Between the Lines

06/27/2024

06/20/2024

From yesterday’s doc crew, we get great insights into students’ creative and artistic experiences during their time in Iowa. Participants enjoyed a special dance workshop with an Iowa dance instructor and MFA student, Lauren. They also shared more photos from open mic and karaoke. Last night, our faculty gave a tremendous reading at Prairie Lights that garnered a crowd of over 100 people! We are beyond honored to have such insightful and talented faculty and students in the BTL community. Thank you for hosting and to Felix and Neda on doc crew!

06/19/2024

The second week of BTL has had many fun activities for our participants in store— from our evening Eid celebration dinner in Shambaugh House to karaoke to sunny walks to class chats in Schaeffer Hall, we can’t believe that there are only two days left of this session!
We are grateful that Musfirah and Jenna captured such sweet moments!

06/17/2024

Welcome to week 2 of BTL: Peace and the Writing Experience! Our students had a fun weekend full of outings, including (but not limited to): the Farmer’s Market, various boba tea spots, the mall, City Park, and more! Thanks to Kelsy and Colette for documenting this weekend’s activities!

06/15/2024

Another beautiful day of BTL in Iowa City means another doc crew compilation from Ellie and Zainab! Here’s a recap from last night:

Day 6: Complete 👊 ✅👍Today the BTLers started off their days with a quick Morning Meeting and went straight to Creative Writign Workshop for 2 ✌🏻hours! Grabbed lunch at Burge and then indulged in a Special Translation Seminar with Khaled for 2.5 hours where we covered the basics of translation in poetry and the aspects that could be lost in translation. Then we grouped up and translated sections of our poems from Russian by scenic views and under the pleasant sun ☀️🤩🧘‍♀️ Then, we ate dinner and the group went downtown for a Juneteenth celebration where we learned, ate some food and spent quality time with each other. We headed back to the dorms and enjoyed the views that our lounge had to offer 🌅🌇before meeting with our counselor groups and heading off to sleep😴💤 Stay tuned for the weekend doc crew🔜🔜🔜 exciting events coming up!!! -Ellie

06/14/2024

Part 2 of Double-Doc-Crew Friday features photos from Noor and Jenna! This week, we’ve discovered that our participants are not just talented writers—they’re also skilled visual artists and photographers, too! We can’t wait to see what they capture this weekend!

06/14/2024

Hello everyone! Today officially marks the end of the first week of classes, which calls for a special double-doc crew series! Please enjoy these photos from Cal and Tamkanat:

As the heavens sing above, and breeze flows through the streets of this city, my eyes behold the beauty and preserve it in my heart for the years I am yet to live. And these pictures freeze in time, for after I’m gone. -Tamkanat

06/12/2024

To celebrate the beginning of the BTL: Peace and the Writing Experience, we are excited to introduce our first 2024 documentation crew series! Everyday, participants will share their insights and photos from the day. Here are some of the wonderful moments captured by our documentarians for June 11th, Aribah and Charlie!

On the second day of Between The Lines: Peace and the Writing Experience at the University of Iowa, participants attended the morning meeting and indulged in a game of cards to get to know each other better. Soon, different groups were deeply engaged with the first creative writing workshop facilitated by esteemed writers at Schaeffer Hall. A beautiful walk under the bright afternoon sun, in the pleasant breeze of Iowa City, towards Art Building West for a Digital Storytelling Class was enjoyed by all after lunch at Burge Hall! -Aribah

06/11/2024

We are so honored to welcome our first group of participants for BTL: Peace and the Writing Experience! Led by counselors Ruth and Adrian, our students explored downtown Iowa City and got to familiarize themselves with some of the places that make Iowa City special— including the beautiful murals featured in the Ped Mall!

06/04/2024

Dear BTLers,

We are just a few days away from the beginning of the BTL: Peace and the Writing Experience session! It was great to see some of your faces and hear from you at today’s pre-departure meeting. We look forward to welcoming you all to Iowa City!!

05/28/2024

Hi everyone! We are only TWO weeks away from the start of BTL ‘s 2024 summer programming! To kick off our countdown for our first session, Peace and the Writing Experience, we wanted to introduce you to our amazing instructors who will be joining us in Iowa City this summer! Throughout this week, stay tuned for exciting introductions to out PATWE faculty: Rochelle, Senka, Tariro and Vladimir! To kick off our introduction series, meet Rochelle Potkar!

