For more than 80 years writers have come to Iowa City to work on their manuscripts and to exchange ideas about writing and reading with each other and with the faculty. Many of them have gone on to publish award-winning work after graduating. With the spirit of an arts colony and the benefits of the research University of which we are a part, the Writers' Workshop continues to foster and to celebrate American literature in all its varied forms.

About the Writers' Workshop

How to Apply

Upcoming Events

Hajar Hussaini: Reading and Conversation promotional image

Hajar Hussaini: Reading and Conversation

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 7:00pm
Glenn Schaeffer Library
Hajar Hussaini visits the Writers' Workshop for a reading and conversation
Art & Write Night promotional image

Art & Write Night

Friday, September 4, 2026 6:00pm to 8:00pm
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces.

Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists.

Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session and...

Live From Prairie Lights | IWP Sunday Afternoon Reading Series | Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad, Nina Dragičević, Hidayat Nordin, and Zubair Siddiqui

Sunday, September 6, 2026 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Prairie Lights Books
Please join us for our annual IWP Sunday Afternoon Reading Series! This week’s event features IWP Residents Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (Netherlands), Nina Dragičević (Slovenia), and Hidayat Nordin (Singapore). They will be accompanied by Iowa Literary Translation MFA candidate Zubair Siddiqui.
Get Events Reminders All events

Program News

A headshot of Marilynne Robinson, the F. Wendell Miller Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa.

Marilynne Robinson honored with Distinguished Alumni Award

Monday, August 31, 2026
Center for Advancement
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and one of the most influential figures in the history of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Robinson shaped a generation of writers over her 25-year tenure as the F. Wendell Miller Professor of English and Creative Writing.
A headshot of Christopher Merrill, who has been named the 15th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization.

Christopher Merrill named 2026 Paul Engle Prize winner

Friday, August 28, 2026
Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature
Christopher Merrill has been named the 15th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization.
A headshot of award-winning author and Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate Tony Tulathimutte, the inaugural recipient of the Jack Galef Literary Arts Award.

Iowa grad Tony Tulathimutte receives inaugural Jack Galef Literary Arts Award

Thursday, August 20, 2026
Sara Epstein Moninger
Iowa Now
Award-winning author and Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate Tony Tulathimutte is the inaugural recipient of the Jack Galef Literary Arts Award. Tulathimutte is a visiting faculty member in residence at the workshop this fall.
All Program News