The Iowa Writers' Room is pleased to offer two distinct fellowship programs — one for current undergraduate and graduate students and one for graduates of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the Iowa Playwrights Workshop. See below for more information on these two opportunities, including general details and guidelines, how to apply, and upcoming deadlines.
Independent Fellows
The IWR visiting fellows provide time and space during the Fall semester for select post-MFA students to work intensively on one or more scripts, develop ideas for future projects, and receive in-depth professional mentoring by a successful and experienced writer in the field. Visiting fellows will also explore ways to navigate the business of writing for long-form television. Funding for the visiting fellows is roughly $17,000.
Fellows will be selected based on an application process that includes submitting a writing sample and a personal statement; once chosen, they will work directly with their mentor to create a goal for the Fall semester, including a plan for feedback frequency and meeting times that works best for each individual writer.
Application Info
Info and Dates
The Visiting Fellows program provides financial support for emerging writers focused on creating long-form narrative television. Selected writers will be given time and financial support during the fall semester (August to December) to work intensely on one or more scripts, develop ideas for future projects, and receive in-depth professional mentoring by an experienced television writer.
Submit
The Magid Center for Writing—in collaboration with the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the Department of Theatre Arts—accepts applications for the Iowa Writers' Room Visiting Fellows each spring. Stay tuned for more information.
Deadlines
The application deadline will be the last week of March, and selected Visiting Fellows will be notified by mid-April.
Campus Fellows
Iowa TV Writing Campus Fellows commit to participating in a two-semester course sequence for the academic year, one class in the fall (WRIT:3325) and one class in the spring (WRIT:4325).
In order to join the fellowship cohort, current undergraduate and graduate students must submit an application form prior to the start of early registration in the spring semester. The AY 25-26 application can be found here.
The deadline to complete the form is Monday, March 31, 2025.
Application Info
Info and Dates
Iowa TV Writing Campus Fellows commit to participating in a two-semester course sequence for the academic year, one class in the fall (WRIT:3325) and one class in the spring (WRIT:4325). In WRIT:3325, students simulate a traditional writer's room by selecting material and show topics, pitching ideas, collaboratively breaking story as well as writing and workshopping scripts for a limited television series in either adaptation or half-hour comedy. In WRIT:4325, students expand their knowledge of writing for television by creating and workshopping their very own pilot scripts.
Submit
Students may apply to be an Iowa TV Writing Campus Fellow in the spring semester for the following academic year. The application link can be found here, or by visiting the MyUI website.
Deadlines
The application deadline for the Iowa TV Writing Campus Fellows is March 31, 2025.
Current Independent Fellows
Zea Eanet
Derick Edgren
