Our Story
The Ames Writers Collective (a nonprofit 501(c)(3)) was born from founder Ana McCracken’s dream of creating a space where writers could find connection and community. This dream was inspired by her experiences in California, home to some of the most iconic writing communities and the oldest writing club in the United States. These thriving networks showed her what was possible when writers came together to share their craft and support one another. When Ana began her MFA journey at Iowa State University, she was struck by how many writers in her new community had never experienced anything like that. They were eager but lacked a place to belong.
Determined to fill that gap, Ana embraced the ethos of “build it, and they will come.” Drawing on her own experiences as a non-traditional student and memoir writer, she created the Ames Writers Collective to provide writers of all ages and backgrounds with a supportive environment. Ana’s journey into writing was deeply rooted in studying the works of her favorite authors, attending workshops and retreats, and earning a certificate from Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) to lead generative writing workshops. She brought this expertise to her teaching at OLLI—ISU, where she discovered how much her Over 50+ students craved the sense of connectedness that a writing community could provide.
Since its founding in the fall of 2021, the Ames Writers Collective has grown into a vibrant hub for writers. Its outreach programs serve cancer patients and survivors, adolescents, and older adults, while its signature Tuesday Open Writes welcome anyone looking for a space to write in community. The organization also partners with the Octagon Art Gallery and Iowa State University Museums for Words Meet Art, a program where participants use art as inspiration for their writing and share their work publicly. Other initiatives include the Author Spotlight series, co-hosted with KHOI Community Radio, and the pop-up Swift Literary Festival, which highlights local and regional authors.
Now, the Ames Writers Collective is proud to have opened a physical space, Fifth Street, for writers to connect and write in community. This new space represents a milestone in its mission, offering endless potential to strengthen and expand the writing community in Ames. With Fifth Street, writers have a dedicated place to gather, create, and support one another, ensuring that the spirit of collaboration will continue to thrive.
By identifying a need and taking action, Ana McCracken has turned her vision of a writing community into a reality, proving that when writers are given a space to come together, creativity flourishes.
