Ames Writers Collective

Author Spotlight Featuring Joe Geha
2023-12-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | KHOI Community Radio Station, 622 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010
Join us for an Author Spotlight featuring Joe Geha, author of Kitchen Arabic. Hear stories about his aromatic dishes and the writing of his book, which is a fabulous holiday gift idea for the “home chefs” in your life.
Joe Geha, Professor Emeritus at Iowa State University, is also the author of Through and Through: Toledo Stories, and Lebanese Blonde. His poems, plays, essays and short stories have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies. His work was granted an NEA award, Pushcart Prize, and the Arab American Book Award.
Copies of Kitchen Arabic, perfect for your holiday gift-giving, will be available for purchase and author signing.

This event is held in partnership with the
Ames Writers Collective and KHOI Community Radio.

Swift Youth Writers Group - Writing for Teens
2023-12-10 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-01-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-02-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Teens in 6th – 12th grade are invited to escape into creative writing and connect with other teen writers. Each month on the 2nd Sunday (unless otherwise noted) attendees will be led through prompts and exercises to help develop and stretch their creative writing skills. Attendees will be given a chance to share their work and have a chance to support others. No experience is necessary so all skill levels are encouraged to attend. At the end of the school year, writers will be asked to submit 1 to 3 pieces (depending on genre) for inclusion in an anthology, and a celebratory reading will be held.
Registration is not necessary. Writing Sundays are FREE! For more information, click here.
Provided in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective and the Ames Public Library

Swift Youth Writers Poetry Workshop
2024-01-07 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-01-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-01-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Youth writers, listen up! You are invited to join poet Caleb Rainey for three poetry workshops designed especially for Central Iowa Youth. These workshops are completely free and will be held in-person and as a hybrid option at the Ames Public Library on January 7th, 14th, and 21st from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The workshops will build upon each other to prepare you for a contest where you can submit your best poem. After the workshops, a panel of poets will conduct a “blind read” contest, with two poems being chosen for scoring by Dr. Ron McCurdy, the composer of the “Langston Hughes Project.” To kick off the performance at Stephens Auditorium on February 8th, Caleb Rainey will perform the selected poems, accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music.
POETRY WORKSHOP DETAILS
Location: Ames Public Library / Hybrid
2 to 4 PM on all Dates
Jan 7—Generative poetry workshop
Jan 14—Poetry Revision Workshop
Jan 21—Revised Poetry Workshop
Jan 21—Submit your poem to the contest
This one-of-a-kind opportunity is funded in part by an Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA) Special Project Grant and a Discover Ames Community Grant. Don’t miss your chance to develop your poetry skills and showcase your talent!
Registration is required. Click Here!
ARTIST BIOS
Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.
Dr. McCurdy, is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.

Writing Circle Wednesdays
2024-01-17 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-01-24 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-01-31 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-02-07 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-02-14 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-06 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-03-27 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. Registration is free and required. Contact Ana for questions and to register.

OLLI-ISU | Mining Your Journals For Story Gems
2024-01-22 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-01-29 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-02-05 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-02-12 14:00 - 16:30 | On Zoom
Mining Your Journals for Story Gems
Instructor: Ana McCracken
Four weeks: Monday, Jan. 22 – Feb. 12, 2024 Cost: $55.00 2 – 4:30 p.m. CT
REGISTER ONLINE Class limit 9
$55 for OLLI members only
Do you have volumes of journals piled away in boxes in your closet—a goldmine waiting to be excavated? Maybe there’s a book in there somewhere. Maybe just
a collection of stories. We will visit our journals weekly, select a story, type it up, and read it in class for positive feedback and encouragement to dig deeper into our past that has informed our future. We will discuss avenues for publication or simple ways to create a collection of stories.
Ana McCracken received her B.S. and MFA in Creative Writing and Environment from Iowa State University. McCracken’s writing and poetry can be found in refereed literary publications and anthologies. She is a certified Amherst Writers & Artists facilitator. A former board of director member for the Litquake Literary Festival in San Francisco, she was recently elected to the Willa Cather Foundation Board of Governors. She founded the Ames Writers Collective in 2021.

