Our alumni work as teachers and writers across many disciplines and publish books in every genre. 6 recent U.S. Poets Laureate have been graduates of the Writers' Workshop and some of the most distinctive, celebrated voices in contemporary poetry and fiction have come through our program and used their time here to develop their work and their voice.

"I do not in fact know what I would have done, or who I would have been as an adult, if I hadn’t lived in and around Iowa City"

 - Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, MFA Writers' Workshop

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News, Publications, and Awards

Jamel Brinkley wins 2024 Maya Angelou Book Award Juan Felipe Herrera awarded 2024 MacArthur Genius Grant Ruthvika Rao shortlisted for the Center For Fiction First Novel Prize Elizabeth Willis and m.s. RedCherries longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award in Poetry Tony Tulathimutte longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award in Fiction V. V. Ganeshananthan wins the 2024 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction Jayne Anne Phillips wins the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction Jorie Graham, Yiyun Li, and Robyn Schiff are finalists for the 2024 Pulitzer Prizes in Fiction and Poetry

Before the Mango Ripens, by Afabwaje Kurian

Before the Mango Ripens 
Afabwaje Kurian 
September 24, 2024 | Fiction

The Goner School, by Jessica Laser

The Goner School 
Jessica Laser 
September 27, 2024 | Poetry

 

Small Rain, by Garth Greenwell

Small Rain 
Garth Greenwell 
September 3, 2024 | Fiction

 

Terminal Maladies book cover

Terminal Maladies 
Okwudili Nebeolisa

 

The Latest Alumni Updates

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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Wednesday! July 23 at 7 p.m. in Prairie Lights bookstore, Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo will read from her debut novel, 'The Tiny Things Are Heavier', joined in conversation by local writer, translator, and professor, Bruna Dantas Lobato. events.uiowa.edu/event/32750

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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Wednesday! July 23 at 5 pm in the Frank Conroy Reading Room at Dey House/ Glenn Schaeffer Library, the chamber quartet, Room 1078 will perform a free concert events.uiowa.edu/event/33148

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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Tonight!Tuesday, July 22 at 7 pm in Prairie Lights bookstore, Karen E. Bender will read from her newest book, 'The Words of Dr. L & Other Stories' events.uiowa.edu/event/32749

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Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Friday! 7/18 at 7 pm, in the Frank Conroy Reading Room at Glenn Schaeffer Library/Dey House, Workshop summer faculty members Margaret Ross, Evan James and Claire Lombardo will read from their work events.uiowa.edu/event/33010

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Monday, July 14, 2025
Tuesday! 7/15 at 7 pm in Prairie Lights bookstore, Workshop alum and current Iowa Summer Writing Festival instructor Jared Joseph will read from his newest book, 'Soft Lighting' events.uiowa.edu/event/32751

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Monday, June 23, 2025
Tonight! June 23 at 7 p.m. in Prairie Lights bookstore, Lee Cole will read from his newest novel, 'Fulfillment'. events.uiowa.edu/event/32744
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We love hearing from alumni! If you have news to share, reach out to us!