Ames Writers Collective
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!
March 3, 2025, 6pm – 8pm at the Christian Petersen Museum, 1017 Morrill Hall
“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.
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
Join us for our 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.
To register for the event, click here.
To learn about Ana , check her out here.
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!
Join Ana McCracken for Open Write Tuesdays on Zoom or in person at 612 Fifth Street.
WHAT’S AN OPEN WRITE?
We join togethor, 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 Open Writes.
To learn about Ana, click here.
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).
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.
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