ReferenceList RulesPeople on this list must have gone to Iowa Writers' Workshop and be of some renown.
List of famous alumni from Iowa Writers' Workshop, with photos when available. Prominent graduates from Iowa Writers' Workshop include some of the greatest English language writers of the twentieth century. This list of distinguished Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni is full of recognizable and notable writers, like Flannery O'Connor and John Irving. This directory is not just composed of graduates of this school, as some of the famous people on this list didn't necessarily earn a degree from Iowa Writers' Workshop, but rather attended it for a spell.
This list answers the questions “Which famous writers went to Iowa Writers' Workshop?” and “Which top authors are Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni?”1
Flannery O'Connor
Novelist, AuthorAge: Dec. at 39 (1925-1964)
Birthplace: Savannah, Georgia
Mary Flannery O'Connor (March 25, 1925 – August 3, 1964) was an American novelist, short story... more
2David Milch
Television producer, ScreenwriterAge: 75
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, United States of America
David Sanford Milch (born March 23, 1945) is an American writer and producer of television... more3
Allan Gurganus
Novelist, ScreenwriterAge: 73
Birthplace: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, United States of America
Allan Gurganus is an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist whose work, which... more4
Paul Lisicky
Novelist, WriterAge: 61
Paul Lisicky (born July 9, 1959) is an American novelist and memoirist. He is an associate... more5
John Irving
Novelist, ScreenwriterAge: 78
Birthplace: Exeter, New Hampshire, United States of America
John Winslow Irving (born John Wallace Blunt Jr.; March 2, 1942) is an American novelist and... more6
Lucy Grealy
WriterAge: Dec. at 39 (1963-2002)
Birthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Lucinda Margaret Grealy (June 3, 1963 – December 18, 2002) was an Irish-American poet and... more7
Bharati Mukherjee
Professor, NovelistAge: 78
Birthplace: Kolkata, India
Bharati Mukherjee (July 27, 1940 – January 28, 2017) was an Indian American writer and... more8
Ann Patchett
Novelist, AuthorAge: 56
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Ann Patchett (born December 2, 1963) is an American author. She received the 2002 PEN/Faulkner... more9
Adam Haslett
Author, WriterAge: 49
Birthplace: Port Chester, New York
Adam Haslett (born December 24, 1970) is an American fiction writer. He currently lives in New... more10
Rita Dove
Poet, ProfessorAge: 68
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, United States of America
Rita Frances Dove (born August 28, 1952) is an American poet and essayist. From 1993 to 1995,... more11
Charles D'Ambrosio
Essayist, WriterAge: 62
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington
Charles Anthony D'Ambrosio, Jr (born 1958) is an American short story writer and essayist.... more- 12
Curtis Sittenfeld
NovelistAge: 45
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
Elizabeth Curtis Sittenfeld (born 1975) is an American writer. She is the author of a... more 13
Wallace Stegner
Environmentalist, HistorianAge: Dec. at 84 (1909-1993)
Birthplace: Lake Mills, Iowa
Wallace Earle Stegner (February 18, 1909 – April 13, 1993) was an American novelist, short... more14
W. D. Snodgrass
Poet, AuthorAge: Dec. at 83 (1926-2009)
Birthplace: Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
William De Witt Snodgrass (January 5, 1926 – January 13, 2009) was an American poet who also... more15
Lewis Robinson
WriterAge: 49
Birthplace: Natick, Massachusetts
Lewis Robinson is an American author. His first book, Officer Friendly and Other Stories, was... more16
Andre Dubus
Biographer, NovelistAge: Dec. at 63 (1936-1999)
Birthplace: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Andre Jules Dubus II (August 11, 1936 – February 24, 1999) was an American short story writer... more17
James Tate
Poet, ProfessorAge: 76
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri
James Vincent Tate (December 8, 1943 – July 8, 2015) was an American poet. His work earned... more18
Robert Bly
Poet, AuthorAge: 93
Birthplace: Minnesota
Robert Bly (born December 23, 1926) is an American poet, essayist, activist and leader of the... more19
Charles Wright
Poet, ProfessorAge: 85
Birthplace: Pickwick Dam, Tennessee
Charles Wright (born August 25, 1935) is an American poet. He shared the National Book Award... more20
Laurel Snyder
WriterAge: 46
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
Laurel Snyder is an American poet and writer of children's books, including novels and picture... more21
D. A. Powell
PoetAge: 57
Birthplace: Albany, Georgia
Douglas A. Powell (born May 16, 1963 Albany, Georgia) is an American poet.... more22
Nam Le
WriterAge: 42
Birthplace: Vietnam
Nam Le (Vietnamese: Lê Nam) (born 1978) is a Vietnamese-born Australian writer, who won the... more23
Raymond Carver
Poet, AuthorAge: Dec. at 50 (1938-1988)
Birthplace: Clatskanie, Oregon
Raymond Clevie Carver Jr. (May 25, 1938 – August 2, 1988) was an American short-story writer... more24
Steven Erikson
Novelist, AuthorAge: 60
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Steven Erikson (born October 7, 1959) is the pseudonym of Steve Rune Lundin, a Canadian... more- 25
Vern Rutsala
Poet, WriterAge: Dec. at 80 (1934-2014)
Birthplace: McCall, Idaho
Vern Rutsala (February 5, 1934 – April 2, 2014) was an American poet. Born in McCall, Idaho,... more
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