Between the Lines 2012

If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud. --Emile Zola

Since 2008, the International Writing Program has hosted Between the Lines (BTL), a program that brings young writers, aged 16-19, to the University of Iowa for creative writing study and cultural interaction.

We are excited to announce that for 2012, there will be two BTL sessions:

  • BTL Russia (June 30-July 13): Students from across Russia will be invited to join American students.
  • BTL Arabic (July 14-28): Students from selected Arabic-speaking countries will be invited to join American students.

Students will live in a dorm on the University of Iowa campus along with university-trained counselors, who help foster a strong sense of creative community. Sessions will include literature seminars and language-specific creative writing workshops taught by faculty who are renowned writers in their own right.

  • BTL Russia: Alan Cherchesov and Camille T. Dungy
  • BTL Arabic: Iman Humaydan and Marcus Jackson

International students are nominated by the American embassy in their respective countries.

American students are invited to apply for either session. The application deadline has been extended to Friday, February 24. Please see this page for application details.

BTL is sponsored through grant funds provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US State Department.

For more information on BTL, contact:

Kecia Lynn, BTL Coordinator
International Writing Program
Shambaugh House
430 N. Clinton
Iowa City, IA 52245
319-384-3296

kecia-lynn[at]uiowa.edu

BTL 2011 students

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  • The IWP's 2010 Annual Report is available for viewing (PDF / SWF).

  • The Norwegian Writers' Association has awarded its 2011 free expression award to Ma Thida (IWP 2005). She is its first-ever recipient from Burma.

  • In the first issue of the independent, English-language Iraq Literary Review, edited by Baghdad-based critics Soheil Najm (IWP 2009) and Sadek. R. Mohamed: 100+ pages of criticism, poetry, fiction, translations…