According to Tom Kealey's recently published The Creative Writing MFA Handbook, the Iowa Writers Workshop might be coasting on its reputation. In an excerpt from the book posted online, Kealey acknowledges the program's public reputation, especially due to its accomplished alumni and faculty, but still suggests "Iowa is no longer the best program in the country, and because of the competitive atmosphere it should not be considered a top ten program either."

Well, that got one current Iowa student's blood boiling, prompting a defensive letter to Maud Newton, which declares that "there's not a 'competitive' feeling among the students because we know there's nothing we can really do but submit our best work and hope the professors respond."