Who do we think we are, anyway?

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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.

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Where to meet us:

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Currently hosting virtual meetings on Zoom. To participate, simply register for a membership and details on the next meeting will be provided over email.

OIW gathers every third Tuesday of the month with presentations starting at 7 pm, lasting until 9 pm.

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Between now and January 2022, all new memberships are free! There has never been a better time to join and connect with fellow writers. Visit our membership page to sign-up or email us at members@ottawaindependentwriters.com.   

An Evening in Conversation with Roy Peter Clark

Join us on Tuesday, October 19th, 2021, at 7 p.m., for an evening in conversation with "America's Writing Coach", Roy Peter Clark.

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Largely considered the most influential writing teacher in the rough-and-tumble world of newspaper journalism, Roy Peter Clark has been teaching writing at the Poynter Institute, a school for journalists in St. Petersburg, Florida, for over three decades. His clients at Poynter have included The New York Times, the Washington Post, National Public Radio, USA Today, CNN, Gannett, Microsoft, IBM, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Disney, AAA, the World Bank, and countless colleges and universities. He has appeared on Today and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

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Clark has authored or edited nineteen books about writing, reading, language, and journalism. Humorist Dave Barry has said of him: “Roy Peter Clark knows more about writing than anybody I know who is not currently dead.” He plays keyboard in a rock band. He lives with his family in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he has become famously fond of pelicans.

Due to ongoing public health measures, OIW will continue to meet virtually. Registered members will receive a Zoom link via email in advance of the meeting. Click here to join (for free!) 

2021 OIW Book Launch

On Tuesday, June 15th, 2021, 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

"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 contact@ottawaindependentwriters.com  We’ll be happy to fill you in on all the details.  

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LEARN ABOUT THE OIW

CONNECT

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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 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.

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. 

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!

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