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| Between the Lines |
Following up on our successful debut, the International Writing Program, in cooperation with the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio (IYWS), hosted a second Between the Lines (BTL) program. Twelve young writers from Arabic-speaking countries, aged 16-19, were invited to the University of Iowa, where they participated in writing workshops and literature seminars (in both English and Arabic), visited local sights, and deepened their understanding of the United States through interactions with fellow students and the community. Workshops were be led by teachers who are respected writers in their own right.
Students in the program participated in workshops through their stay. Just about every writing program offers some variation of the workshop; it is the only way a writer can get direct feedback from his or her readers. Workshop inevitably precipitates in-depth, thoughtful meditations on what it is that writers do. Instructors ensured that workshops present a supportive environment.
To write, one must read. One of the goals of BTL is to make sure that participants understand their place in this tradition. Instructors designed seminars around the books they love, books that taught or amazed them. The emphasis of these classes was for students to read as writers; published work will be scrutinized for what can be gleaned about craft. All seminars included a broad range of readings.
BTL is sponsored through grant funds provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.