Open Mic - Jan. 6

NAMI of Oshkosh will host an open mic at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6. Oshkosh Poet Laurette Thomas Cannon is the emcee. Free and open to the public.

Meeting reminder: Jan. 3

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

 

Membership is free to anyone 17 and older; new writers welcome!

Oshkosh Area Writers Club: About Us

Formed in 2003, the Oshkosh Area Writers Club brings together people who share a love of creative writing. 

Our goal is to inspire and motivate writers while providing a supportive space for sharing work and receiving constructive critiques. 

Writers of all experience levels are welcome to learn, grow, and connect with others in a friendly, encouraging community.

 

Meetings are held at 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of each month at the Oshkosh Public Library.

In addition to critique meetings, the club sponsors writing classes and open mics throughout the year, as well as partners with the Oshkosh Public Library to host the Lakefly Writers Conference and Book Fair, held each May at the Oshkosh Convention Center. 

 

Please email oawc @ aol dot com for more information.

Meeting reminder - Dec. 20

In lieu of our regular meeting on 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 we will be doing a White Elephant gift exchange and group photo.

For those unfamiliar with our traditional gift exchange, you are to bring something you already own that is in new/good condition that you don’t use; do not spend any money but please wrap/bag the gift. Keep in mind your gift will be used as someone else’s writing prompt. 

After a random gift exchange, the gift you go home with is to be used as your writing prompt. Write about the gift in any form you choose - poem, sketch, memoir, story, etc. Then share your results with the club in January!

For those unable to attend, have a happy holiday season and we will see you in 2026!

Upcoming Meetings

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

In lieu of our regular meeting on 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 we will be doing a White Elephant gift exchange. 

For those unfamiliar with our tradition, you are to bring something you already own that is in new/good condition that you don’t use; do not spend any money but please wrap/bag the gift. Keep in mind your gift will be used as someone else’s writing prompt. 

After a random gift exchange, the gift you go home with is to be used as your writing prompt. Write about the gift in any form you choose - poem, sketch, memoir, story, etc. Then share your results with the club in January!

For those unable to attend, have a happy holiday season and we will see you in 2026!

Meeting reminder: Nov. 1

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Oshkosh Public Library. 

 

As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

 

 

Fall Into Writing

Spark your writing journey at the Oshkosh Public Library!

Fall into Writing with fun and inspiring writing program designed to hone your skills. Each session begins with a 30-45 minute mini-lesson, followed by a free-writing session-complete with engaging activities and snacks.

Sessions are held consecutive Mondays at 6 p.m. Whether you can attend one session or all of them, the choice is yours! Let's "fall" into the season with creativity and community.

Nov. 3 - How to Set a Writing Routine with Sarah Read

If getting started writing is the hardest part, staying on task is the second hardest. Sarah will share some tips, strategies, and tools to help you build a writing routine that works for you.

Nov. 10 - Adding Conflict to Your Story with Dixie Jarchow

Conflict! 

It's the sauce that makes the spaghetti sing. Enjoy this quick perspective on conflict in writing with some hands-on exercises to refine your story. 

Nov. 17 - Developing Multi-dimensional Characters with Kate Penndorf

Learn techniques to develop multi-dimensional characters by considering both their outer layers (observable traits like physical appearance and personality) and inner layers (motivations, emotions, and backstory). Gain insights through interactive exercises that reveal new sides to your characters.

Nov. 24 - Writing Engaging Dialog with Bailey Hansen

In this session we will explore when to use dialogue to best effect, how to make it sound real, and some practical tips for polishing your character's words.

Dec. 1 - Writing Fantasy with Larissa Antonioni

Larissa be leading a session on “Writing Fantasy,” focusing on brief, practical world-building techniques—starting with a character and building the world around them so it feels real. We’ll talk about universal fantasies (the “butter” of any book) and why romantic fantasy (examples like Fourth Wing and Rebecca Yarros) is rising in popularity. She'll also share tips for creating a story that readers can truly immerse themselves in.

All programs are free and open to the public; click here for details.