Author: Ryan Collins

Iron Pen 2025 Results / Info for Awards Ceremony on 3/22

Posted on by Ryan Collins

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in Iron Pen 2025. We received many terrific entries, and our excellent judges— Kristin DeMarr (nonfiction), Peter          Hadlandsmyth (fiction), and Jacob Duncan (poetry), who are last year’s winners in each category—had very difficult decisions to make in their evaluations and wonderful things to say about so much terrific writing. We appreciate everyone’s time and talents in making this year’s contest one of the most competitive we’ve ever had.

Without any further ado, here are the winners of the 2025 Iron Pen Contest, by category…

Transmissions from the Ancestors: A Generative Writing Workshop with Anahit Cass

Posted on by Ryan Collins

Transmissions from the Ancestors is designed to get participants writing about their own ancestral connections and how they impact the future. Using readings, visual images, and written prompts in this 2 hour writing workshop, participants will write a short work that may be the outline for a longer essay, memoir, or story or useful in journaling about ancestral connections and their impact.

Anahit’s new book Reparations of the Heart presents a vibrant tapestry of essays; stories; poems; quotes; and detailed, often surreal images. It crosses time and borders and launches us into a future world informed by our connection to our ancestors.

This is what she wants for the people who attend her workshop.

Iron Pen 2025: Rules, Info, Prompt Announcement 

Posted on by Ryan Collins

Thank you all very much for participating in the fastest writing contest in the Midwest! We appreciate your writing courage & quick imagination, and we look forward to seeing all of your terrific submissions. 

Before we get to the prompt (which will also be available via phone on the MWC’s outgoing voice message at 309-732-7330, via the home page and the Iron Pen page on the MWC website, and on our Facebook page), a few guidelines and other important bits of information: