Open Write Tuesday with founder, Ana McCracken
2024-12-24 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Join Ana McCracken for our Open Write Tuesday on Zoom or in person at Fifth Street Writers.
WHAT’S AN OPEN WRITE?

We join together, share what we’re working on, and write for ~90 minutes. At the end, we share our successes, and sign off. Easy peasy.

Email Ana, ana@ameswriterscollective.org to register for the event.
To learn about Ana , check her out here.

2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Groups
2025-01-12 14:00 - 16:00
Join us on January 12th for the 2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Group held from 2 to 4 PM at the Ames Public Library. We are scheduled to meet in the P.E.O. room, but check monitors incase the location changes.

We supply notebooks, pens and other materials to prompt and inspire stories. This Sunday, Ana McCracken will lead the Swift Youth Writers group. She looks forward to writing with those of you who can join her.

Swift Youth Writers Groups are an Ames Writers Collective FREE community outreach program held in partnership with the Ames Public Library. The Ames Writers Collective community outreach programs are funded by grants and generous donors.

Join us! Happy Writing!

2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Groups
2025-02-09 14:00 - 16:00
Join us on February 9th for the 2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Group held from 2 to 4 PM at the Ames Public Library. We are scheduled to meet in the P.E.O. room, but check monitors incase the location changes.

We supply notebooks, pens and other materials to prompt and inspire stories. This Sunday, Ana McCracken will lead the Swift Youth Writers group. She looks forward to writing with those of you who can join her.

Swift Youth Writers Groups are an Ames Writers Collective FREE community outreach program held in partnership with the Ames Public Library. The Ames Writers Collective community outreach programs are funded by grants and generous donors.

Join us! Happy Writing!

Write Together Tuesdays | Monthly 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
2025-02-11 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-03-11 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-04-08 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-05-13 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-06-10 15:30 - 17:00
Join us for our hybrid Write Together Tuesdays on Zoom or in person at Fifth Street Writers. 3:30 to 5 PM CT.
WHAT’S A WRITE TOGETHER?

We join together on Zoom and in person at Fifth Street Writers, share what we’re working on, and write for ~90 minutes. At the end, we share our successes, and sign off. Easy peasy.
For more information and to register, click here.

Iowa Poetry Association Poetry Slam - Ames Qualifier
2025-02-28 19:00 - 21:00
The 2025 IPA Poetry Slam Season is upon us! We are hosting a series of four qualifying poetry slams across the state in search of our 2025 IPA Poetry Slam Champion. The top three poets from each qualifier will automatically advance to the IPA Poetry Slam Finals to be held on April 5, 2024 as part of Poetry Palooza! The winner of the IPA Poetry Slam Finals will be named the 2025 Iowa Champion and earn an IPA-sponsored spot in the 2025 BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam. This year’s national slam will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico on July 23-26, 2025.
Find a qualifying slam near you and save the date! Find the full slam rules and registration details at iowapoetry.com/slam.htm

If you didn’t register, no worries! Come on out to cheer on the poets, enjoy poetry, and/or volunteer to judge! All are welcome!

For questions, please contact Kelsey Bigelow at kelsey@kelkaybpoetry.com

Art Write Now at Christian Petersen Art Museum
2025-03-03 18:00 - 20:00
March 3, 2025, 6pm – 8pm at the Christian Petersen Museum, 1017 Morrill Hall
Art Write Now with the Ames Writers Collective and Christian Petersen Art Museum.
“Art Write Now” invites writers of all levels to showcase the powerful connection between visual art and creative writing. Participants will explore how art can serve as a writing prompt, evoking emotion, triggering memories, and sparking conversation.
The program will begin with a guided tour of the museum’s exhibitions, led by curator Alison Ranniger Van Zante.
See more.

2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Groups
2025-03-09 14:00 - 16:00
Join us on March 9th for the 2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Group held from 2 to 4 PM at the Ames Public Library. We are scheduled to meet in the P.E.O. room, but check monitors incase the location changes.

We supply notebooks, pens and other materials to prompt and inspire stories. This Sunday, Ana McCracken will lead the Swift Youth Writers group. She looks forward to writing with those of you who can join her.

Swift Youth Writers Groups are an Ames Writers Collective FREE community outreach program held in partnership with the Ames Public Library. The Ames Writers Collective community outreach programs are funded by grants and generous donors.

Join us! Happy Writing!

2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Groups
2025-04-13 14:00 - 16:00
Join us on April 13th for the 2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Group held from 2 to 4 PM at the Ames Public Library. We are scheduled to meet in the P.E.O. room, but check monitors incase the location changes.

We supply notebooks, pens and other materials to prompt and inspire stories. This Sunday, Ana McCracken will lead the Swift Youth Writers group. She looks forward to writing with those of you who can join her.

Swift Youth Writers Groups are an Ames Writers Collective FREE community outreach program held in partnership with the Ames Public Library. The Ames Writers Collective community outreach programs are funded by grants and generous donors.

Join us! Happy Writing!

Author Spotlight: Liese Greensfelder LIVE at KHOI
2025-05-06 19:00 - 21:00
Join the Ames Writers Collective for an evening with Liese Greensfelder—live at KHOI Radio on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 PM.
This free community event features a reading, book signing, and conversation with the author of a memoir praised by Kirkus Reviews for its grit and resilience. Hosted in partnership with KHOI and supported by COTA, the evening celebrates literature, community, and creative storytelling.
Visit KHOI to tune in!

2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Groups
2025-05-11 14:00 - 16:00
Join us on May 11th for the 2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Group held from 2 to 4 PM at the Ames Public Library. We are scheduled to meet in the P.E.O. room, but check monitors incase the location changes.

We supply notebooks, pens and other materials to prompt and inspire stories. This Sunday, Ana McCracken will lead the Swift Youth Writers group. She looks forward to writing with those of you who can join her.

Swift Youth Writers Groups are an Ames Writers Collective FREE community outreach program held in partnership with the Ames Public Library. The Ames Writers Collective community outreach programs are funded by grants and generous donors.

Join us! Happy Writing!

Writing Circle Mondays | John Stoddard Cancer Center
2025-05-12 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-05-26 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-06-09 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-06-23 17:30 - 19:30
Writing Circle Monday sessions are sponsored by Stoddard Cancer Center as part of the Charlie Cutler Healing and Wellness Program and inspired by the Amherst Writers & Artists method, which believes that everyone is a writer.
Each session participants create a safe space, and then write together for timed intervals to writing prompts. Writing prompts inspire stories from participants’ lives. After each timed-writing session, participants will have the opportunity to read their stories to the group, which is healing on many levels.
Cancer patients and survivors are welcome to sign up for one to eight sessions. Registration is required, as each session will cap at 10 writers. For questions or to register, call (515) 241-8505 or email Gina Mandernach at Unity Point at gina.mandernach@unitypoint.org.

Writing Circle Wednesdays
2025-05-21 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-05-28 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-11 15:00 - 17:00
Writing Circle Wednesdays are for individuals who are currently receiving or who have completed cancer treatments.
These sessions meet on Zoom from 3 to 5 PM CT.
Anyone interested may join at any time.
Living with cancer is a lonely journey. Only those who have been or are on that same journey truly understand the emotions, fears and challenges we face each day. I was hoping to gain some insight into how others coped with their diagnosis. I not only gained that, but also came to understand more fully my own reactions to my personal cancer story. This was a valuable experience for me. I don’t feel quite as alone as I did. —A Past Participant
These sessions are led by Ana McCracken, founder of the Ames Writers Collective and held in partnership with the William R. Bliss Cancer Center located in Ames, Iowa. Registration is free and required. Contact Ana for questions and to register.

Fifth Street Writers Grand Opening
2025-05-23 19:00 - 21:00
Submit a Piece to Read at the Grand Opening
The theme is Hit the Road Writing—New Beginnings Real or Imagined. Submit a piece of writing Here.
Event Details
Friday 05/23/2025 at 612 Fifth Street, Ames, IA

Doors open at 6:30pm
Program begins at 7pm
Selected writers will read submissions
Appetizers & drinks will be served
Guests can explore the space and sign up to be a member

Art Write Now at the Christian Petersen Art Museum
2025-05-31 14:00 - 16:00
“Art Write Now” invites writers of all levels to showcase the powerful connection between visual art and creative writing. Through this program, participants will explore how art can serve as a writing prompt—evoking emotions, triggering memories, and sparking conversations. Participants will draw inspiration from the exhibitions at the Christian Petersen Art Museum to create and publicly share poetry, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or perform monologues and music.
The program will begin with a guided tour of the museum’s exhibitions, led by University Museums curator Alison Ranniger. Afterward, Ana Hays McCracken, founder of the Ames Writers Collective, will introduce the concept of “writing to writing prompts” that will connect writers to the exhibition through writing exercises, using the art around them as inspiration to craft meaningful responses. The combination of visual arts and literary exploration aims to create a space where participants can connect deeply with both the artwork and with one another, fostering creativity and dialogue.

