Iowa Writers' House aims to build community, help authors develop

IOWA CITY — When Andrea Wilson moved to Iowa City, she thought it was the perfect place to hone a writing career.

'I think Iowa City is known as a place for writers,' she said. 'I thought I would be instantly welcomed into the literary world, and by default my writing career would be amplified, and I would find people to answer my questions.'

But, she said, she found it harder than she had thought to find support.

'You know you're in a place of greatness and there are people around you who are incredibly talented, but I couldn't figure out a way to be part of that literary community,' said Wilson, who grew up in Columbus Junction and spent several years working for large corporate advertising agencies in places such as Kansas City, New York, Toronto and Miami. 'There was no clear on-ramp to plug in.'

She spoke to a series of people to confirm her suspicions that Iowa's literary community was fragmented.

'And the universal answer was yes,' Wilson said. 'We each have our own worlds but agree there could be a better together scenario.'

After observing the successful entrepreneurial movement in Iowa City, Wilson said, she decided to see if she could create a 'connectivity ecosystem for the literary community.'

Last April, she founded the Iowa Writer's House, a non-profit that has three different priorities: community building, developing skill sets, and career development.

The organization has hosted a 'writer's night out', where people met at a restaurant and then went to see a poet at the Englert Theatre, Wilson said. And there have been workshops with authors such as Hope Edelman and Tim Johnston.

Despite its moniker, there isn't a physical 'writer's house.'

'The long-term goal is to have actual physical locations in multiple places in Iowa,' Wilson said. 'I didn't want to have a lack of physical space hold us back from launching.'

For now, the Iowa Writers' House is partnering with community organizations and using their spaces for events. Wilson also has hosted events at her historic Iowa City home.

'We want to give them that ambience, that cozy and inclusive feeling that creative people need,' Wilson said. 'We believe location and atmosphere and vibe are key to making this a success, and are asking the people of Iowa to keep their eyes and ears open to let us know when spaces come available that they think could fit an organization like this.'

Wilson said others have expressed interest in starting subgroups within the Iowa Writers' House, which they are calling 'rooms.'

The first 'room' to be established was the The Great Green Room, founded by Sarah Prineas and Michelle Edwards.

'It is made up of children's writers and illustrators in Iowa who had, before, been loosely affiliated with each other and now as an established group are developing our shared interest in community building, furthering our careers, and learning more about our craft,' Prineas said in an email.

Prineas said some members of the group already meet twice a week for write-ins, and plan to have a launch party in February. Prineas also will be teaching a writing workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 29 at 332 E. Davenport St. in Iowa City.

Although establishing The Iowa Writers' House has 'been more than a full-time job,' Wilson said it has been wonderful being back in Iowa.

'We are absolutely living in one of the best places in the country right now for growth, creativity and quality of life,' she said. 'I don't think I could have done this anywhere but Iowa.'