Discover the Literary Arts Institute (LAI) at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University—your gateway to a vibrant literary community. Since 1997, LAI has been the hub for students passionate about creative writing and publishing. Engage with acclaimed authors through our Minnesota Street Visiting Writers Series, gain personalized mentorship from our McNeely Creative Writer in Residence, and explore the art of fine letterpress in collaboration with the Welle Book Arts Studio. Elevate your literary journey with us and become part of a dynamic community where your voice matters.
Jill Talbot is the author of The Last Year: Essays (Winner of Wandering Aengus Press Editor’s Prize, August 2023), as well as The Way We Weren’t: A Memoir and Loaded: Women and Addiction, a collection of personal essays. […]
Jill Talbot is our weeklong writer-in-residence. In addition to her public reading and craft talk, she will meet with undergraduate creative writers in the classroom and privately to provide constructive feedback and advice. […]
Visiting Writers Series
Experience the Literary Arts Institute’s “Writers Writing” series, where the campus and local community engage with today’s most influential authors. Join us for public readings, master classes, panel discussions, and conferences that delve into the creative process. Our events have featured esteemed writers, including Pulitzer Prize winners and U.S. Poet Laureates such as Anne Carson, Claudia Rankine, Robert Pinsky, and Marilynne Robinson. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with literary luminaries and enrich your understanding of contemporary literature.
Immerse yourself in the art of bookmaking at the Welle Book Arts Studio, where tradition meets innovation. Engage in hands-on experiences with vintage and modern equipment for papermaking, letterpress printing, and bookbinding. Enhance your studies in editing, publishing, art, history, or English, and bring your creative visions to life. Join a community of artists and writers dedicated to preserving and advancing the book arts.