Rachel Gantt was the Ames Writers Collective’s first intern. She writes content for the website and socials. She also enjoys writing creative fiction and poetry.
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Rachel Gantt
Author: Nicole Phelon
Join us at Fifth Street Writers on the 1st Saturday of each month from 10 AM to Noon. Together we’ll write in community on our writing projects.
What’s a Write Together?
- Bring your laptop or whatever you write with to work on your creative writing projects—novels, memoirs, poems, project outlines, your to-do list for the coming year if need be
- We have seating areas spread throughout the building at Fifth Street Writers that run the gamut from comfy club chairs to benches with tables, to larger tables with chairs—some tables are shared spaces
- We’ll write in community for ~2 hours after sharing a brief comment about our creative project
- We have wifi
- We write, write, write in silence
- RULE: Cell phones MUST BE SILENCED, as well as laptop “dings”
Each month, we’ll open our doors at 9:30 am. Grab a coffee or tea and mingle with fellow writers. There’s plenty of street parking (metered) with a CyRide stop in front of our building at 612 5th Street in downtown Ames, Iowa.
While the event is free and open to all, we’re asking everyone to pre-register because space is limited. To register, click here.
On January 7th, Ames Writers Collective founder, Ana McCracken spoke with Charity Nebbe, host of Talk of Iowa. Talk of Iowa is presented by Iowa Public Radio.
During their conversation, Ana shared with Charity the exciting plans for the Ames Writers Collective newly opened Fifth Street Writers—a physical space that serves as a hub and vital resource for writers in Ames and Central Iowa. She shared how Fifth Street will help build connections within the Ames community.
If you missed the live broadcast, you can stream the conversation online at IPR. Search for the Jan 8, 2025 episode titled, A Dubuque museum celebrates 150 years. Ana’s segment is the last 20 minutes. Additionally, episodes are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Mark your calendars, for the rescheduled Iowa Poetry Association Slam Qualifier to be held on February 28 from 7 to 9 PM at Fifth Street Writers.
The winner will not only represent Ames at the Iowa Poetry Palooza but will also compete for a $100 prize and a spot in the national competition!
Poets must be 18 years or older by June 2025 to enter.
Learn more and register today!
Check out last year’s talented participants and champions below!
Discover your inner writer with Claire Kruesel at the Generative Writing Workshop on Jan. 25! Whether you’re dreaming of writing someday or looking to reignite your creative spark, this free monthly workshop offers a supportive and inspiring space for writers of all levels. Guided by guest host Claire Kruesel, an accomplished poet and passionate advocate for storytelling, you’ll explore prompts to help inspire your writing.
Join us upstairs in the PEO Room at the Ames Public Library on Jan. 25th from 10 to 12
These workshops are inspired by the Amherst Writers & Artists Method, which believes that everyone is a writer.
4th Saturday of the month | 10 to Noon Email [email protected]
Presented by the Iowa Center for the Book and Ames Public Library in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective.
ameswriterscollective.org | (515) 708-4694
The Ames Writers Collective is thrilled to announce that our founder, Ana McCracken, will be a guest speaker on Talk of Iowa! Hosted by Charity Nebbe and presented by Iowa Public Radio, Talk of Iowa is a platform where Iowans come together to share ideas and learn from one another.
Ana will discuss the exciting plans for our upcoming physical space, Fifth Street, and how this new hub will serve as a vital resource for writers in Ames. She’ll also share how Fifth Street will help build connections within the Ames community.
Tune in to Ana’s session at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7th. You can listen live on News & Studio One (FM) or stream it online at ipr.org. If you miss the live broadcast, the episode will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and under “Latest Episodes” on Talk of Iowa.
We hope you’ll join us to hear Ana’s inspiring vision for the future of Ames Writers Collective!
