Young writers aged 15 to 18 are invited to apply for the 2025 International Writing Program (IWP) Between the Lines (BTL): Peace and the Writing Experience residency. The program, sponsored by ECA, will take place in Iowa City, Iowa from July 12 to July 26, 2025.
The IWP has developed this program with a focus on emerging voices and youth empowerment through peaceful means. Participants must be able to travel independently or with a chaperone and attend all in-person workshops, seminars, and cultural exchange sessions during the two-week residency. The activities will include creative writing workshops, world literature seminars, cultural visits, and other local events. At the end of the program, participants will receive a certificate and their writings will be published as an anthology by IWP.
IWP will cover all costs related to the program including travel expenses for both young writers and their chaperones.
Applicants need to provide personal details such as surname, first name, city and country of birth, gender, city of residency, country of citizenship, date of birth, and email address. They must submit a writing sample consisting of 6–8 pages of original prose or poetry in English. Critical essays are not accepted. A brief statement explaining why writing is important to them is also required along with a response discussing identity roles in daily life.
Applications should be submitted by February 14, 2025 via email at HararePD@state.gov.