Rochelle Potkar is a prize-winning poet, author, and screenwriter based in Mumbai. Author of ‘Four Degrees of Separation’, ‘Paper Asylum’ - shortlisted for the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2020, and ‘Bombay Hangovers’, her recent prize-winning manuscript of poetry ‘Coins in Rivers’ releases in April 2024 by Hachette India. She co-curated the Glass House Poetry Festival, India. Alumna of Iowa’s International Writing Program (2015) and a Charles Wallace Writer’s fellow, University. of Stirling (2017), this is her fourth consecutive year as a creative—writing teacher for IWP programs. She is super excited to meet the young, talented writers of BTL 2024.

03/16/2024

Are you a student from the U.S. who’s worried about having missed this year’s application deadline? No need to worry- we have extended your deadline, and will now be accepting your applications until April 15th, 2024.

Please note that the deadline for International Students remains as yesterday, March 15th, 2024.

Feel free to contact us with any questions at [email protected].

03/11/2024

Are you an emerging writer (aged 15-18) who's interested in learning more about creative writing, practicing this craft, and making connections with your writing peers from around the world? If so, then you should apply to the Between the Lines creative writing summer camp! This program is hosted by the University of Iowa's International Writing Program and has offered so many writers a strong literary community that will always be a part of their lives moving forward. It's your turn now.

This year there will be two sessions: One running from June 9th-June 22nd, and another running from June 30th-July 14th. If you have any questions about the program, please email [email protected].

This Friday, March 15th, is the deadline for submitting your application to this year's Between the Lines program. Learn more and apply now at the link in our bio!

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact IWP in advance at [email protected]

02/26/2024

Do you know an emerging writer (ages 15–18) who wants to learn more about the art and craft of creative writing? Between the Lines may be a perfect opportunity for them: it's the IWP's annual summer youth program, bringing students from the U.S. and around the world together for two weeks of cultural exchange and writing on the University of Iowa campus. You can learn more about the program and how to apply here: https://iwp.uiowa.edu/programs/between-the-lines

This year's first session will take place June 9 through June 22, and the second will run June 30 through July 14. Each session will feature workshops led by a team of award-winning U.S. and international authors. This is a great way for students to find and make their own international communities of practice.

For U.S.-based students, there is a $2,000 tuition, but financial aid may be available. For international students, participation is free.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact IWP in advance at [email protected].

02/05/2024

This summer, our Between the Lines (BTL) program will once again host young writers (ages 15–18) from the U.S. and abroad at the University of Iowa for a one-of-a-kind cultural exchange program focused on learning the art and craft of creative writing. BTL will be held as an entirely in-person program for the first time since 2019. Applications are now open for international students in addition to U.S.-based students! You can learn more about the program and how to apply here: https://iwp.uiowa.edu/programs/between-the-lines

Students from the following countries are invited to apply: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, France, Hungary, India, Laos, Morocco, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, UAE, and Vietnam.

This year there will be two sessions: one running from June 9 through June 22, and another running June 30 through July 14. The program provides participants with creative writing workshops led by a team of award-winning U.S. and international authors, two weeks of living in a University of Iowa dorm, a meal plan, access to campus amenities (rec center, libraries, etc.), and support from on-site staff.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact IWP in advance at [email protected].

Department of State: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs The Writing University at UIOWA

06/26/2023

As we eagerly count down the days to the highly anticipated 2023 IWP Between the Lines Program, we can't contain our excitement to welcome all of our incredible participants. This year, we have curated a lineup of exceptional writers who will make this experience truly unforgettable, and this week, we will be sharing them with you.

Rumena Bužarovska
Rumena Bužarovska (1981, Skopje, North Macedonia) is a fiction writer, literary translator, and social commentator. The author of four volumes of short stories translated into fourteen languages, her book My Husband (Dalkey Archive Press) has received critical acclaim in Europe and has been adapted into five stage productions in several European countries. Her literary translations into Macedonian include works by Flannery O’Connor, Truman Capote, Lewis Carroll and John M. Coetzee. A 2018 resident of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa, she is a professor of American literature and translation at the state university in Skopje and co-author and co-organizer of the women’s storytelling initiative PeachPreach. In 2023 Dalkey Archive Press published her most recent short story collection I’m Not Going Anywhere, translated into English by the author and Steve Bradbury.

