Iowa International Writing Program (IWP)

The U.S. Embassy in Budapest is pleased to announce the 2023-2024 International Writing Program (IWP) Fall Residency Project.

Program Overview

IWP’s Fall Residency furthers participants’ professional development, understanding of creative writing, literature, publishing and U.S. societal values and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration.  Program activities will provide international writers with opportunities to engage with the U.S. creative economy and culture and encourage American writers to connect with priority foreign audiences.

IWP’s host institution, the University of Iowa, is also home to the world-renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop. In 2008, Iowa City became the first UNESCO City of Literature in the United States, the third such city in the world.  Two IWP alumni—Orhan Pamuk of Turkey and Mo Yan of China—have received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Candidate Description and Qualifications

The IWP Fall Residency is open to established and emerging writers of fiction, graphic novels, drama, poetry, and screenplays from any country.  Candidates should have a significant publication record; at least one published book or screenplay/play, or a record of publishing regularly over the previous two years in traditional or online media.

The working language of the program is English, and visa issuance requires that candidates are proficient speakers of English.  Candidates need not write in English; the program provides translation for their creative work as needed. Nominees must be comfortable with cross-cultural dynamics, and eager to engage with other writers from diverse cultures.  Nominees must be adults between the age of 21 and 64 at the time of the program, non-U.S. citizens, who are able to travel to the United States and stay for the full twelve weeks.  Family members and others are not allowed to accompany the writers during the Fall Residency

Applications will need to include a literary-focused CV and a representative writing sample in English or English translation (and original language when applicable).  A standard sample will contain 10–15 pages of clearly formatted material.

 

Please send your application package to: Katalin Biro – birok@state.gov

Application deadline: February 13, 2023 Midnight

Best applicants will be invited for a personal interview.