Writing Circle Mondays | John Stoddard Cancer Center
2024-01-22 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-01-29 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-02-12 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-02-26 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-03-25 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-04-01 17:30 - 19:30

Youth Poetry Contest Winners at The Langston Hughes Project
2024-02-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Stephens Auditorium, 1900 Center Drive, Ames, Iowa, 50011
Four Swift Youth Writers poets were chosen from a “blind read” contest after attending three poetry writing workshops led by Caleb “The Negro” Poet Rainey in January. The poetry contest winner’s poems will have original score written to them by Dr. Ron McCurdy, who is the composer of the Langston Hughes Project. To kick off the performance at Stephens Auditorium on February 8th at 7 PM, Rainey will perform the selected poems, accompanied by Dr. McCurdy’s music.
Adela Solano Osmundson, Vienna Rossmanith, Sophia Driest & Nora Nobushawo

ARTIST BIOS
Dr. Ron McCurdy, is a Professor of Music in the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he served as chair of the jazz department for 6 years. Dr. McCurdy is a consultant to the Grammy Foundation educational programs including serving as director of the National Grammy Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Guest artists he has worked with include Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Leslie Uggams, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Ramsey Lewis, Mercer Ellington, Dr. Billy Taylor, Maynard Ferguson, Lionel Hampton, and Dianne Reeves.
Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. He hails from Columbia, Missouri, and holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Iowa. His debut book, Look, Black Boy, became Amazon’s #1 new release in African American poetry, and was awarded first prize in the North Street Book Prize. His second book, Heart Notes was published in 2019 and featured on Iowa Public Radio. He released two spoken word albums, a studio version of Look, Black Boy, and a performance album titled, Heart Notes Live! He co-founded the literary magazine Black Art; Real Stories, was published in Iowa’s Best Emerging Poets – 2019, the Little Village Magazine, and wrote a monthly column for The Real Mainstream. For three years in a row he was named Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer in Cedar Rapids & Iowa City.
THE AMES WRITERS COLLECTIVE
thanks the following organizations for their support:

Open Write Tuesday with YA & Modern Crime Author Kris Abel-Helwig
2024-02-13 15:30 - 17:00
Join Kris Abel-Helwig for our Open Write Tuesday on Zoom.
WHAT’S AN OPEN WRITE?

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

Click here to register for the Zoom link.
To learn about Kris and what she’s written and published, check her out here.

Open Write Tuesday with Speculative Fiction Author Rachel Aukes
2024-02-27 15:30 - 17:00
Join Rachel Aukes for our Open Write Tuesday on Zoom.
WHAT’S AN OPEN WRITE?

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

Click here to register for the Zoom link.
To learn about Rachel and what she’s written and published, check her out here.

Celebrating Willa Cather 150 - Wednesday, Feb 28
2024-02-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
Produced in association with the National Willa Cather Center, the Ames Writers Collective and the Ames Public Library will host a sesquicentennial celebration of Willa Cather, one of the most significant and treasured American writers of the 20th century. Cather crystallized the spirit of the American West with a singular voice in her body of poems, essays, short stories, and the critically acclaimed novels One of Ours, O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark, and My Ántonia.
Featuring Rachel Olsen, Director of Education & Engagement at the National Willa Cather Center, Olsen will discuss the importance of Cather’s work in today’s world. Additionally, Olsen and Ana McCracken, founder of the Ames Writers Collective, will read excerpts from Cather’s books and short stories to reacquaint Cather enthusiasts and introduce new readers to Cather’s body of work.
Birthday goodies will be served as well as a book drawing. Willa Cather’s 150th birthday was celebrated on December 7th, 2023.
For more information about the National Willa Cather Center located in Red Cloud, NE, visit their website here.
About Rachel Olsen, Director of Education & Engagement
Rachel Olsen joined the Willa Cather Foundation as a tour guide in October 2017 and has since worked in a variety of educational roles before becoming the Director of Education and Engagement in 2022. A former college English teacher, she enjoys developing activities and content designed to preserve Cather’s rich literary history.
In addition to supervising a team of programming and visitor services staff, Rachel organizes the Teacher Institute and Author Series programs, oversees Opera House seasons of events, plans conferences and seminars, and fosters relationships with educators from area schools, colleges, and universities. Rachel has a Master’s degree in English from Kansas State University with a certificate in Women’s Studies and was a full-time faculty member and writing center director at Oklahoma City Community College before moving to Red Cloud. When she is not getting to know visitors or working on educator resources, Rachel serves on The Valley Child Development Center Board of Directors as secretary. Rachel loves cooking and going to the movies, but she is happiest spending time with her husband and daughter.

