Events Sponsored by the Post-Graduate Writing Fellows

Throughout the year, the four Post-Graduate Fellows will organize activities meant to foster an atmosphere of literary production and discussion across genres. Unless otherwise specified, all events will take place at 111 Church Street.

Upcoming Events:

None scheduled at this time.

Past Events:

Writers’ Workshop Graduation Potluck, 5/17/08.

Whenever We Feel Like It poetry reading, 5/03/08.

The Whenever We Feel Like It Reading Series was co-founded this year by second-year Writers’ Workshop poets Emily Pettit and Michelle Taransky. This reading will feature Eric Elshtain and Matthias Regan.

Undergraduate Writing Contest reading, 4/16/08.

Winners and Runners-Up in the 111 Church Undergraduate Writing Contest will read from their work, with a reception to follow.

Fall and Spring Semesters: Writers Knit, second Sunday of every month, 4/13/08.

A monthly meeting for writers to gather and knit, crochet or sew. Like to knit? Want to learn? Or have another craft (crocheting, sewing) you’d like to work on in the presence of other crafty writers? Join us in not writing, the second Sunday of every month, from 2-4, at the Writers’ House. 

Louise Gluck After-Reading Party, 4/09/08.

A reception will be held to celebrate guest-of-honor Louise Gluck, the Pulitzer-Prize winning poet who read this evening at Van Allen Lecture Hall.

Left Brain/Right Brain Party, 3/08/08.

A meet and mingle event for graduate students from not only the writing programs but departments across the University.

Reception for ‘Poets For Hope’ Reading, 2/28/08.

‘Poets for Hope’ reading featuring politically-inspired poetry, 2/28/08.

Poetry by James Galvin, Daniel Khalastchi, Dora Malech, Caryl Pagel, Kiki Petrosino, Marc Rahe, Zach Savich, Cole Swensen, and Dean Young.

After-Reading Party for Samantha Chang and Matthea Harvey, 2/20/08.

After-Reading Party for Workshop Director Samantha Chang and Visiting Poetry Faculty Member Matthea Harvey

111 Church Street Event: “Submitting Work for Publication”, 2/06/08.

Undergraduate writing students and interested community writers are invited to come hear about the process of submitting your creative work to print and online literary journals and magazines. Writers’ Workshop students and experienced readers from The Iowa Review will discuss their thoughts on cover letters, simultaneous submissions, when a piece is ready, and where to send. Bring your questions! contact: katie-chase@uiowa.edu.

2008 Presidential Election Party, 12/13/07.

Writers and artists from all departments are welcome to come by and discuss issues surrounding the upcoming caucuses, campaigns, and candidates. Also, we will consider the various ways all students can get involved in the election process. “Supporters of any candidate are welcome. The event is designed to be a meet and greet for those who are planning to caucus and who don’t know quite what will happen. There will be literature available about the candidates, as well as little frills like bumper stickers and such things.”

Talk Art Reading, 11/28/07.

The Writing House hosted Talk Art, the regular reading series of the Writers’ Workshop, which pairs one poet and one fiction writer for an hour-long reading. This week’s readers (both in their second year) were: Lee Posna (Poetry) and Chris Leslie-Heynan (Fiction.)

Summer Writing Programs Dinner, 11/20/07.

A holiday potluck for the Summer Writing Programs (Iowa Summer Writing Festival & Young Writer’s Studio), and friends. 

Panel on Independent Journalism/Media, 11/16/07.

Applying to MFA Writing Programs Follow-Up Session: A Portfolio Workshop, 11/13/07.

Boo! A Haunted Halloween Party, 10/31/07.

The scariest Halloween bash in town. All writers and artists welcome. Goulish games, ghosts, costume prizes and punch. Pumpkin carving begins at 7:30, BYOP.

Between The Lines Conference Dinner, 10/29/07.

Undergraduate Writing Community Readings, 10/23/07.

Applying to MFA Writing Programs, 10/23/07.

This Writer’s House presentation will focus on applying to MFA Writing Programs. Co-sponsored by the UI English Honors Dept. Where: The Writer’s House, 111 Church Street. 

Applying to MFA Writing Programs, 10/23/07.

This Writer’s House presentation will focus on applying to MFA Writing Programs. Co-sponsored by the UI English Honors Dept. Where: Gerber Lounge, EPB. | Map |

Salon—American Poetics, 10/20/07.

A discussion on American Poetics with non-American poet Mimi Khalvati, who was born in Tehran, grew up on the Isle of Wight and was educated in Switzerland and London. Her poetry collections include “Mirrorwork” (1995), which received an Arts Council Writers’ Award, “Selected Poems” (2000) and “The Chine” (2002). She is also the author of a children’s book, “I Know a Place,” published in 1985. She participates in the IWP as the recipient of the William B. Quarton International Writing Program Scholarship.

