Content
Community Anthology 2025
Iowa [W]rites of Spring 2025
The Writers' Rooms Community Anthology 2025 Application: Iowa [W]rites of Spring
This year’s theme is “Spring." You can interpret this topic however you would like--as a setting, as a theme, as a method of characterization. That’s up to you! We are interested in prose, poetry, photography, art, and graphic narratives!
Please send us pieces of no more than 5,000 words (prose) or 12 pages (poetry--more than one poem is allowed, but each poem will be considered on an individual basis) in Standard Manuscript Format (https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/) involving the topic.
We are also interested in Graphic Narrative length stories of 10 pages max. The book will be B&W and the dimensions are 6.5x9.5 with margins and no bleeds.
We would also like to showcase photography and artists. If you have a piece that you feel fits the theme, please submit a grayscale image of your art.
ALL pieces should be family friendly with a rating no more than PG-13.
Submissions are due no later than February 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm.
All members of The Writers' Rooms community are welcome to submit pieces, including Concierges.
Do NOT include your name on your submission piece as they will be judged anonymously.
All submissions will receive a response whether the piece is accepted or not.
This is not a paid anthology. All proceeds will be used to help fund The Writers' Rooms and bring programming to the community.
The book will be published both as an eBook and in paperback.
No AI-generated submissions allowed.
Awards: This year we are introducing awards! Once the submission review is complete, the Publishing Committee will review and choose from this list of awards:
Best Short Story
Best Poem
Best Nonfiction
Best Visual Art
Chosen pieces will receive a special call out in the published anthology. Please indicate below if you would like your submission to be considered. Each contributor will only receive an award in one category if they submit more than one piece.
If you have any questions about requirements, please email us at welcome@thewritersrooms.org. We’re happy to help!
We can’t wait to read your pieces!
The Parchment Lounge
Readings and Critique Group
The Parchment Lounge Critique Group: A dedicated group with an eye to improving their craft, they meet on the last Monday of odd-numbered months during the Parchment Lounge, as holidays and other planned events allow. Join the Parchment Lounge Facebook Group and speak with a Concierge to express interest, and mark your calendar!
The Parchment Lounge Reading: As holidays and other planned events allow, the Parchment Lounge offers an opportunity to share your work to an appreciative audience on the last Monday of even-numbered months.
Learn more about The Parchment Lounge, and our other Rooms, here!
Imagine Other Worlds with Authors
I.O.W.A. Author Signing
As of this moment, Imagine Other Worlds with Authors is on hiatus. If you’re interested in helping us organize this large author-signing event, please email us at welcome@thewritersrooms.org.
Teen Workshop
The Torchlit Study
Are your students looking for a free, safe environment to learn about writing from local and award-winning authors? Would they enjoy having all of their publishing questions answered? Then encourage them to attend The Torchlit Study, a teen writing workshop hosted by The Writers' Rooms and ICON43.
On Friday, October 5th, from 1-5 pm, teen writers can sit in paneled sessions led by authors such as Hugo Award Winners Jim C. Hines and Mike Mullin, along with many authors from the community who will share their literary journeys. Teens will have the chance to explore character development and world building, finding the “write” community, publishing, and marketing--all for free!
The Torchlit Study will be hosted both by The Writers’ Rooms and ICON43. The Writers’ Rooms is a nonprofit corporation focused on providing a free, safe writing environment to people of all ages, skillsets, backgrounds, and genders. ICON43 is Iowa’s longest-running science fiction and fantasy convention held October 5th-7th at the Marriott in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This is the seventh year ICON has included a teen writers workshop the Friday of the conference, and it has grown dramatically from those early days.
Led by Jed Quinn Peterson, author, Professor of History at Kirkwood Community College, and Vice President of the College Community (Prairie) School Board, and Alex Penland, author and Director of The Writers’ Rooms, 60 lucky students will have the chance to register and learn from established writers from their own community.
To register, fill out the online form below.
We would love to see your students there and ignite their literary dreams!
If you have any questions about the content of the workshop or logistics, or if you would like one of us to stop by your school to talk with students or administrators, please don’t hesitate to reach out at welcome@thewritersrooms.org