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, Justin Torres, and Robyn Schiff are named 2024 Guggenheim fellows Ada Zhang receives a 2024 Whiting Award Lan Samantha Chang receives 2024 Arts and Letters Award from the Academy of Arts and Letters Jamel Brinkley is a finalist for the 2024 PEN/Faulkner Award Jamel Brinkley is shortlisted for the 2024 Aspen Words Literary Prize

Anita de Monte Laughs Last, by Xóchitl González

Anita de Monte Laughs Last 
Xóchitl González 
March 5, 2024 | Fiction

36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem, by Nam Le

36 Ways of Writing
a Vietnamese Poem 
Nam Le 
March 5, 2024 | Poetry

The Great Divide, by Cristina Henríquez

The Great Divide
Cristina Henríquez 
March 5, 2024 | Fiction

Death Styles, by Joyelle McSweeney

Death Styles 
Joyelle McSweeney 
April 2, 2024 | Poetry

Browse Publications See Prizes & Awards

The Latest Updates

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Monday, April 22, 2024
Poetry by Daniel Khalastchi, "A Stain on All Our Houses," featured on Poetry Daily earlier this month https://poems.com/poem/a-stain-on-all-our-houses/

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Monday, April 22, 2024
Ben Shattuck presenting his new book, 'The History of Sound', in South Hadley, MA on July 23 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ben-shattuck-in-person-tickets-881023694587 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ben-shattuck-in-person-tickets-881023694587?aff=oddtdtcreator

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Monday, April 22, 2024
Margaret Yapp book launch for 'Green For Luck', in Minneapolis, MN on June 28 https://milkweed.org/event/in-person-margaret-yapp-book-launch-at-milkweed-books

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Monday, April 22, 2024
Tony Tulathimutte in New York, NY on April 25 https://eoaa.columbia.edu/events/creative-writing-lecture-tony-tulathimutte

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Monday, April 22, 2024
"Mission Creek book fair continues to provide literary opportunities," earlier this month in the 'Daily Iowan' student newspaper https://dailyiowan.com/2024/04/08/mission-creek-book-fair-continues-to-provide-literary-opportunities/

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Monday, April 22, 2024
Melissa Mogollon in Coral Gables, FL on July 10 https://www.booksandbooks.com/event/an-evening-with-melissa-mogollon-and-andrew-boryga/

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Jamel Brinkley, Robyn Schiff and Justin Torres portrait collage

Workshop faculty and alumni named 2024 Guggenheim Fellows

Friday, April 12, 2024
Guggenheim Fellows this year include Assistant Professor of Fiction Jamel Brinkley, alumni Justin Torres and Robyn Schiff, and artist Lorraine O'Grady, who also attended the Writers' Workshop.
Ada Zhang, seated with forearms arms crossed across lap

Ada Zhang winner of a 2024 Whiting Award in Fiction

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate Ada Zhang among the recipients of the 2024 Whiting Award, prestigious literary award for emerging writers
A portrait of Justin Torres

Justin Torres wins the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction

Thursday, November 16, 2023
University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate Justin Torres won the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction.
An image of Dove Rita on a graphic overlay

National Book Foundation to present Lifetime Achievement Award to Rita Dove

Saturday, September 9, 2023
Rita Dove, an Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate received the 2023 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
More Alumni News
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