Fall Semester: “Works-in-Progress” Night, 10/19/07.

Every three weeks recent fiction graduates of the Writers’ Workshop meet to share work.

Salon: Stepping or Stomping Out of the Shadow of the Avant-Garde?, 10/16/07.

An informal discussion with international writers and faculty from the Writers’ Workshop about the effect of the avant-garde on writers of various cultures. The poets participating in this year’s International Writing Program have raised some interesting questions about Postmodernism, Post-Structural concerns (or not), the potential for a resurgence of the baroque, etc. Across borders, what is seen as the “avant-grade” today? As our Hungarian writer, Istvan Geher reminded me recently, “We experienced our confessional period in poetry in the 1930’s, since we were listening quite heavily to what Freud was saying, while you felt the effects in the late 1950’s” Are we experiencing a unified shift in poetics as the global village grows increasingly more connected?

Where: The Writers’ House, 111 Church St.

After-Reading Party for Nonfiction Writer Darcy Frey, 10/15/07.

Darcy Frey is a contributing editor for Harper’s Magazine and the New York Times Magazine. The Last Shot, his first book, was published in 1994 and released in paperback, with a new afterword, in 2004. He lives in New York City.

Fall Semester, Mondays, 4:00-6:00 pm:  3rd Year Poet’s Workshop, 10/01/07.

A weekly poet’s workshop, discussion, and reading group for recent graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. 

Writer’s House Open House, 9/27/07.

An open house for members of the, International Writing Program, Playwrights, Writers’ Workshop and the Nonfiction Writing Program to meet each other and discuss the upcoming year. The open house included information concerning scheduled activities at the Writer’s House, details on the “Ask A Writer” email account, who the “Writing Fellows” are, and how undergraduates, graduates, and members of the community can participate in writing-related events. 

“Text and Context”, 9/27/07.

A discussion between International Writing Program participants and fiction writers from the Writers’ Workshop about their experiences in a workshop environment and how it effects their writing process. 

“Shall We Dance?”—Iowa Writer’s Workshop Fall Welcome Party, 9/08/07.

“Ice. Music. Torches. A Butler, Balloons. And a boatload of dictionaries.” An end-of-the-summer/ back-to-school/ welcome-new-writer’s mixer. All students welcome to meet and mingle with members of the Writer’s Workshop. 

24-Hour Novel Party, 2/02/07.

From Anjali Sachdeva, Post-Graduate Writing Fellow:
I’m looking for writers to donate 1 hour of their time to write a small chunk of a novel.  The entire novel will be written over the course of 24 hours on the weekend of Feb. 2.

The event kicks off with a party on Friday, Feb. 2 at 9 pm and concludes with a potluck dinner on Saturday, Feb. 3, both at the Writers’ House at 111 Church St.  Writers will work sequentially, so each writer need only be present for one hour of the project.

Will we produce the Great American Novel?  How can we possibly fail? You can refer to it in later years as “that time in ought seven when I wrote a novel in 24 hours.” Your slack-jawed grandchildren will be amazed.

I am now accepting suggestions for the title/theme of the book, as well as requests for particular time slots (9pm Feb 2 - 8pm Feb 3).  You can split your time slot with another person if you only want to write for ½ hr.

Feel free to invite other writers to this event, but make sure they are at least 21 years of age or they will be busted at the door.

Questions?  Contact Anjali (anjali-sachdeva@uiowa.edu; 339-4688)

An Evening of Kenyan Literature, 11/02/06.

Members of the Nonfiction, Playwriting, Fiction, Poetry, and International Writing programs will read work by Kenyan authors and talk about their own experiences in Kenya.  Undergraduate students will also read, and food will be served.  This event is open to the public; anyone is welcome to attend.

For more information, please contact Anjali Sachdeva at anjali-sachdeva@uiowa.edu

Ghoulish Reading and Costume Party, 10/27/06.

The Post-Graduate Writing Fellows will launch a year of literary events and activities at the new Writers’ House at 111 Church Street.  Anyone interested in creative writing is welcome to join the Fellows for a reading of scary stories & poems, pumpkin carving, and cider.  Dress as your favorite ghost, monster, or villain from literature and win a prize. Event Announcement

Pre-Ramadan Feast, 9/23/06.

Fellow Mia Nussbaum writes: On the Saturday before Ramadan began, Kiki Petrosino and I hosted a late-afternoon potluck at the Church St. House.  We were expecting some variant on that humble word – conversation, a casserole.  What we got was the good glimpse; what we ate was art. Read Mia’s essay about the event