Recurring

PorchLight: Poetry Exchange

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

This writer guided critique group offers poets the chance to receive carefully considered feedback, and find writerly community. Writers share drafts of work in advance so readers have enough time to provide considered feedback. Feedback is mostly positive, and descriptive, but writers can ask for proscriptive feedback if they wish. This workshop model centers the

Recurring

PorchLight: Queer Writers’ Check In

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Similar to their Long Project Check In, this group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing, discussion of works in progress, and general literary support. Occasionally, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. Visit their website to RSVP!

Recurring

PorchLight: Writing Grief

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Grief Writing - A monthly exploration of loss and heartbreak Jennifer New leads this monthly group that uses writing as a reflective tool to explore loss. Francis Weller's Five Gates of Grief provides a backbone to consider grief from multiple angles, e.g., death of loved ones, loss of health or ability, grief for the world. This is an

Free Generative Writing Workshop for July: Griffin Rockwell

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry and PorchLight Literary Arts Center The Free Generative Writing Workshops provide a space for career writers, curious beginners, writers of all levels and stages of life. Their goal is to make it easy to meet and learn from some of the most talented writer/teachers living in or passing through Iowa

Sidekick: Reading, Signing and Conversation with Naomi Kritzer

Sidekick Coffee & Books 1310 1/2 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City, IA

Join Sidekick Coffee & Books for a reading from author Naomi Kritzer on Wednesday, August 19th at 7 pm in conversation with author Katie Runde and Doctor Stephanie Radke. One book purchase admits one person. About the book: Doctor Liz has just been acquitted for performing the last abortion in North Dakota when she's kidnapped.

Recurring

PorchLight: Writing Grief

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Grief Writing - A monthly exploration of loss and heartbreak Jennifer New leads this monthly group that uses writing as a reflective tool to explore loss. Francis Weller's Five Gates of Grief provides a backbone to consider grief from multiple angles, e.g., death of loved ones, loss of health or ability, grief for the world. This is an

Recurring

PorchLight: Poetry Exchange

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

This writer guided critique group offers poets the chance to receive carefully considered feedback, and find writerly community. Writers share drafts of work in advance so readers have enough time to provide considered feedback. Feedback is mostly positive, and descriptive, but writers can ask for proscriptive feedback if they wish. This workshop model centers the

Recurring

PorchLight: Queer Writers’ Check In

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Similar to their Long Project Check In, this group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing, discussion of works in progress, and general literary support. Occasionally, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. Visit their website to RSVP!

Recurring

PorchLight: Writing Grief

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Grief Writing - A monthly exploration of loss and heartbreak Jennifer New leads this monthly group that uses writing as a reflective tool to explore loss. Francis Weller's Five Gates of Grief provides a backbone to consider grief from multiple angles, e.g., death of loved ones, loss of health or ability, grief for the world. This is an

Recurring

PorchLight: Queer Writers’ Check In

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Similar to their Long Project Check In, this group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing, discussion of works in progress, and general literary support. Occasionally, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. Visit their website to RSVP!

Iowa City Book Festival

Downtown Iowa City

 The Iowa City Book Festival is happening October 19–25, 2026! Join us for a week of literary events, author talks, readings, and more at various locations throughout downtown Iowa City. Mark your calendars. More information coming soon.

An Evening with Pulitzer Prize Winner Yiyun Li

TBD

Internationally acclaimed author Yiyun Li won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for her resonant memoir, Things in Nature Merely Grow, a deeply moving account of losing her younger son to suicide a little more than six years after her older son died in the same manner. The Princeton University professor is the author of 12 books—and was