The Incarcerated Writers Project (IWP) is an initiative of phoebe journal to provide feedback to creative writers who are incarcerated. IWP, like all of phoebe’s work, is completely run by George Mason University MFA creative writing students. Currently, 37 volunteers read and send feedback to incarcerated writers. In a typical year, IWP sends feedback to nearly 100 writers. Creative writing students in all genres participate in order to better tailor the feedback to the individuals’ pieces.
Today, I sat down with Maya Gudapati and Katey Funderburgh, the current co-coordinators of IWP, to discuss their work and experience with the organization.
What drew you toward this project?
Katey: I am really excited by work that walks the intersection between literature and justice. We are facilitating community between the incarcerated and non-incarcerated. It’s work that goes against erasure in America and all the ways that can manifest. It’s really exciting to read work from all over the country. It’s also really hard. All writers have a responsibility to witness and record, and the writers in prison need space for that to be amplified.
Maya: I’ve always been interested in justice work, specifically with incarceration. I wrote my high school thesis on incarceration in America. When I found out about this program, it drew me toward Mason. When I got involved as a reader, I knew I wanted to get more involved. It provides an opportunity to contribute to writer communities outside of the MFA bubble. I’m interested in platforming the voices of the incarcerated because I know how many barriers they have. Allowing those stories to be published and accessible makes the writing community better people as well. It's important for everyone involved.
What is your process when you are responding to a piece?
Katey: There’s a long life cycle. After work gets received, we sort it by genre, we read through everything, we match the packets to current and former MFA students who read for us, and then we send guidelines for the feedback. The writer will receive back a letter that’s about a page in length, as well as their annotated writing back. We work through snail mail, but we’re trying to set up an electronic system.
Maya: Ditto.
How has your work with IWP inspired or influenced your own writing?
Katey: I think the insistence of the need to write gets renewed in me by IWP. So does that want to try to confront these questions of injustice. I want to wrestle with it. When I try to, and even when I fail, I’m contributing to this community of writers who are trying to do the same thing. I have noticed a need to protect the hope in my writing. Anger too.
Maya: I think I’m very inspired by a lot of the writing I encounter through IWP. I’m really pissed off about the fact that these folks are having to write while incarcerated. Currently, that anger is appearing in my wiring. But also, their resilience is contagious. There is a level of frustration with the powers that be that is clear in my work.
How has your work with IWP changed your perspective as a student of poetry?
Maya: To kind of echo Katey, every time I read and interact with the writers, I have a “return to sender moment.” I am reminded of the way poetry offers itself to writers and the opportunity I have to strive toward truth and community as opposed to intellectual appeal. It’s a welcome reminder that poetry is about connection and protest.
Katey: I like how you called it “return to sender.” A lot of what I think, Maya said. Poetry has always been a part of resistance movements. I think about my smallness. It’s easy to get distracted with what’s going on in the world and in our community, which can pull us away from the point of poetry. This definitely nurtures that.
Is there a piece you read in your work with IWP that will stay with you?
Katey: There’s a lot. We get a lot of pieces that are typed and some that are handwritten. Those hit me harder because I’m looking at their handwriting. They stick with me differently. Every time I’m opening envelopes, I’m very conscious that they’re physical. There’s one piece about recipes the writer invented in prison. I really loved that and think about it a lot. I think it represents taking what you’re handed and making something beautiful for yourself and your community. It was beautifully written and fun to read. Being able to witness, appreciate, and admire this work is so important to me.
Maya: This is maybe adjacent to the question, but we have a handful of folks who send us art. That’s not something we can provide feedback on, but just thinking about how they sent it and shared what they made, it’s pretty emotional. We are the people who get to appreciate it. It’s a privilege to be able to care about what they create. I take seriously that I’m the person who gets to enjoy their work, writing as well. We display their art in our office, and it makes our lives better. It makes me feel a little powerless, but I’m grateful.
Last words -
Maya: If any current or former students want to read, please reach out. Or if you’re interested and would like to hear more, we would love to talk to you.
Katey: Thanks to the team, we could not do it without them.
Get involved!
Contact Katey Funderburgh (kfunderb@gmu.edu) or Maya Gudapati (mgudapt@gmu.edu) to volunteer.
November 20, 2025