Rochelle Potkar
Poet | Novelist | Screenwriter, Rochelle Potkar is the author of Four Degrees of Separation and Paper Asylum - shortlisted for the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2020. Bombay Hangovers is her collection of short stories. Her poetry film Skirt featured on Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland. A few of her poetry readings feature on Disney+ Hotstar/ Shorts-English. Her poems To Daraza won the 2018 Norton Girault Literary Prize UK, and The girl from Lal Bazaar was shortlisted at the Gregory O’ Donoghue International Poetry Prize, 2018. She is an alumna of Iowa’s International Writing Program (2015) and a Charles Wallace Writer’s Fellow, University of Stirling (2017). Her first screenplay was an NFDC India Screenwriter’s Lab 2018 selection and a quarterfinalist at the Atlanta Film Festival Screenwriting Competition 2020 and her sixth screenplay was selected for the Writers INK Screenwriting Lab 2022-23. Her upcoming books include a first novel and a third book of poetry. She lives in the bustling city of Mumbai with a slow-swirling Goan heart. https://rochellepotkar.com/

Vladimir Poleganov
Vladimir (b. 1979, Sofia) is a Bulgarian writer, translator, and screenwriter. He is the author of one collection of short stories, The Deconstruction of Thomas S (published in 2013 by St. Kliment Ohridski University Press) and one novel, The Other Dream (2016, Colibri), which won the Helikon Award for Best Fiction Book of the Year in 2017. His short stories have appeared in various literary magazines in Bulgaria and abroad. “The Birds”, a short story, was featured in Dalkey Archive Press’ anthology Best European Fiction 2016. In 2016, he participated in the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. This was followed by residencies in Shanghai and Sun Yat-sen University in China. He has translated novels by writers such as Thomas Pynchon, George Saunders, Octavia E. Butler, and Peter Beagle into Bulgarian. In 2020, his translation of George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo won the Association of Bulgarian Translators Prize. He is currently working on a PhD in Bulgarian literature at Sofia University where he also teaches courses on creative writing and fantastic literature.

Tariro Ndoro
Tariro (poet, fiction, nonfiction) is the author of the poetry collection Agringada: Like a Gringa, Like a Foreigner (2019), which won the inaugural NAMA Award for Outstanding Poetry Book from Zimbabwe's National Arts Council. A finalist in several other poetry competitions, she has had her work anthologized and translated. Ndoro has a BSc in Microbiology and an M.A. in Creative Writing; she lives in Harare. Her participation in IWP’s 2021 Spring Residency is made possible by the U.S. State Department.

Mary Hickman
Mary was born in Idaho and grew up in China and Taiwan. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she was an Iowa Arts Fellow. Hickman is the author of two books of poems, This Is the Homeland (Ahsahta Press, 2015) and Rayfish (Omnidawn Publishing, 2017), which won the JamesLaughlin Award, given by the Academy of American Poets and chosen by Ellen Bass, Jericho Brown, and Carmen Giménez Smith. An assistant professor at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska, she also teaches in (and loves!) the University of Iowa International Writing Program’s Between the Lines exchange program.

We are utterly excited to begin the program this summer in collaboration with these incredible writers!

05/15/2023

Passionate about helping young writers develop their voices, express themselves, and build meaningful international relationships? Apply now to join IWP's Between the Lines team. We are currently accepting applications for several Zoom TA positions and one summer program assistant position; learn more at bit.ly/btl-ta23 and bit.ly/btl-spa23, respectively. These listings will close soon, so if you're interested, please apply ASAP!

04/21/2023

U.S.-based students ages 15-18, we have GOOD NEWS. Your deadline for applying to participate in Between the Lines 2023 has been extended to May 1! Please go to bit.ly/btl-us23 for more information on how to apply to this program. For those who aren't yet familiar: Between the Lines is an intensive virtual creative writing camp taking place July 8 through July 21, 2023; participants from around the world will connect, collaborate, and practice their craft under the guidance of an international team of talented, established authors. Please let us know if you have any questions about applying.


of State: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

04/05/2023

Interested in our Between the Lines virtual creative writing summer camp (taking place June 8–21, for participants 15–18 years old), but feel like you need more information? This Friday, April 7 at 10 AM CDT, join IWP Youth Programs Coordinator Romeo Oriogun for an informal conversation about the program. We'll be at bit.ly/btl-23zoom

You can learn more about BTL at bit.ly/btl-2023. This year, students from the U.S. and the following countries are eligible to participate: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact BTL in advance at [email protected].

