2014 Between the Lines

BTL 2014 was a landmark year, bringing together young writers from 9 different cities in Russia, 9 different states in the U.S., and 9 different countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa: Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, and Tunisia. Whether discussing the merits of Russian rhyming poetry versus American free verse, or eating tabbouleh and learning basic Arabic, this session brought cultural exchange to a new level. The morning Global Literature Seminar featured both contemporary and classic texts from multiple countries; students spent their afternoons sharing and critiquing each other’s work in creative writing workshops conducted in their own languages. Participants also tried their hands at playwriting with dramaturge Kim Euell, and experimented with performance assisted by the slam poet Malcolm London. Their writing efforts culminated in a student reading at the Dey House, home of the Iowa Writers Workshop. Other events included a literary scavenger hunt to find Iowa City landmarks, a translation workshop, a visit to the Wildcat Den State Park and Figge Art Museum on the Mississippi River, and a Ramadan dinner celebration at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids. BTL 2014 wrapped up with a Fourth of July celebration in Coralville and students found some free-time to enjoy the Iowa City Jazz Festival. 

June 21st-July 5th, 2014

Meet the Instructors:

Alan CHERCHESOV has published the novels Requiem for Living (1994; and, in English, Northwestern University Press, 2005), Wreath for the Grave of the Wind (2000), and Villa Belle-Lettre (2005), in addition to numerous short stories. He was an IWP resident in 2010, during which time he finished his latest novel, Don Ivan (2012). Cherchesov is the president of the Institute of Civilization, a private educational institute in Vladikavkaz, in North Ossetia, Russia. The recipient of a number of literary prizes, he was a finalist for the 2001 and 2006 Russian Booker Awards. His novel Don Ivan was nominated for Russia's Big Book Award.

Participants play basketball at a local mosque. Participants writing at an infamous Iowa City attraction.
Hiking at Wildcat Den State Park. Celebrating Ramadan at a local mosque.
Mustafa takes a picture with the Herkies on Parade statue. Christopher Merrill, the IWP director, welcomes participants.
Some BTL guys hanging outside the dormitory BTL participant Johnny breakdances in the dormitory.
Kaothar in class. Instructor Kiki Petrosino leads class.
Morning meeting at Shambaugh House. Pizza night!
Mustafa, Kaothar, Sara, and Jalal on the last day of camp. Malcolm London leads a slam poetry workshop.
Participants pose with a guest speaker Students give a reading at the Dey House, home to the Writers' Workshop.
Participants climb on a sculpture

Happening Now

  • We regret the passing, on April 11, 2024, of the distinguished Romanian author and critic Dan Cristea, who served as the editor in chief of the Luceafărul de Dimineață cultural monthly. In addition to being an alum of the 1985 Fall Residency, Cristea received his PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Iowa.

  • Our congratulations to 1986 Fall Residency writer Kwame Dawes, who has been named the new poet laureate of Jamaica.

  • Congratulations to our colleagues Jennifer Croft and Aron Aji, who are among those serving as judges for the National Book Awards this year, in their case in the category of translated literature.

  • Ranjit Hoskote’s speech at the 2024 Goa Literary Festival addresses the current situation in Gaza.

  • In NY Times, Bina Shah worries about the state of Pakistani—and American—democracy.

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