Improve your writing skills in a relaxed setting. For nearly 10 years, I've been trying demystify the mysterious act of writing in workshops at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. The sessions are a lot of fun for me and, by all indications, for students as well. "Really enjoyed the class," read a typical comment. "Instructor is very dynamic, humorous and punchy. The time really flew."

Apostle Islands Travel Writing Retreat
2-8 August 2010


I'm offering a fun new class this summer! Travel, write, and learn to earn at this travel writing retreat in northern Wisconsin, sponsored by the Loft. For three days you'll sea kayak among the rock formations and beaches of the Apostle Islands and camp overnight. We'll explore the historic town of Bayfield, and discuss history and environmental issues with local experts. Then we'll devote three days to the basics of travel writing, including pitching an idea, working with editors, and structuring short pieces and features. Every student will write a query letter, a 250-word travel short, and a 1,000-word feature or essay.

Register online at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis (www.loft.org) or by calling 612-379-8999.

Travel Writing: From Destination to Finished Story
If you have a passion to travel, boundless curiosity about places and people, and an urge to write your own experiences, you're on your way to becoming a travel writer. In this class, you'll tour the wide range of travel articles—from service pieces to essays. We'll discuss how to report for depth and accuracy; identify the "story"; bring places and characters to life; and structure the final piece. For inspiration, we'll sample excerpts from travel books and stories by Isabella Tree, Ryszard Kapuscinski, Jonathan Raban, Molly O'Neill, and others. Check www.loft.org for details.

Writing and Selling the Magazine Feature
Want to write and publish nonfiction magazine and newspaper features on today's hot topics, interesting people, compelling ideas, and alluring places? This course will explore the process from the beginning: How to get ideas, research markets, write queries and pitch ideas to an editor, craft a magazine article from beginning to effective ending. Check www.loft.org.

Selling to Magazines and Newspapers
This workshop is geared entirely to the basics of the pitch. We'll discuss how to research potential markets, generate and refine story ideas, craft queries, and develop a relationship with an editor. We'll spend over an hour writing and refining queries, so bring a laptop, or pen and notebook. This class is for students with some writing experience and a desire to break into newspaper or magazine feature writing. Students will leave with a checklist for evaluating magazines and potential markets, a five-point outline for query letters, sample query letters, short summaries of copyright and contracts, and a list of writers' organizations and sources of more information. Go to www.loft.org to register.

Business Writing: The Short Profile
Organizations of all kinds—from community groups to international corporations—need profiles of members, employees and projects to fill their newsletters and websites. Too often, profiles are unfocused, self-serving, and boring. In this workshop, we'll learn the fundamentals of writing short profiles of people and projects so they serve the organization's needs and interest the reader. We'll begin by learning how to look for the story and then to bring the subject to life with action, anecdotes, and telling details. Go to www.loft.org to register.