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Iowa Woman Endeavors, Inc.

 Organization

Biography

Since 1980 Iowa Woman Endeavors, Inc., has published Iowa Woman, a quarterly literary journal which promotes the creative works of women. The magazine publishes fiction, essays, poetry, feature articles and interviews by nationally respected and emerging writers. Starting as a thirty-two page bimonthly publication, the magazine in 1982 became a forty-eight page quarterly. In 1991 twenty-two hundred copies of each issue were published and distributed, half to subscribers and the remainder through newsstand sales. Grants and contributions supplement the income from sales and are crucial to the magazine's existence.

Valerie Staats, the founding editor, guided the magazine until 1984, returning in 1986 to publish a double issue, Between Mountain and Sea. In the interim Mary Nilsen served as the editor, succeeded by Carolyn Hardesty from 1986 to 1990 and Marianne Abel from 1991 to 1995. In 1990 a volunteer editorial collective of ten women helped produce the magazine under the editor's direction. The collective has grown to include eighteen women volunteers who meet monthly in members' homes. Since 1990 grants and income have increased so that now the editor, managing editor and business manager are paid for their part-time work. A board of directors oversees the general management of the organization and is responsible for long-range planning, fundraising and educational program development.

Since 1986 Iowa Woman Endeavors has sponsored an annual international writing contest, awarding first and second place cash prizes in fiction, essay/creative nonfiction, and poetry. The works of the winning writers are published in the summer edition of the magazine. Prominent women writers known for their writing in each category are invited to serve as judges.

Iowa Woman Endeavors has received numerous grants from the Iowa Arts Council, the Iowa Humanities Board, the Gannett Foundation, and the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, among other honors. The organization sponsors workshops, readings, and other outreach events, including the "Writing Your Life" workshops held throughout the state since 1993. In 1994 and 1995 this workshop series was partially supported by an Iowa Community Cultural Grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs, enabling the organization to hire a part-time coordinator.

Iowa Woman News, sent to magazine subscribers, is a quarterly newsletter of recent origin informing supporters of the activities of Iowa Woman Endeavors, Inc. An important concern is increasing awareness of the magazine and expanding the financial support for this grassroots enterprise.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Iowa Woman Endeavors, Inc. records

 Collection
Identifier: IWA0109
Abstract

Publisher of Iowa Woman, a quarterly literary journal which promotes the creative works of women.

Dates: 1980-1996