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 270 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.
OIW gathers every third Tuesday of the month with presentations starting at 7 pm, lasting until 9 pm.
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.
Tuesday, January 18th, at 7 p.m.
Creating a 10-Minute Play
Ever wanted to make an actor strut across the stage or see one of your characters deliver that killer line?
OIW can help make that happen.
On Tuesday, January 18th at 7 p.m., actor and playwright, Guy Newsham, will host a playwriting workshop to help you create your very own 10-minute play. You’ll learn some drama skills and who knows where your imagination will lead.
Guy Newsham has been an enthusiastic actor on the stages of community theatres in and around Ottawa for two decades and started writing for the stage in earnest four years ago. To date, his short plays have been successful in more than 20 competitions and festivals, and have been produced, or are scheduled for production, in the US, Canada, and Australia. In 2021 he won Canada's National One-Act Playwriting Competition.
The OIW Annual Anthology is Back
After a year-long hiatus, OIW is thrilled to announce the return of the OIW Annual Anthology for 2022.
A formal call for submissions with guidelines will be issued later in January when OIW's new website is launched. The theme for the 2022 Anthology is Ottawa Rising, highlighting stories of hope to lift the spirit. The submission deadline is MARCH 1st, 2022. So get those creative juices flowing and stay tuned for details!
Please note, as we are returning to paid memberships in January, only entries from paying members will be accepted.
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!
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.
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.
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 Munro
Bones of the Past
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!