Program News

Yiyun Li

Yiyun Li Wins a 2020 Windham-Campbell Prize in Fiction

Thursday, March 19, 2020
Yiyun Li (MFA, 2005) won a Windham-Campbell Prize in fiction in 2020.
Book covers for The Dutch House and The Most Fun We Ever Had.

Two Writers' Workshop alums are on the longlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction

Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni Claire Lombardo (MFA, 2017) and Ann Patchett (MFA, 1987) are on the longlist for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction.

Willa Richards awarded PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

Monday, March 2, 2020
Willa Richards was selected as a winner of the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers for her short story, "Failure to Thrive."
Yiyun Li Awarded the 2020 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award

Yiyun Li awarded the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award

Monday, March 2, 2020
Yiyun Li (MFA, 2005) accepted the 2020 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award at a March 2 ceremony in New York, NY for her 2019 novel, Where Reasons End.
Yaa Gyasi

Yaa Gyasi receives Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Literature

Monday, February 3, 2020
Yaa Gyasi is one of three recipients this year who has received a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Literature, which includes a cash prize of $50,000.
Renée Branum, Danielle Valore Evans, Anjali Sachdeva, Maggie Shipstead, Frances de Pontes Peebles, and Lance Olsen

Six Writers' Workshop alumni awarded 2020 Literature Fellowships

Thursday, January 16, 2020
The six Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni were among the 36 writers granted a 2020 Literature Fellowship in Prose from the National Endowment for the Arts.