we feature a stunning poem by Hieu Minh Nguyen. Clip below and full episode here: www.buzzsprout.com/2639994/epis...

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Are you ready for feedback from a literary agent? Author @alysandra.bsky.social had to learn what that question even meant as she worked on her new novel The Stolen Women. Full episode here: www.buzzsprout.com/2639994/epis...

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Latest episode of the podcast— @alysandra.bsky.social on reclaiming myths and telling new truths, a new Mission Moment segment with Loft staffer Zach Goldberg, and a preview of Valeria Luiselli's visit to the Loft on Oct 8 www.buzzsprout.com/2639994/epis...

Image of Loft podcast episode #4 featuring an image of author and teaching artist Alysandra Dutton with her book cover of the Stolen Women.

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Tina @aboutness.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I only realized just now that I never posted this video of me reading in the Loft Mentor Series @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social here on BlueSky. youtu.be/gyIf2QGhSXA I posted about the event when it was coming up, but that's all. Only five months late!

youtu.be

Loft Mentor Series: Tina Gross

YouTube video by aruwiri

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This was a really fun episode. A knockout poem from @hieuminh.bsky.social and a dynamic conversation with @hilalisler.bsky.social about her new collection Har Mar. www.buzzsprout.com/2639994/epis...

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Saddened to hear of the loss of Annie Dillard. A giant across genres and lover of what lit can bring to the world. The title poem of her found poem collection seems most apt to honor her memory. She surely did make a beautiful thing: voetica.com/poem/9659

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UMN English @umnenglish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A few (free) tickets left for our George Saunders event in Minneapolis next Tuesday! He'll be reading from the #1 NYT bestseller VIGIL, and be in conversation with Prof Julie Schumacher (another fiction writer, of course, so craft tips on the agenda). Co-sponsored by @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social

northrop.umn.edu

Esther Freier Lecture With George Saunders — UMN Conversations at Northrop

The Esther Freier Lectures in Literature Series presents New York Times bestselling author George Saunders in conversation with Professor Julie Schumacher on Sept. 22, 2026 in Minneapolis.

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Looking for a little pick-me-up today? The Loft attended Youth Pride Night this summer and collected anonymous participant voices sharing encouragement and inspiration for their fellow attendees.

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UMN English @umnenglish.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

American Occupation is co-edited by MFA alum Su Hwang w/ an afterword by Prof Douglas Kearney--plus contributions by Profs V. V. Ganeshananthan and Charles Baxter and alums Victoria Blanco, Ed Bok Lee, Jim Moore, and chaun webster, and current MFA student Zeke Caligiuri--among other writers. Jan 26!

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UMN English @umnenglish.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Prof @megiddings.bsky.social today publishes her debut story collection Black Arts (Amistad), with a launch 7pm tonight at Magers & Quinn—congratulations! "High marks for this ebullient, ideas-driven collection" - Publishers Weekly. Giddings is the author most recently of Meet Me at the Crossroads:

harpercollins.com

Black Arts

The very first story collection from the critically acclaimed, visionary author of the novels Lakewood, The Women Could Fly, and Meet Me at the Crossroads O...

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Megan Giddings @megiddings.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

hello, today the final story in my collection, "How to Be a Black Writer" is in @literaryhub.bsky.social: lithub.com/how-to-be-a-... the story is in stylistic conversation with Lorrie Moore's "how to become a writer" and Kiese Laymon's "you are the second person"

From the screenshotted excerpt: "You chose this program based on money and because you never had a Black person of any gender teach you anything about writing or reading. You learned math and Black Studies and the safest way to blow and push life into another person from other Black people, but none of them had taught you how to tell a story.

There is a family legend about how you learned how to read, that one day you were sitting at a kitchen table, four years old, beads in your hair because you were fresh back from a visit to your Mom-Mom’s, and you said something like, “Good morning. I hate Mondays. Lasagna,” and your parents realized you were reading a comic aloud to yourself. Reading came to you like a sudden burst into fruit brought forth by unseen winds.

You wanted a lineage. Sometimes, creating one doesn’t take generations upon generations. It can be established, at least in the arts, with the right, thoughtful conversation or idea passed around a table in two hours and forty-five minutes on a rainy Tuesday afternoon.

I want to tell you that you’ll make it through this year. But did you?

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The Fire is Here: Staying Still with Hieu Minh Nguyen @hieuminh.bsky.social is in one week: Sep 12. Guests in conversation include Danez Smith and Aurora Masum-Javed. You really don't want to miss this one! loft.org/events/fire-...

Hieu Minh Nguyen in black and white with photos of Danez Smith and Aurora Masum-Javed. Also includes an image of Hieu's new book Staying Still.