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Anna Jinja
Are you published?
indie press publisher
What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always been fascinated by the power of stories to connect us—to each other, to ourselves, and to the world around us. Growing up, I felt like stories were a window into lives and experiences that were different from my own, and they helped me make sense of the complexities of being human. As an adoptee, storytelling became an especially important way for me to explore identity, belonging, and the intersections of different cultures.
Starting The Anna Jinja Show felt like a natural extension of that. The show is about bringing people together through creativity, vulnerability, and shared experiences. Writing has always been my way of reflecting and making meaning, so incorporating that into the show—whether through scripts, interviews, or creative prompts—allows me to bring these values to life.
More than anything, I hope my writing and the show inspire others to tell their own stories, to embrace the messy and beautiful parts of their lives, and to connect in ways that feel genuine and transformative.
What author do you admire and how have they inspired your writing?
I deeply admire Madeleine L’Engle. Her ability to blend profound philosophical and spiritual questions with richly imaginative storytelling has always resonated with me. In works like A Wrinkle in Time, she explores the vastness of the universe and the intricacies of human relationships, all while emphasizing the power of love, curiosity, and courage.
Her work inspires me to embrace complexity in my writing, to lean into the questions that don’t have easy answers, and to believe in the transformative power of creativity. Like L’Engle, I want my writing to invite readers to look beyond the surface, to explore the connections between the seen and unseen, and to find beauty in both the light and the dark.
Name three of your favorite books and their authors
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
What’s one thing readers should know about you?
I believe I have a good sense of humor, and it’s one of the most important tools we have to navigate life’s ups and downs. Humor breaks the ice, eases tension, and helps us see the light even in the most challenging situations. While writing Adopting Grace, I made sure to weave bits of humor into the story. Though I explore meaningful and often complex topics, humor keeps Grace’s journey relatable and human. It ties everything together, reminding us that joy and laughter are just as essential.
What one piece of advice would you give a budding writer?
Ignore anyone who doesn’t support your creative journey. Early in my writing journey, someone told me that writing was a self-indulgent waste of time if it didn’t generate income—and that I wasn’t good enough for it to make a difference anyway. Those words stung, but they taught me something valuable: the importance of believing in yourself, even when others don’t.
Writing isn’t just about making money; it’s about expression, exploration, and growth. The stories you tell have value.
Author bio
Anna Jinja Mather was adopted from Seoul, Korea, and grew up in Iowa. Her heart is filled with love for people and their stories. By sharing her adoption story and all that she is learning to help her navigate through personal and professional challenges, she hopes that this will lead us to believe, accept, and value the inherent worthiness of all people. She has dedicated her life to a number of nonprofit organizations and causes as a volunteer or employee, which has led to a myriad of unexpected opportunities and adventures – including stepping into the role of a radio producer and host at KHOI 89.1 FM. Anna lives happily with her husband, Pete, and their dog, Floyd, in the little blue house of happiness. Adopting Grace is her debut novel.
The Ames Writers Collective & KHOI Community Radio
are thrilled to feature debut author, Anna Jinja Mather on Tuesday, December 17th.
Anna will discuss and read from her novel, Adopting Grace, which follows the journey of Grace, a 39-year-old Korean-American woman who was adopted as an infant from South Korea by a Norwegian family in Iowa. As Grace grapples with her husband’s affair with his high school sweetheart, her therapist suggests exploring deep-rooted issues tied to her adoption. This poignant story delves into Grace’s struggles as a wife, mother, and adoptee, exploring what it truly means to be part of a family.
Following the reading and discussion, books will be available for purchase and signing.
Join us at KHOI Community Radio Station
622 Douglas Avenue in Ames from 7 to 9 PM.
Presented by The Ames Writers Collective and KHOI Community Radio, and supported by Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA).
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Kelsey Bigelow
What is your genre?
Poetry
Are you published?
Self published
What inspired you to become a writer?
Writing started as a necessity. It was my coping tool through the hardest experiences of my life. It was the only way I had to express myself and to understand my own thoughts and feelings. Poetry became as crucial to me as any other basic need.
