Dear Teacher,
One of your students is applying for admission to an online creative writing course offered by the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio. These online courses offer high school students the chance study creative writing with a graduate of the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop, to receive and give constructive feedback, and to connect with other high school age writers around the country and the world. These courses last for six weeks and are asynchronous, so students can do the assignments and participate in the discussions in their free time, on their own schedules.
We’re looking for students who will be enthusiastic about taking the course and likely to follow through with experience. We’d be grateful if you would write a brief (250-500 word) Teacher Statement of Support for your student. Please comment on your student's writing ability, dedication to his or her studies, and his or her maturity level in the classroom. Does this student truly enjoy writing? Do you believe that he or she would participate actively in an Iowa Young Writers' Studio online course and be a good citizen of an online writing community?
We’re grateful to you for taking the time to tell us a little about one of your students. If you have any questions about the Teacher Statement of Support or would like more information about the Iowa Young Writers' Studio online courses please don’t hesitate to contact:
Stephen Lovely, Director (319) 335-4209 iyws-onlinecourses@uiowa.edu.
Questions about using this software may be addressed by scrolling down this page and clicking "Technical Help" or by e-mailing the Studio at iyws-onlinecourses@uiowa.edu.
If you are unable for any reason to upload your Teacher Statement of Support you may e-mail it to the Studio at yws-iyws-onlinecourses@uiowa.edu.
Official transcripts for students applying for spring 2017 Iowa Young Writers' Studio online courses can be uploaded here. If you are unable to upload an official transcript for any reason you may e-mail it to the Studio at IYWS-OnlineCourses@uiowa.edu. The word TRANSCRIPT should appear in the subject line, and the student's name should be included in the body of the message. Your school can also send us your official transcript by other electronic means (Docufide, Parchment, etc) or by regular mail to: Iowa Young Writers' Studio, Online Courses, University of Iowa, 250 CEF, Iowa City IA 52242.
Questions about this software may be addressed by scrolling down this page and clicking "Technical Help" or by e-mailing the Studio at iyws-onlinecourses@uiowa.edu.
- Applicants for Online Courses should complete the form below and upload your Statement of Purpose (300-500 words) and signed Parental Permission form (available on our web site) as separate files.
- Teacher Statements of Support can be uploaded by you or by your supporting teacher by following the "Teacher Statement of Support" upload link.
- Official transcripts from your high school can be uploaded by your school as a pdf or other unalterable file by following the "transcript" upload link. Your school can e-mail your official transcript to iyws-onlinecourses@uiowa.edu. The word TRANSCRIPT should appear in the subject line, and the student's name should be included in the body of the message. Your school can also send us your official transcript by other electronic means (Docufide, Parchment, etc) or by regular mail to: Iowa Young Writers' Studio, Online Courses, University of Iowa, 24 PH, Iowa City IA 52242. Questions about using this software may be addressed by scrolling down this page and clicking "Technical Help" or by e-mailing the Studio at iyws-onlinecourses@uiowa.edu.
- Feel free to email iyws-onlinecourses@uiowa.edu if you have any questions.
Applicants for the November 12, 2026 High School Writing Conference at the University of Iowa should complete the form below. A teacher Statement of Support can be uploaded by you or by your supporting teacher by following the "Teacher Statement of Support" upload link. We do not accept Statements of Support via e-mail.
Questions about this application, or about using this software may be addressed by scrolling down this page and clicking "Technical Help" or by e-mailing the Studio at iyws@uiowa.edu.
Dear Teacher and Supporter of Young Writers,
One of your students is applying to attend a high school creative writing conference at the University of Iowa—the Writing University—on November 12, 2026. Conference participants will spend a day on the University of Iowa campus taking creative writing classes with students and graduates of our renowned writing MFA programs. Students will have the opportunity to develop their craft, explore different genres—fiction writing, poetry writing, nonfiction writing, TV writing, playwriting, translation—and meet other creative writers like themselves.
We’re looking for students who are enthusiastic about writing and will be active, engaged participants in the conference. We’d be grateful if you would write a brief (250-500 word) Statement of Support for your student. Please comment on your student's dedication to writing and likelihood of being a good citizen of the conference.
Please upload your statement using this form. (We are sorry to say that we cannot accept Statements of Support via e-mail.) If you have any questions about the Statement of Support or would like more information about the conference or the application process don’t hesitate to contact us at iyws@uiowa.edu.
Thank you!