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UMN English @umnenglish.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Collaborating with @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social on a Sept 30 celebration of the short story! Three of our profs, all novelists, are publishing story collections this summer: Aamina Ahmad, @megiddings.bsky.social and Julie Schumacher will read and discuss short story craft. Free w/ registration:

cla.umn.edu

Short Story Summit

Professors Aamina Ahmad, Megan Giddings, and Julie Schumacher read from their new story collections.

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

The Loft will be closed this Friday January 23rd. ICE Out of Minnesota.

JANUARY 23, 2026

The Loft Literary Center belongs to a community rooted in language, creativity, and the belief that stories and the people who tell them deserve safety, dignity, and the freedom to live and speak without fear.

We stand behind basic human and constitutional rights and freedoms, including those protected by the 1st, 4th, and 5th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. These rights have been consistently ignored and defied by federal authorities in Minnesota.

bell hooks once asked, "Is it possible to sustain life? Can we embrace an ethos of sustainability that is not solely about the appropriate care of the world's resources, but is also about the creation of meaning—the making of lives that we feel are worth living?" In that spirit, our mission includes the building of just, life-sustaining communities. We are committed to doing everything in our power to uphold the conditions that allow art, dialogue, democratic participation, and human flourishing.

Many of the writers who shape our programs and our team are immigrants, refugees, people of color, and come from immigrant families. On January 23rd, the Loft is closing in solidarity with the economic blackout movement. We are calling on federal authorities to act lawfully, respect due process, and honor their constitutional oaths.

We stand in solidarity with the courageous organizations and neighbors across Minnesota who are working for accountability, justice, and safety, some of which are highlighted here:

ACLU Minnesota: aclu-mn.org
COPAL: copalmn.org
Guante’s Resource Page: guante.info/try/
Immigrant Defense Network: immigrantdefensenetwork.org
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: ilcm.org
MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee: miracmn.com
MONARCA Rapid Response Line: monarcamn.org
WFM’s Immigrant Rapid Response Fund: wfmn.org/funds/immigrant-rapid-response

Sign the ICE Out MN pledge: loftlit.co/iceout

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Davi Gray (she/they) @davigray.com · 12/08/2025

Sherrie Fernandez-Williams (she/her) earned her MFA in Writing from Hamline University. She was a 2021-2023 Jerome Hill Artist Fellow and a 2021 Black Voices in Children’s Literature winner. Author of Goddess of the Whole Self and Soft: A Memoir. Fernandez-Williams has published…

Photograph of Sherrie Fernandez-Williams, a Black woman with glasses and very long dreadlocs. In this photo she is wearing a blue headband and patterned blue-and-gold shirt.

For more, follow @reentrylab, or go to reentrylab.org

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Did you see the Loft's video from our activity at Youth Pride Night at ‪@twincitiespride.bsky.social? It is pretty heartwarming to hear these joyful, fierce, proud young voices. ‬https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcX71HayXv0

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Shannon Gibney @shannongibney.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

There’s still a few spaces left in @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social ‘s summer youth writing intensive, for ages 14-18, the week of July 28! 🙌🏽✨ Access funds are available.

loft.org

2025 Loft Youth Writing Intensive: Ages 14 To 18 | The Loft Literary Center

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Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 23/06/2025

There are still some spots left in my half-day online workshop this Saturday on The Power of Retelling for @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social. If you're working on a retelling, thinking of working on one, or you just think they're neat, come join us!

loft.org

The Power of Retelling in Fiction | The Loft Literary Center

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Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D. @cassiepremosteele.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Columbia, SC, will be a #poetry vortex this week! And I’m teaching poeTRYhealing for @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social too! Check out my Green Ink Substack and *bonus points* for reading to the end: a photo of my wife and me on our tenth wedding anniversary! 💜🏳️‍🌈🥰 open.substack.com/pub/cassiepr...

open.substack.com

Columbia, SC will be a poetry vortex this week!

Join me for the Soda City Poetry Festival and poeTRYhealing with The Loft Literary Center

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

We have some rush pay-what-you-can tickets now available for Tuesday night's recording of the Writing Excuses podcast. This is a rare opportunity—join us! loft.org/events/writi...

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Kelly Van Sant @agentkellyvansant.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

There are twelve spots left in my online From Page to Publication class through @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social this summer! This thread explains more about what we’ll be covering (hint: everything!) loft.org/classes/8-we...

loft.org

8-Week: From Page to Publication | The Loft Literary Center

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Jeneé Skinner @jskin94.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

If anyone has novel excerpts in need of tender love and care, consider joining my virtual workshop w @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social starting Wednesday, June 18. The link's in the comments. DM me if you have any questions. And if you can, please spread the word 😊

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Lynne Jensen Lampe @ljensenlampe.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

I stopped writing poetry for years, then began online classes thru @hugohouse.bsky.social & @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social & elsewhere. In 2022 Ice Floe Press published my debut. Last nite I headlined a reading series w one of those teachers, poet @amiewhittemore.bsky.social. A wow moment for me!