03/28/2023

BTL alumni, we're so excited to open applications for our 2023 Between the Lines: Peace and the Writing Experience virtual creative writing summer camp, which will take place July 8 through July 21. We're hoping that you can help us spread the word—please share the following link with anyone you think might like to attend: bit.ly/btl-2023

This year we are accepting applications from students in the U.S. and the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.

Do you know, or are you yourself, a talented, aspiring young writer (15–18 years old) ready to take the next step in their journey as a literary learner? IWP's Between the Lines (BTL) virtual creative writing summer camp for 2023, Peace and the Writing Experience, is now accepting applications, with a deadline of April 21, 2023. Further details are below, and at bit.ly/btl-2023.

BTL is an entirely free program that will take place July 8 through July 21, 2023. This year we are accepting applications from students in the U.S. and the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.

BTL participants build international friendships, learn about other cultures and literary traditions, and improve their craft under the guidance of a team of award-winning instructors in workshops, seminars, and master classes. If you know a young person who is qualified to participate, we hope you'll let them know about this opportunity; and if you are one, we hope that you've already started your application!

There will be an online info session for people interested in participating on Friday, April 7; more info at the link listed above.

Between the Lines: Peace and the Writing Experience is sponsored through a cooperative agreement with Department of State: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact BTL in advance at [email protected].

08/09/2022

The 2022 BTL: Peace and the Writing Experience Open Mic is here!

Go check out our story + 2022 highlights for the link. Or look for it on the YouTube channel:)

https://youtu.be/tyu68GvNpzg

Hosted by the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program, Between the Lines: Peace and the Writing Experience is made possible through the generous support of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

07/31/2022

Doc crew day 14! Feat. Adele, who joins us from Washington state in the U.S.!

“My day began at five in the morning, with a stump-shaped mug of black tea and an odd mixture of melancholy and excitement.

We began class during the golden hour, the plum and cedar tree bathed in a brassy light as the sky slowly settled into blue. As we went around and shared our states of mind, I found my attention shifting back the fragment of a wasp-nest on the table by my desk. Over the course of two weeks and in a structure of our own making, we’ve watched each other grow as writers, develop the freedom of flight, and learn how to sting when it matters. And I’m overcome with emotion watching as we leave the hive for the flower-strewn fields around us.

We transitioned into watching a compilation of our ‘digital storytelling’ videos, where we had joined cinematography and writing to create a fluid intersection of the skills we had amassed over the course of the program. After our instructors and the BTL faculty had spoken, we held a graduation ceremony in which we were presented with our certificates and invited to share some words. And just like that, it was over.

I wish the best to all of my fellow alums!

All the love, stay in touch,
Adele

07/30/2022

Doc crew day 13! Feat. a participant who joins us from Buford, Georgia!

“For the past two weeks, I have somewhat started my day with BTL, waking up intentionally to be as ready as possible by 9 AM.
I wander around my house and do a lot of indoor traveling. My behavior could be seen as restless, but moving up and down and around kept me focused, especially on today's very important session.

Everybody was taken by the fact that BTL is almost formally over. Many screenshots were taken, and many hearts were given, along with many sincere comments.”

07/29/2022

Doc crew day 12! Feat. Ekato, who joins us from Georgia!

“Between the Line program is about to end. Tomorrow is the last workshop and the day after will be graduation and I already miss it. I love this program so much, I got to discover how much I love writing and discussing literature. Speaking of, today was the last literature seminal which so happened to be the one that was led by my mentor.

The theme of this seminar was mainly culture. We discussed Mrs.Sen’s by Jhumpa Lahiri and Rules of the Game by Amy Tan. We talked a lot about experiences emigrant families might have, both internally and with the society they moved in, how expectations and reality might be different, the influence culture has on a person and the benefits or issues that this influence causes.

I also got a bit of culture when we briefly talked about the traffic situation in the USA. I can’t imagine needing a car to get everywhere (since public transportation works anywhere, but the most rural areas) so when some of our American groupmates told us about how inconvenient it is to live in the USA without a car I was amazed.

