Garth Greenwell
Garth Greenwell is the author of What Belongs to You, which won the British Book Award for Debut of the Year, was longlisted for the National Book Award, and was a finalist for many other awards, including the PEN/Faulkner Award, the LA Times Book Prize, and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. His second book, Cleanness, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award and was longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize, the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and the Prix Sade, among others. A New York Times Notable Book, it was named a Best Book of 2020 by over thirty publications. His new novel, Small Rain, was published in September.
A 2020 Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the 2021 Vursell Award for prose style from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, he is currently a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University.
Space, time, & collegial support for academic writing — May 12–16, 2025
Have you been waiting all school year to make serious progress on your book manuscript, article, or grant application? Jumpstart your summer writing project at the Obermann End-of-Year Writing Retreat May 12–16, 2025!
Fifteen participants will enjoy a week of quiet productivity apart from the distractions of campus at the beautiful North Ridge Pavilion in Coralville. Daily catered lunches will provide an opportunity for exchange and discussion with other writers across campus. Each day will include structured blocks for writing, breaks, small-group check-ins, and activities crafted to spark creativity and foster well-being. The retreat will also feature an engaging conversation with acclaimed author Garth Greenwell about the editorial process.
Organizers: Luis Martín-Estudillo, Director of the Obermann Center, and Lauren Cox, Associate Director of the Obermann Center.
This program is funded by the P3 Writing for the Public Good Initiative.
Eligibility & application
- The retreat is open to University of Iowa artists, scholars, and researchers working on any kind of writing project (e.g., academic articles/essays, fellowship or grant applications, book projects, edited volumes, nonfiction).
- 15 participants will be accepted by competitive application. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. March 14, 2025.
- Participants must commit to attending the retreat from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. from Monday, May 12 to Friday, May 16.
- UI faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and staff working on writing projects are welcome to apply.
The venue
North Ridge Pavilion is a 1,700 square-foot, all-season event venue at 2250 Holiday Road in Coralville, Iowa (map), featuring a large great room, fireplace, kitchen, accessible restrooms, free wifi, and a veranda overlooking a park and fishing pond. Free parking is available at the pavilion.