Downtown Ames Art Walk
2025-06-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Ames Writer Collective Fifth Street Writers, 612 5th Street, Ames, Iowa, 50014, United States
The Ames Writers Collective Fifth Street Writers is proud to participate in the Downtown Ames Art Walk 2025.
Join us and musicians, Liz Morse and Zachary Cosmos. We’ll provide a Poetry Postcard Collage booth for creativity and community camaraderie. Learn about Fifth Street Writers while you are visiting our space.

Tumbling Words: An Evening of Writing & Creative Self-Expression
2025-06-19 19:00 - 21:00
June 19 | 7–9 PM | The Dot Cafe
Join us for a low-pressure, high-vibe writing night built around connection, creativity, and handcrafted cocktails. Using poetry as a prompt, we’ll dive into Wild Writing, a fast, unfiltered practice that quiets the inner critic and gets words flowing.
Led by Ana McCracken, founder of Ames Writers Collective, this workshop invites you to write freely, sip slowly, and engage with a like-minded creative community. No writing experience necessary, just bring your curiosity.
Tickets include:

A handcrafted cocktail or mocktail

A journal and pen

A guided Wild Writing session

Post-workshop mingle + local handmade goods for sale

Presented in collaboration with The Dot, Lucky Star, and Ames Writers Collective.A portion of proceeds supports community writing programs through AWC.
Click here to buy a ticket.

Swift Youth Writers Workshop
2025-06-23 08:00 - 2025-06-27 17:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
The Ames Writers Collective is committed to Youth Outreach Programming.
FREE Writing Workshop for youth grades 6 to 12.
The Swift Youth Writers Workshops are designed to nurture creative writing and in-person connections among youth.
The 4th Annual Swift Youth Writers Workshop—a week-long writing workshop scheduled for June 23 to 27, 2025, from 10 AM to 12:00 PM at the Ames Public Library.
Click here to register.

Writing Circle Wednesdays
2025-07-02 14:00 - 16:00
Writing Circle Wednesdays are for individuals who are currently receiving or who have completed cancer treatments.
These sessions meet on Zoom from 3 to 5 PM CT. (Times, like today, sometimes vary.) Anyone interested may join at any time.
Living with cancer is a lonely journey. Only those who have been or are on that same journey truly understand the emotions, fears and challenges we face each day. I was hoping to gain some insight into how others coped with their diagnosis. I not only gained that, but also came to understand more fully my own reactions to my personal cancer story. This was a valuable experience for me. I don’t feel quite as alone as I did. —A Past Participant
These sessions are led by Ana McCracken, founder of the Ames Writers Collective and held in partnership with the William R. Bliss Cancer Center located in Ames, Iowa. Registration is free and required. Contact Ana for questions and to register.

Member Open Hours
2025-07-09 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Ames Writer Collective Fifth Street Writers, 612 5th Street, Ames, Iowa, 50014, United States
This month, join us for Open Hours at the Ames Writers Collective. Open hours are available for members only! Interested in becoming a member? Click here for more information!
Looking for a space designed for writers by writers? Or are you looking for a quiet area to focus on your most recent project? At Fifth Street Writers, we aim to provide just that from 5:30pm – 7:30pm on Tuesdays in October. There are a few exceptions, please check our events calendar for specific dates!
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. Limited parking is available in front of the building, with plenty of street parking. Our site host is communications intern, Acacia Coates.

Writing Circle Wednesdays
2025-07-09 15:00 - 17:00
Writing Circle Wednesdays are for individuals who are currently receiving or who have completed cancer treatments.
These sessions meet on Zoom from 3 to 5 PM CT. (Times sometimes vary.) Anyone interested may join at any time.
Living with cancer is a lonely journey. Only those who have been or are on that same journey truly understand the emotions, fears and challenges we face each day. I was hoping to gain some insight into how others coped with their diagnosis. I not only gained that, but also came to understand more fully my own reactions to my personal cancer story. This was a valuable experience for me. I don’t feel quite as alone as I did. —A Past Participant
These sessions are led by Ana McCracken, founder of the Ames Writers Collective and held in partnership with the William R. Bliss Cancer Center located in Ames, Iowa. Registration is free and required. Contact Ana for questions and to register.