Thank you, Ames Public Library
for partnering with the Ames Writers Collective.

Swift Youth Writers Group - Writing for Teens
2024-03-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010, United States
NOTE: Due to spring breaks, this group has been moved to 4th Sunday in March! We’re back to the 2nd Sunday in April.
Teens in 6th – 12th grade are invited to escape into creative writing and connect with other teen writers. Each month on the 2nd Sunday (unless otherwise noted) attendees will be led through prompts and exercises to help develop and stretch their creative writing skills. Attendees will be given a chance to share their work and have a chance to support others. No experience is necessary so all skill levels are encouraged to attend. At the end of the school year, writers will be asked to submit 1 to 3 pieces (depending on genre) for inclusion in an anthology, and a celebratory reading will be held.
Registration is not necessary. Writing Sundays are FREE! For more information, click here.
Provided in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective and the Ames Public Library

Author Spotlight | Poets Paul Brooke & Jennifer Knox
2024-03-28 19:00 - 20:00 | KHOI Community Radio Station, 622 Douglas Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010
Here at the Ames Writers Collective we like to refer to Paul and Jen as the Jen and Paul Show. Together they will entertain you with banter, conversation and poetry sure to make you laugh and to consider the wild outdoors!
This evening produced by the Ames Writers Collective and KHOI Community Radio Station is teaser for Poetry Palooza!, which is scheduled for April 19 through 20, 2024.

ABOUT THE POETS
Dr. Paul Brooke is a Professor and the Endowed Chair of Creative Writing at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he teaches Advanced Creative Writing, Environmental Literature, Creative Photography, Experimental Photography, Fiction, Poetry Writing, Introduction to Nonfiction, Editing and Digital Publishing, Contemporary Literature, Diverse Voices, Novel Writing, Major Authors, and Literary Theory. He has won awards for outstanding advising, scholarship, and teaching while at Grand View University, plus granted two sabbaticals. To read more about his, check him out on our Author Spotlight page.
Jennifer L. Knox is the author of five books of poems: Crushing It (Copper Canyon Press, 2020), Days of Shame & Failure (Bloof Books, 2018), The Mystery of the Hidden Driveway (Bloof Books, 2010), Drunk by Noon (Bloof Books, 2007), and A Gringo Like Me (Bloof Books, 2005).
Known for their dark, imaginative humor, her poems have appeared in publications such as the New Yorker, the American Poetry Review, Granta, McSweeney’s, five times in the Best American Poetry series, and the 2022 Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses anthology. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in the New York Times and Washington Post. To learn more about Jen, check her out on our Author Spotlight page.
ABOUT POETRY PALOOZA?

Inspired by an educational and entertainment event of nearly 20 years ago, this creative experience – Poetry Palooza! – has been a long time in the making.
​In 2023, Poetry& worked in partnership with Humanities Iowa, Mainframe Studios, Franklin Jr. High Event Center, and the Iowa Poetry Association to make Poetry Palooza! a dynamic, interactive, and integrated performing arts experience.
​This three-day festival celebrated Midwestern Poets Laureate, cultivated students and emerging talent, and demonstrated the positive power of poetry.
