WELCOME
TO OTTAWA INDEPENDENT WRITERS
Ottawa Independent Writers (OIW) was created in 1986 as a gathering place for people with a passion for writing in all genres.
30 YEARS SERVING OTTAWA More than 220 Members
Who do we think we are, anyway?
Welcome to Ottawa Independent Writers. We are the largest writers association in the National Capital Region. Our mandate is to assist all writers at all stages of their writing careers through informative monthly presentations, networking, writers retreats and organizing literary events. We are a fun and inclusive group.
Where to meet us:
Currently hosting virtual meetings on Zoom. To participate, simply register for a membership and details on the next meeting will be provided over email.
When safe to do so once again, OIW gathers every third Tuesday of the month at the Hintonburg Community Center, 1064 Wellington St., Ottawa. Meetings begin at 6:30 pm, with presentations starting at 7 pm, lasting until 9 pm. Complimentary coffee and snacks are always at the party.
There is ample parking at the back of the building.
Between now and September 2021, all new memberships are free! There has never been a better time to join and connect with fellow writers. Check us out and learn about all that OIW has to offer.
2021 OIW Book Launch
On Tuesday, June 15th, 2020, OIW was thrilled to host our first-ever Virtual Book Launch. This free online event was open to the public and showcased 18 fantastic local authors who shared their recently released books along with their inspirations.
Watch a recording of this interactive event to learn more about OIW's talented writers and maybe pick up your next favourite read!
2020 OIW Members Anthology
Is Here
"We tell ourselves stories in order to live" - Joan Didion
Stories and poems have a way of transporting our minds to another place, making us feel something we have never felt, while informing and entertaining.
OIW is proud to release the 2020 anthology, Short Stories for A Long Year: An Anthology of Prose and Poetry.
This year's anthology contains twenty-nine stories and poems, and creates a diverse offering to suit every literary taste. As headline-grabbing events continue to unfold around us during this period of dynamic change, there has never been a better time to enjoy the power of words.
Available now on amazon:
There are boards...
... and then there are Boards!
Ever wondered how the sausages are made? Want to know what's behind the curtain? Now's your chance to find out!
OIW is looking for a few good Board members. If you’d like more information, please feel free to email oiwmailbox@gmail.com. We’ll be happy to fill you in on all the details.
LEARN ABOUT THE OIW
CONNECT
WITH US ON FACEBOOK
MONTHLY PROGRAM MEETINGS
OIW holds eight monthly program meetings each year on a wide variety of writing related topics, normally with a speaker and plenty of opportunity for questions, They are free for members.
OUR WRITERS, THEIR STORIES
Meet a few of them here...
Mike Young
Kirk's Landing
Patricia McCarthy
The Crimson Man
Mike was born and raised in Kirkland Lake, a small northern mining town with a nearby First Nations reserve. He grew up with a love of the north, even in the midst of winter, exploring the surrounding woods with his friends, and his grandfather. Kirk's Landing, a crime novel, was his first book. In 2016, he published a sequel, Return to Kirk's Landing.
Author of the wildly imaginative Crimson vampire series, currently consisting of (6) novels: The Crimson Man, The Crimson Boy, The Crimson Woman, The Crimson Time, The Crimson Crimes, and her latest in the series The Crimson Dream. The Crimson vampire series takes place in Ottawa, Canada.
Craig Munro
Bones of the Past
RECENT MEETING
OIW holds eight monthly program meetings each year on a wide variety of writing related topics, normally with a speaker and plenty of opportunity for questions, They are free for members. Want to see we've been up to - follow the Zoom link to find out.
Melissa Yuan-Innes
Human Remains
Craig has spent his life traveling and moving from one field of work to another. A voracious fan of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, it was only a matter of time before he turned his mind to creating a world of his own. The Bones of the Past is the first installment in the epic fantasy series - The Books of Dust and Bone.
Melissa Yuan-Innes (Melissa Yi) is an emergency room physician. Her newest Hope Sze crime novel is HUMAN REMAINS. THE STOCKHOLM SYNDROME, a previous Hope Sze novel, was selected by CBC Radio as a best crime novel of the season.
PARTICIPATING
IN THE
ANTHOLOGY?
Then you need our handy-dandy STYLE GUIDE!