By Fatima Salinas
For students in CLAS’s English and Creative Writing program, writing is often seen as a solitary pursuit that becomes collaborative through workshops and community.
For Sydney Mayes, that sense of connection is what first made Iowa stand out as a place where writers could grow creatively while learning alongside others equally passionate about storytelling.
“I think one thing about being a writer specifically is that it's a very lonely kind of art form,” she said. “But when you sit down in those workshops, you get to make it collaborative.”
Within workshop spaces, students not only share deeply personal work, but also learn how to thoughtfully exchange feedback in an environment built on trust and encouragement.
“You're also getting respect from everyone else in the room, and that's invaluable to have that kind of safe space to be an artist, to be a writer,” she said.
When searching for colleges, Mayes said she wanted a program that would both challenge and support her growth as a writer. Iowa’s nationally recognized English department and literary reputation quickly stood out to her.
“I wanted to go somewhere that had an incredible English department, somewhere that I knew I would be nurtured,” she said. “I think Iowa is the place to study English because we have a banging faculty and an amazing community.”
Students in the program gain access to accomplished faculty and visiting authors connected to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, one of the most respected creative writing programs in the country.
“Iowa City is the place to be, specifically the University of Iowa,” she said. “If you want to be a writer and if you want to have access to incredible resources around writing, the reputation is insane.”
Take a look below to learn more about Sydney’s experience in Iowa’s English program.