Growing Up: A New Design for the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative
...lots of political news, personal commentary, humor and more
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative launched in July 2022 with a simple promise: to connect readers with professional writers who share a deep interest in this state — its politics, its culture, its people, its stories. That first post generated 132 subscribers, including one paid supporter.
A week later came Laura Belin and Bob Leonard’s first posts on Substack. Soon after, Beth Hoffman, author of Bet the Farm, launched her column In the Dirt. At that point we had 34 subscribers — and 334 views on the roundup. Readers were showing up. Something was taking hold.
Since then, it has been a gradual building process, in entirely new territory for both our writers and our readers. There was no manual for this. No blueprint for building a statewide digital writers’ collaborative. We’ve learned in public. Adjusted as we’ve gone. Experimented. Refined. Kept going.
Today, the Collaborative includes more than 60 writers, over 14,000 subscribers, and 30,000 followers. It’s grown beyond what any of us imagined in those early weeks.
Which brings us to a new, and very welcome, challenge.
With so much content — a good problem to have — we’re at a point where we need to make it easier for you, the reader, to navigate. Rather than listing dozens of categories and adding more text to every edition, we are organizing the content into seven streamlined sections. You can jump directly to what interests you most with a click on the section headline below.
And when you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the column headline itself — not a byline, not a two-sentence blurb. Just the story, front and center.
More voices. Less complexity. Still rooted in the same promise that started it all.
At the end of this roundup, our paid subscribers will find a short survey about the redesign. We don’t put much behind a paywall — access matters to us — but it felt right to invite those who sustain this work to respond first.
We’re building this together.
SECTIONS
Click the following areas of interest:
Public Affairs…Around Iowa…Creative Arts & Entertainment…Sports…Personal…Business…Humor
Public Affairs
Budget stalemate solution: Is this really about limiting Governor Rob Sand?
Dave Price — Read more
So much funnel week news from the Iowa legislature
Laura Belin — Read more
Iowa governor’s case for large state plane doesn’t add up
Laura Belin — Read more
The U.S. Constitution is Dying. Iowans in Congress Are Hastening Its Death
Barry Piatt — Read more
Rep. Ashley Hinson’s jokes about the high cost of food are no laughing matter
Letters From Iowans — Read more
Education Deserts, Enrollment Cliffs, and Schoolyard Bullies
Cheryl Tevis — Read more
“Let My People Go!”: The Iowa Legislative Black and Brown Caucus celebrates Black History Month
Robert Leonard — Read more
My Take on the Iowa Democratic Senate Primary: Expect more blunt talk if you want honest working-class candidates…
Robert Leonard — Read more
Iowans should control their elections, not the federal government
Ed Tibbetts — Read more
The Epstein files — An Iowa connection: The woman who wanted to meet Jeffrey Epstein for coffee
Arnold Garson — Read more
How acts of vandalism intended to hurt backfired — in shows of community and hope
Rekha Basu — Read more
A Little Help From…The State?
Beth Hoffman — Read more
There is not just one way to think and speak and act in the United States, and that makes us special
Randy Evans — Read more
Finally, sharp elbows are being deployed in Democrats’ U.S. Senate primary
Todd Dorman — Read more
Politics doesn’t need crude talk
Rick Morain — Read more
We’re rapidly running out of news we can trust
Dave Busiek — Read more
It’s Time To Talk About the “F” Word…
Daniel Henderson — Read more
The American Taliban, Iowa Chapter, aims to silence a free press by starving it
Art Cullen — Read more
Iowa Republicans raise property taxes more than a socialist
Art Cullen — Read more
Trumpian — and Republican? — state capitalism violates the principles of Adam Smith they claim to revere
Dennis Goldford — Read more
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart discusses a possible return of the Iowa Caucus
Julie Gammack — Read more
Around Iowa
Some questions about Governor Kim Reynolds’ use of a state plane
Dave Price — Read more
Alejandra Valdez of Viva Fit Kitchen believes lasting wellness begins with preparation, not restriction
Hola Iowa — Read more
Almost Time to Plant Spuds
Mary Swander (Buggy Land) — Read more
Creative Arts & Entertainment
Blind: Poem for a friend on the first day of the war
Michael Judge — Read more
The ferocious urgency of Caleb Rainey’s spoken-word poem on murder in Minneapolis, an ode to Renee Good
Douglas Burns — Read more
Rachelle Chase and Dartanyan close out Black History Month telling the Buxton Story — Pella Corporation Auditorium
Dartanyan Brown — Read more
So, How’s Latin King Doing with the New Operating Partner?
Wini Moranville — Read more
“Ditch Lilies Only Look Delicate:” Poem published in Wild Willow Magazine
Suzanna de Baca — Read more
Officially Introducing Myself
John Busbee — Read more
Memories and Metal: Detroit Autorama
Phoebe Wall Howard — Read more
Sports
Stay tuned. This section will come alive soon.
Personal
Report from “The Elders”
Chuck Offenburger — Read more
Let the Blackbirds Do the Talking
Steve Semken — Read more
I’ve Covered Disasters My Entire Career. This One Hit My Front Door.
Christopher Gloninger — Read more
When the Tail Wags: Thoughts While Walking the Dog
Richard W. Gilbert — Read more
Business
Why Factory Workers Are Getting $0 From Record CEO Pay
Phoebe Wall Howard — Read more
My Dog Saved a Baby! And Other Field-Tested Leadership Lessons
Suzanna de Baca — Read more
When a $900,000 Combine Won’t Start
Ken Chester — Read more
Humor
FINNEY’S 5: Weekend thoughts too real to publish (but we did it anyway)
Daniel Finney — Read more
FINNEY’S 5: What the Clintons really said on Capitol Hill
Daniel Finney — Read more
FINNEY’S 5: Field notes on consuming a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake
Daniel Finney — Read more
