The University of Iowa Prison Writing Project (PWP) is pleased to announce the publication of a second collection of creative work, available for the public to read online. During September and October 2019, the PWP invited submissions of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from writers who are incarcerated in the state of Iowa. Submissions were considered and selected by a team of staff, students, and alumni from the University of Iowa. Accepted work has been published on the University of Iowa’s Writing University. Authors, who likely do not have access to internet in prison, have been sent printed-out copies of their published work.
The Prison Writing Project connects the writing community on campus with prison writing communities in Iowa and beyond. The project seeks to foster and support the writing and self-expression of incarcerated individuals and is grounded in the belief that these voices offer unique contributions to the literary landscape. The PWP is indebted to the talented writers living in prisons who submitted work last fall and is grateful to be able to publish the poetry and prose selected this year.
The PWP plans to host another open reading period this Fall 2020, from September 1 through November 15, and will contact prison administrators to promote the opportunity; please also check the PWP website for updates. Anyone incarcerated in the state of Iowa will be eligible to enter. All submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter with the author’s name, identification number, and complete mailing address. Submissions received outside of the reading period will not be considered. Authors may not submit more than one entry per reading period. Only unpublished manuscripts will be considered, with the exception of pieces that have appeared in prison-only publications. Handwritten submissions are accepted. There is no entry fee.
For more information contact prison-writing@uiowa.edu