Category: Discussion Group

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday March 14th 2026
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Getting and Giving Feedback –

At some point in the process our writing makes first contact with the eyes of other readers as well as their opinions. How do you make the most of the feedback that you receive? How do you give a critique in ways that will help your fellow writers? And at what stage is it most helpful to share our writing?

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday February 14th 2026
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Writing Relationships –

No matter the genre, relationships are a key part of every story. But how do you write a convincing relationship? How do you grow a relationship throughout your story and what cliches should you avoid? How do you make readers root for a relationship to succeed?

If you like, you can bring your writing tools (laptop, notebook, etc) with you; after the discussion ends at 3, anyone who is interested in staying later can join in on a few in person writing sprints.

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday November 8th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Language –

We don’t always write in our natural speaking voice or even our first language. How do we modify our language when we write? Some subjects call for more formal language, while others demand something more colloquial. How do we approach writing something set in a different time period, from the perspective of a child or even in another language entirely?

If you like, you can bring your writing tools (laptop, notebook, etc) with you; after the discussion ends at 3, anyone who is interested in staying later can join in on a few in person writing sprints.

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday September 13th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Beginnings –

It was a dark and stormy night and Writers of Ottawa discussion group were meeting to talk about beginnings! They say the first page is what sells your book so how do you start a story in a way that grabs your reader from the very first line? How do you avoid clichés surrounding beginnings that plague many writers?

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday August 9th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Endings –

How do you end a story? Often an ending is what will stick with readers the longest and it can be difficult to craft something that both feels like a logical conclusion and remains emotionally satisfying. Is it better to plan ahead or just go with the flow and see where it takes you? Come to discuss these and other topics with your fellow writers this Saturday at The Royal Oak!

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday June 14th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Inspiration vs Imitation –

Every writer draws inspiration from other works, but where does the line between inspiration and imitation lie? How do we add our own original flavour to ideas and themes that have been explored by others? Come to discuss these and other topics with your fellow writers this Saturday at The Royal Oak!

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday May 10th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– The Blank Page and Overcoming Writer’s Block –

Every writer at least occasionally struggles with the blank page. Where can we get ideas from and find inspiration? Are there tricks and techniques to getting ourselves out of a rut? Is there a way to just power through and write even when the inspiration doesn’t come? Come to the Writers of Ottawa monthly discussion group for a friendly chat about these and other ideas with fellow writers and aspiring writers!

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday March 8th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Character Arcs and Motivation –

What motivates your character? How do you make a character likeable? What touches can you add to their personality to make a reader connect better connect with them and how did you give them a satisfying journey? Come to the Writers of Ottawa monthly discussion group for a friendly chat about these and other ideas with fellow writers and aspiring writers!

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is just a week away!

Please take a moment to [ register for this free event on Eventbrite ] so that we know how many attendees to expect.

Saturday February 8th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Plotting and Pacing –

What do we mean when we call a story well paced? What kind of plots keep a reader engaged? What makes the difference between a page turner and book that’s just a slog to get through? Come to the Writers of Ottawa monthly discussion group for a friendly chat about these and other ideas with fellow writers and aspiring writers!

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!

The next in-person discussion group is less than a week away!

Saturday January 11th 2025
1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Royal Oak – Kent at Slater
180 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1P 0B6
(walk all the way to the back and you’ll find us gathered at tables along the windows to your right)


The theme of this month’s discussion is

– Narrative Voice –

How do you decide which narrative voice to use in a piece? How can narrative voice change the tone of a piece? Is there a narrative voice you gravitate towards as a writer or as a reader/viewer?

As always, writers of all genres, mediums, and skill levels are most welcome at the table. Come join us for an hour or two!