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Just announced: Two free storytelling workshops on June 29 and July 7 at Pillsbury House in remembrance of the five-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder. June 29 with @mkdordiggsy.bsky.social loft.org/events/georg... July 7 with @therafaeljohnson.bsky.social loft.org/events/georg...

July 7 storytelling event graphic featuring A Rafael Johnson and a painted image of George Floyd.

June 29 storytelling remembrance event featuring image of Michael Kleber-Diggs and painted image of George Floyd.

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Kathryn Kysar @darklake.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Saturday, June 7th 4:00 PM at Open Book in Minneapolis. Free. A bevy of brilliant readers. ASL interpreted. Join us! @krisbigalk.bsky.social @heideerdrich.bsky.social @hawona.bsky.social @mkdordiggsy.bsky.social @raymondluczak.com @josinamm.bsky.social @slipfast.bsky.social @sagirahs.bsky.social

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Cassie Premo Steele, Ph.D. @cassiepremosteele.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

I’m excited to announce that I’m a Teaching Artist at @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social and I’m really looking forward to teaching this class in June! #writing #amwriting #writers #BookSky #writingcommunity #poet #poets #poems #poetry #indie #publisher #teaching #writingclass #trama #traumainformed

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

This emerged out of the Loft's Lit!Commons program. It is so beautiful.

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Congratulations to Loft teaching artist @darklake.bsky.social, the 2025 George Garrett award winner at AWP! awpwriter.org/AWP/AWP/Cont...

awpwriter.org

Overview

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Maggie Smith @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

We are here. I love that. Thanks for this and for joining us yesterday, Amanda. 💚🙏

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Gearing up for the sold out @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social event tonight with Magers and Quinn.

Loft and Magers and Quinn stage ready for the event

Lineup of “Dear Writer” books by Maggie Smith ready to be signed.

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

We’re at Queer Writes today at the Machine Shop. Come say hi and spin the wheel for a blind date with a poem!

The Loft table at Queer Writes. Features multicolored envelopes with themed love poems inside. Spin the wheel to win yours!

The wheel of love. Blind dates include heartbreak, transient love, complicated love, eternal love, unrequited love, love lost, first love, physical love, sacrificial love, self love

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Kathryn Kysar @darklake.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Poets and Writers: Want to renew your commitment to your writing? The @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social's LIt!Commons program is an innovative online community with talented teaching artists including @allisonwyss.bsky.social, @artcoulson.com, and more. Check us out! loft.thinkific.com/courses/lit-...

loft.thinkific.com

Lit!Commons: Poet Season 2

This pathway, led by Kathryn Kysar, is focused on skillbuilding in your poetry practice. Live sessions will include Q&As, conversation, exercises, and shared support.

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Maggie Smith @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Because maybe you need this poem as much as I do.

The Thing Is
BY ELLEN BASS

to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you’ve held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you down like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you, again.

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Melissa Florer-Bixler @melissaf-b.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

A poem for my last day working at the writing center for the semester (by Joseph Fasano)

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Rosanna @rosannaarquette.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Buy all banned books as presents

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Jennifer S. Brown @jsbrown.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

I am excited to be teaching an online class on metaphor at @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social on Feb 1. If you're looking to improve your writing or better understand what you're reading, this one-day class is for you. Sign up here: loft.org/classes/unlo... #writingclass #writingcommunity

On-line class on Feb 1, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time/ 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time/11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Time

Class description: How to better read and write metaphors

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Words Without Borders & WWB Campus @wwborders.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

IT'S PERCIVAL EVERETT! Percival Everett, author of JAMES, is the winner of the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction! "Hope is really no substitute for strategy." bookshop.org/a/169/978038...

Percival Everett stands at the podium. The text "PERCIVAL EVERETT, James, Winner, 2024 National Book Award for Fiction" is overlaid.

Percival Everett smiles as he's patted on the back and lit up in a spotlight.

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The Loft Literary Center @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Reminded of this from the Loft archive in 2017. Still so powerful and perhaps never more relevant. The Loft Presents: Danez Smith "Let America Be America Again" youtu.be/b6Im4b3kdfc

youtu.be

The Loft Presents: Danez Smith "Let America Be America Again"

YouTube video by The Loft Literary Center

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