Then we had a seminar with BTL alumni who won the microgrants after which the staff gave us an overview of the microgrants and the process to get them. The alumni told us about their projects, and how it went, and give us tons of advice that’s so helpful in general and not just for microgrants.

I’m thinking of starting a project myself and the small groups we were disturbed into were really helpful. We talked about it and we made a promise to inform each other about a project one of us might start so we can have a chance to collaborate. I’m really glad that BTL might not be the end of this wonderful experience.”

07/29/2022

Doc crew day 12! Feat. Hamza, who joins us from Pakistan!

“My day started off at 10am. I ate sunny side up eggs and toast for breakfast and got ready to drive my dad to his job.

After that, if the weather's right, I go on a walk in my neighborhood. Exploring little streets and alleyways, avoiding puddle of water and mud along the way. Sometimes I'll even take my dog on a 5km walk if I'm feeling it.

But if the weather isn't that great, I either sleep some more or play videogames until 2pm. After that I'll get some work done whether it be from the BTL program or something personal I've been working on or relating to the new boarding school I'll be moving into by the end of the summer.

The BTL meeting starts at 6pm for me here at Pakistan and is usually the highlight of my day because of how fun it is to talk with people across the world and meet the new friends I've made along the way.

After the meeting it's usually 8pm or 9pm depending on the length of the meeting. I get ready for bed since I'm pretty tired at this point. The BTL program has been great for me; mentally it's helped me in keeping me occupied in what would otherwise be a monotonous, depressing summer and helped me find like-minded writers from across the world!”

07/29/2022

Doc crew day 11! Feat. Miral, who joins us from Jordan!

“I love to read and repeat quotes throughout my day. It gives me hope and lets me be stronger and braver.

I am able to achieve anything that I set my mind to.

I am brave, confident, passionate. Passion is my life’s goal.

I am also thankful for the special people in my life.

Life is not always nice and good. It has ups and downs just like a roller coaster.

Not everything we want we can reach.

It’s in the darkest moments that we find our greatest strengths.

Stay positive and happy. Work hard and don’t give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with warm, happy, and genuine people.”

07/28/2022

In honor of , here’s another doc crew from day 8! Feat. Ramzi, who joins us from Jordan.

(Write-up contained in the images ❤️)

07/28/2022

Doc crew day 11! Feat. Helen, who joins us from New York!

“Today, we started off by sharing what we are good at—with explanation. We are such a dynamically talented group of people! People shared their interests/strengths ranging from photography, playing chess, shooting a gun, management & marketing, baking, recognizing stars (!), and of course, writing. Besides writing, I would say I’m pretty good at watching Asian dramas and being an unqualified history buff. ✍️

In workshop today, we began with a conversation on video games 🕹

I’ve played Minecraft but I’m mostly clueless about the games mentioned (Hades, Dungeon Dragons, Rocket League, Simulacra)

PUBG was so popular in the Middle East that every other dad was playing it!

Alea: “find your own game, don’t think you’re bad at video games!”

and Babushkas vs Karens

1. Hooria wrote a piece with everyone in the group as inspiration!

2. Oswald shared his rhythmic poetry with us

3. Current read

4. One afternoon, I took this picture (it takes forever to find a good angle) 🤦‍♀️

5. Sharing a snippet from my favorite poet!”

07/27/2022

Another time hop!!! ⏰Doc crew day 8! Feat. Andrea, who joins us from Connecticut!

“Hey!

Between the Lines has been such an invigorating experience for me! It's nice to have a dedicated time and space to write and discuss writing, and I'm happy to be able to work with such talented peers. On Saturday, we got a visit from InsideOut, a program dedicated to helping young writers flourish, and got to have brief meetings with three amazing writers from their team. After BTL, I was a bit hungry, since the class is around the morning for me due to the fact I live in Northeast USA. I went to have a small lunch, pet my dog a bit, and afterwards went on a bike ride. I often find that going on bike rides is pretty relaxing, even if I am still re-learning how to properly ride a bike. It's nice to go around a city I know so well and see it from a different point of view, or to push myself to bike uphill or another lap before taking a break. After about an hour, I was pretty satisfied and headed back home. Other than that, the rest of my day was mostly just spent relaxing and watching a TV Show. (Deep Space 9, Star Trek! My friend got me into it.) Overall, a very nice and restful weekend.”