By my college years, I began really honing the craft through creative writing classes and saw the impact my poetry was having on my classmates. After that, poetry became about more than myself. It became about helping others see that we’re not as alone as we may feel. It became about showing each other that we’re all going through something, and even if it isn’t the same hard things, we can at least understand each other a little better by talking about it.
Becoming a professional poet was inspired by other poets I admire and became friends with who were doing this full time too. I always knew I was meant to be doing something more impactful than occasionally sharing my work at a local open mic, slam, or workshop. When I saw others doing this as their career, I knew I had to make it happen. This was what I was meant to be doing. And here we are!
What author do you admire and how have they inspired your writing?
As a “hybrid poet” (a term I’m coining), there are four specific poets who have inspired my writing — two “page” poets and two spoken word poets. Somehow, they all rhyme with each other, which is funny considering I’m not much of a rhymer: Jamaal May, Ross Gay, Sarah Kay, and Phil Kaye. They each inspired my love for specificity, formatting, storytelling, and voice. I believe they’re each masters at what they do.
Name three of your favorite books and their authors
If I had to pick only three of my favorite books, I would have to choose:
How to Be Alone: When You Want to and Even When You Don’t by Lane Moore
Hum by Jamaal May
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
What’s one thing readers should know about you?
I don’t shy away from the uncomfortable conversations, because I believe we grow in empathy by talking about the hard stuff. Therefore, my writing will delve into topics like mental health, grief, eating disorders, relationships of all kinds, etc. It’s going to use a raw lens because I’d rather us be human together than to stifle what’s really happening.
What one piece of advice would you give to a budding writer?
No one is going to take you seriously unless you take you seriously. So you must always first believe in yourself, write because you want to write, and stay true to who you are. Chances are, there will be moments where you’re the only one who thinks you can do this. Keep going in those times, because you’re right. The support from others will come and go, but you will always be there for you. You’ve got this!
Author bio
Kelsey Bigelow is a poet who spends her time sharing this therapeutic tool with audiences of all ages. She is the author of four poetry projects, including her latest book Far From Broken. Her work is published with several presses and journals. Kelsey is a 2024 Pushcart Prize nominee, 2023 Button Poetry Video Contest Finalist, and 2023 Central Avenue Poetry Prize finalist. As a performer, Kelsey has worked with organizations like The Mayo Clinic, NAMI, Planned Parenthood, and more. Videos of her work are on Button Poetry, Write About Now and elsewhere. She’s the founder of the Des Moines Poetry Workshop, chair for the Iowa Poetry Association Poetry Slam, director for BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam, and more.
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Seeking New Board Members
Join Our Board
Are you interested in serving as an Ames Writers Collective board member? If not you, do you know of someone who might like to join our board? The Ames Writers Collective is accepting “rolling” applications for new board members.
Founded in 2021, the Ames Writers Collective is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) committed to creative healthy communities through the art of writing.
How Can I Help?
We are seeking individuals who can help broaden our current board. Our current priority is to recruit candidates with experience in marketing and social media, financial management or accounting, law, or fundraising—a general interest in making Ames and Central Iowa a literary destination.
Why Serve and What’s Expected?
This is a great opportunity for individuals who value writing and advancing the literary arts in Ames, Story County and Central Iowa.
Board member tasks include:
· Be an advocate for the mission of the Ames Writers Collective
· Set an annual budget
· Ensure there are necessary resources to meet the organization’s mission
· Evaluate services and programs
· Serve as ambassadors with prospective and active donors
· Work to grow and diversify the organization’s audience
Board members are asked to serve on board committees. The Board meets ~three times per year, in person and via Zoom as needed. In support of the charitable nature of the organization, board members are asked to make an annual financial contribution of any amount that is meaningful to them.
Board members serve no less than one three-year term and no more than three consecutive three-year terms.
How to Apply
Please complete and submit a brief application by clicking here.
