Festival Overview
Testimonials
“[Our instructor] was a fabulous workshop leader. She was prepared, engaged, inspiring, helpful. Her exercises and prompts were spot on for any type of writing, including my work as a journalist. Her best advice came Sunday night at the introductory session: “Leave your cynicism at the door.”
Cindy Lange Kubick
Lincoln, Nebraska
“I have returned to India, and already my trip to Iowa City seems like a dream. . . .For the first time I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a community of writers and devotees of the craft: I will always cherish the atmosphere, spirit and sheer camaraderie that make up the Iowa Summer Writing Festival.”
Devika Devaiah
Bangalore, Karnataka
India
“There wasn’t one person in the class who didn’t produce something beautiful, amazing, humorous, or superb at least once.
Becky Hoffbauer
Iowa City, Iowa
“You worry when you come back the second time about sophomore jinx. What if this instructor isn’t as good? What if the material won’t be relevant? What if I leave discouraged this time instead of encouraged? In 2005 I left inspired. This year I’m on fire. Next time I’m going outta here nuclear!”
Regina Stewart
Oak Brook, Illinois
“This week kicked my ass.”
John Margolis
New York, New York
“[Our instructor] was possibly the greatest teacher I’ve had. His clear love and deep knowledge of poetry and teaching inspired me and excites me to continue. I have a completely new understanding of good writing.”
Ben Michelman
Washington, D.C.
“I would recommend this workshop for any poet serious about maintaining a fresh, productive stream of work. [Our instructor’s] finesse with writing exercises is clearly more innate than crafted, which shows through in his ability to “fit” these exercises to optimally challenge a range of participants.”
J. William Hedrick
Alexandria, Louisiana
“I hope to come every year until I go to the other side.”
Rhory Lamboy
Los Angeles, California
“This has been the most rewarding experience of my early 20’s.”
Zach Sampinos
Salt Lake City, Utah
“The opportunity to interact with other writers was a highpoint of the experience. I especially appreciated the chance to talk about fiction with people who are 25 or 30 years younger than I am. It was exciting to discover so much common ground of experience as writers.”
Barbara Cohen-Kligerman
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“This is my third year attending, and it feels like coming home.”
Patricia B. de Larios
Dallas, Texas
“As someone perfectly comfortable sitting on the bench, I needed a coach who forced me to get in the game. This class and this instructor put me in play.”
Beth Wilson
Des Moines, Iowa
“As a teacher myself, I was impressed most of all by [our instructor’s] ability to be intensely “present” in dual focus of the class at large and simultaneously each participant--our individual interests, strengths and weaknesses. Every day I wished for the class time to never end.”
Pamela Steinle
Fullerton, California
“I want to say thank you for what I know will be one of the most important summers of my life.”
Jaton Francisco Zulueta
Makati City
Philippines
“Having the chance to be immersed in such an impressive community of writers and writing—being in a place where writing is truly valued and cultivated—is an experience for which I am immensely grateful.”
Michelle Cerulli
Boston, Massachusetts
“[Our workshop leader] is a natural in the classroom. . . .There’s a happy balance of patience, humor and support. He easily created an environment where we all felt comfortable and tapped into ourselves, very content to be both writing and sharing our work and ideas.”
Catherine Muller
Austin, Texas
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Sponsored by the Division of Continuing Education
Iowa Summer Writing Festival
C215 Seashore Hall
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone 319-335-4160
FAX 319-335-4743
iswfestival@uiowa.edu
Last updated on February 10, 2009