Category: In The Media

Categories
In The Media News

Meet our Board of Directors

Meet the Ames Writers Collective Board of Directors.

Armaan Gupta

Armaan Gupta is a software engineer and hackathon organizer originally from Illinois. He’s a recent graduate from Iowa State University where he majored in Management Information Systems and obtained a minor in Marketing. Outside of work, Armaan writes software independently, writes poetry and short essays, and enjoys a good cigar. See more of Armaan.

Claire Kruesel

Claire Kruesel (KREE-zuhl) lives and writes from Story County, Iowa, focusing primarily on the intersections of science, art, objects, and grief. She received an MFA in Creative Writing and Environment from Iowa State University. Her poetry has been published in Rattle, the anthologies Fracture and Prairie Gold, and elsewhere. Her day job involves mentoring biochemistry undergraduates on science communication. Claire also teaches Pilates and yoga, travels to France and Italy whenever she can, and sings with Ames Chamber Artists. Click here to visit Claire.

Jennifer Knox

Jennifer L Knox

Director

Jennifer L. Knox is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently, Crushing It. Knox received her bachelor’s from the University of Iowa, and her master’s of fine arts in poetry writing from New York University. Her poems have appeared five times in the “Best American Poetry” series, and in publications such as the New York Times, The New Yorker and American Poetry Review. www.jenniferlknox.com.

Ana McCracken

Ana McCracken

Executive Director

Ana McCracken received her Bachelor of Science and MFA in Creative Writing and Environment degrees from Iowa State University. She is currently seeking representation for her thesis, Redacted—A Memoir of Adoption. Her personal essays are published in The California Writers Club Literary Review, the anthologies Nothing But the Truth So Help Me God and The Joy of Adoption, and her poetry in Telepoem Booth®Iowa. She is the founder of the Ames Writers Collective, an organization committed to building and uplifting communities through the art of writing and storytelling, while advancing the literary arts in Ames, Iowa. Read more about Ana.

Tony Moton

Tony Moton is an educator at the college, high school and middle school levels for 14+ years, including experience as an online and on-ground academic coach, tutor and writing instructor for learners ranging from school age to adult. In both public and private service, an outstanding lecturer and instructor in sports media, journalism, broadcasting, broadcast media production, screenwriting, English and creative writing. An award-winning journalist and screenwriter with tremendous communication skills, high-quality work, driven and exceptionally self-motivated. An earner of top honors from the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation for screenwriting and the Kansas City Press Club and the Las Vegas Press Association for investigative journalism and feature writing, respectively. Read more about Tony.

Categories
In The Media News

Join Our Write Togethers

Join us for our Write Togethers hybrid in person at Fifth Street Writers or on Zoom.

WHAT’S A WRITE TOGETHER?

Those who join us gather together in person at Fifth Street Writers and on Zoom. We open sharing what project we’re working on, and the we write for ~90 minutes. At the end, we share our successes, and sign off or pack up our stuff and wave goodbye. Easy peasy.

Our Write Togethers are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 3:30 to 5 PM, and the 1st Saturday of the month from 10 to Noon.

For more information and to register, click here.

Categories
In The Media News

Words Meet Art: Call for Submission

Words Meet Art
At Fifth Street Writers

Call for Submission

The Ames Writers Collective is seeking “two-dimensional original art” submissions for an exhibition at Fifth Street Writers located in downtown Ames, Iowa.

Media can be oil, acrylic, watercolor, collage, etc. Pieces chosen for the exhibition will be featured at Fifth Street Writers Words Meet Art events.

Words Meet Art is a literary arts event demonstrating through words how art evokes feelings, triggers memories and stories, and inspires conversations across divides and demographics.

During our Words Meet Art events, writers create prose, memoir or poetry in response to an exhibit of artwork or photography.

Sometimes, we simply write in a group and read our work aloud to one another. Other times we hold public events where writing is performed for an audience.

In the past we have held spoken word and writing events at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames, Iowa and the Christian Petersen Art Museum at Iowa State University.

Fall 2025 Exhibition date TBD.

Interested in submitting your 2-dimensional art. Click here to Send us an email. 

Thank you to our funders:

 

Categories
In The Media News

New Membership and Donor Platform is Now Open!

Exciting News: Our New Membership & Donor Platform is Now Open!

We’re thrilled to announce that Membership Registration and Donor Support for Ames Writers Collective are officially open!

Why Become a Member? Joining Ames Writers Collective’s Fifth Street Writers isn’t just about membership, it’s about belonging to a creative community that thrives on connection, inspiration, and growth. Become a member, and enjoy:

  • 10% Discount on all classes, expand your skills while saving.
  • Exclusive Access to our Writer Portal, connecting you to genre-specific writing groups, announcements, and more.
  • Your Name in Lights on our Members Page, celebrate your role in our community.
  • Invitations to special members only programs and events.
  • Advance Registration for conferences and events, get first dibs on the opportunities you love.

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

Youth & Students under age 22 ($15/Year)
One year membership for a student under the age of 22
Individual ($55/Year)
One-year membership for an individual
Family ($75/Year)
One-year membership for a family of two adults, plus 2 youth writers 6th thru 12th Grade
Writing Group ($125/Year)
One-year membership for a Writing Group (must be open to accepting new members). This membership provides group members with free, reservable access to a Fifth Street Writers boardroom or library for group meetings.
Author ($245)
One-year members in this category are given key-fob access to the facility during open hours, and the opportunity to reserve space for book launches.

Sign up! 

Support Us Through Donations! Your donations fuel our mission to heal and inspire communities through the art of writing. Every contribution, big or small, makes a lasting impact. Consider becoming a:

  • The Dabbler – $50
  • Publisher – $100
  • NY Times Best Seller – $250
  • National Book Award – $500
  • The Booker Prize – $1,000
  • The Pulitzer Prize – $2,500

Not ready to register or donate? No problem! Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all things Ames Writers Collective, events, programs, member spotlights, and more.

Name:
Email:

Join us, support us, and grow with us. Learn more about Fifth Street Writers here.

Categories
In The Media News

1st Saturdays | Write Together at Fifth Street Writers

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?

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. We’ll write in community for ~2 hours after sharing a brief comment about our creative project
  4. We have wifi
  5. We write, write, write in silence
  6. 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.

Categories
In The Media News

Missed Our Founder on IPR’s Talk of Iowa?

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.

Categories
In The Media News

Ames Writers Collective hosting Poetry Slam Qualifier Feb. 28

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!

Categories
In The Media News

Claire Kruesel hosting the Generative Writing Workshop on Jan. 25!

Screenshot

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 info@ameswriterscollective.org

Presented by the Iowa Center for the Book and Ames Public Library in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective.

ameswriterscollective.org | (515) 708-4694

Categories
In The Media News

Founder Ana Hays McCracken on Talk of Iowa

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!

Categories
In The Media News

Author Spotlight Featuring Anna Jinja Mather

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).