Free Generative Writing Workshops
Anyone can write. And everyone who wants to write should have access to the wealth of Iowa City’s Writing Culture.
Co-hosted by PorchLight Literary and Iowa City Poetry, the Free Generative Writing Workshop provides a space for career writers, curious beginners, writers of all income levels and stages of life. Our goal is to make it easy to meet and learn from some of the most talented writer/teachers living in or passing through Iowa City. Every month a new writer leads a generative workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests. Prompts have run the gamut of writing from Tarot cards, to finding inspiration in the villanelle; from ekphrasis to open letters of resistance to government officials. It has been an adventure, and we are continually inspired by the creative concentration of participants, and the powerful beginnings the workshop generates.
Upcoming Workshops
We're updating for next month's session! Check back soon.
Past Workshops
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Sunday, October 19, 5:30-7 pm
Free Gen for October: Jessie Kraemer
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, September 21, in person or online
Free Gen for September: Warren C. Longmire
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, August 24, in person
Free Gen for August: Camila Urioste
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, July 20, 5:30-7 pm Central
Free Gen for July: Ryan Collins
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, June 15, 5:30-7 pm
Free Gen for June: Sandra Marchetti
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, May 18, 5:30-7 pm
Free Gen for May: Devanshi Khetarpal
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, April 20, 5:30-7 pm
Free Gen for April: Lauren Childs
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, March 16, 2025
Free Gen for March: Asha Galindo
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, February 16, in person & online
Free Gen for February: Mauricio Ruiz
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, January 19, in person & online
Free Gen for January: Brian Johannesen
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, November 17, in person & online
Free Gen for November: Jenny Colville
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, October 20
The Free Gen for October: Glen Waters
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, September, 2024
Free Gen for September: Jing Jian
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, August 18, 2024
Free Gen for August: Leslie Pyo
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, July 21
Free Gen for July: Bella Shayevich
Each month a talented writer in our area leads the generative writing session, inspired by their own passions & interests.
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Sunday, June 16
The Free Gen for June: Grace Morse
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, April 21
Free Gen for April: Caleb Rainey
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, March 17, 5:30-7:00
The Free Gen for March: Sanjna N. Singh
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations or passions.
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Sunday, February 18
The Free Gen for February: Margaret Yapp
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, January 21
The Free Gen for January: Anna Morrison
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, Nov 19
Free Generative Writing Workshop for November: Nikki Ummel
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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October 15, 5:30-7 Central
Free Generative Writing Workshop for October: Laura Johnson
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, September 17
The Free Generative Writing Workshop for September: Sarah Minor
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, August 20
Free Generative Writing Workshop for August: DJ Savarese
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, June 18
Free Generative Writing Workshops for June: Sarah Rizzuto
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, April 16
Free Generative Writing Workshop for April: Nicole Vanderlinden
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, March 19
Free Generative Writing Workshop for March: Jennifer MacBain-Stephens
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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February 19, 2023
Free Generative Writing Workshop for February: Lisa K. Roberts
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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January 15, 2023
Free Generative Writing Workshop for January: Darius Stewart
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, November 20, 5:30-7 CT
Free Generative Writing Workshop for November: Katie Runde
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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October 16
Free Generative Writing Workshop for October: Skylar Alexander
Every month a new writer leads a generative workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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July 17
Free Generative Writing Workshop for July: Jenny Colville
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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Sunday, June 19, 5:30-7:00 PM CT
Free Generative Writing Workshop for June: Chad Abushanab
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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May 15
Free Generative Writing Workshop for May: The Editors of Backchannels Journal
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
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April 17
Free Generative Writing Workshops for April: Cory Hutchinson-Reuss
Every month a new writer leads a generative hybrid workshop, presenting a prompt inspired by their own preoccupations, passions, or interests.
