IWP Starts Year with Three Free Events

August 31, 2010

This year the International Writing Program (IWP) is kicking off the beginning of the academic year with a series of three free events Friday, September 3 and Sunday the 5th. Each Year the IWP brings authors from all over the world to Iowa City. This year, 38 authors from 32 countries will be able to experience life on an American campus, and in an UNESCO city of literature. Friday from noon to 1:30, Milosz Biedrzycki, Andrea Hirata, Beverly Perez Rego and Sölvi Björn Sigurdsson will lead a panel discussion "Translation/Writing Across Languages" in Room A of the Iowa City Public Library. Later, at 5pm, Amilcar Bettega and Pola Oloixarac will read at Shambaugh House. Finally, Maryia Martysevich and Billy Karanja Kahora will read 4pm Sunday at Prairie Lights bookstore.

All of these events are free to the public. For more information on the authors, follow this link to the IWP Writers page. The IWP hosts events featuring the visiting authors all year long. For information on upcoming events, check the IWP calendar.

Fiction | Poetry | Nonfiction | International Writing Program
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Former Writers’ Workshop Faculty Member Pays His Way with Poetry

August 11, 2010

Simon Armitage wanted to see if he could earn a living with only his poetry. In order to test whether this was possible, he set out to walk Pennine Way, a 264-mile trail across the English countryside, with no money. In order to cover his expenses, he asked for donations from attendees of nightly poetry readings he held in pubs, halls and houses along the way. In a recent BBC News article, Armitage explains that, even though he publishes his poetry in books, he still considers it important to read in front of people. The experiment, which started July 8 and ended July 26, proved a success, as he was able to pay his way with the earnings from the readings. Armitage plans to write a book about his trials and the people he met on his journey.

Armitage was born in Huddersfield, England. His work includes poetry, plays and novels. He has received several awards for his work, and taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He currently teaches at Manchester Metropolitan University. Click here for the full article from BBC News.

Iowa Writers' Workshop | Poetry | Faculty
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Director Amy Margolis’s Reflections on the Iowa Summer Writing Festival

August 06, 2010

In the July edition of Spectator@IOWA, Iowa Summer Writing Festival director Amy Margolis discusses what makes the festival successful year after year. She also talks about the types of classes offered by the festival and the part Iowa City as a community plays in the festival's success. The festival attracts large numbers of people looking to sharpen their writing skills each year. Margolis states that she is continually amazed at how quickly people pick up good writing habits after attending just a few workshops.

Margolis has been working for the ISWF for 20 years, beginning as a graduate assistant while she was a student in the Writers' Workshop. Click Here for the full interview.

Iowa Writers' Workshop | Fiction | Poetry | Nonfiction
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10,000 Pages of Poetry in 100 Days

July 21, 2010

As part of the University of Iowa Main Library's celebration of Iowa City being named a UNESCO City of Literature, Dave Morice, also known as "Dr. Alphabet," has pledged to write 100 pages of poetry a day for 100 days. Morice will spend four hours a day working on the poetry at sponsored locations such as Hamburg Inn and the Main Library during scheduled events. He hopes that this will help people see the possibilities that poetry holds.

Morice has written 60 poetry marathons in Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and London, England. In 1975, Morice wrapped an entire city block in Iowa City in poetry in a piece called "Poetry City, USA." He lives in Iowa City and works in Cedar Rapids at Kirkwood Community College. See the Press Citizen for the full story.

Iowa Writers' Workshop | Alumni | Poetry | UNESCO
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Writers’ Workshop Graduate Catherine Knepper Helps Authors Get Published

July 13, 2010

Catherine Knepper, a 2004 Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate, has found a somewhat unorthodox way to put her education to use. She has started her own business in Des Moines, Catherine Knepper Ghostwriting, from which she now edits and ghostwrites. She states that it is extremely difficult for an unknown writer to get published and finds helping such individuals very rewarding. Most of the business she gets is from word of mouth and referrals from agents. Having opened just last August, Knepper states that she has already had to turn people away; a situation she believes is due to the changing publishing environment.

Click Here to read Knepper's story from the Des Moines Register. In the article, Knepper also provides tips for authors looking to get published.

Iowa Writers' Workshop | Alumni | Fiction | Poetry | Nonfiction
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