An optical writing device includes: a light source including arrays arranged in a main scanning direction, each array including light-emitting elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a correction-value holding unit to hold, correspondingly with a light-emitting element, a correction value for changing timing to read out pixel data stored in an image storage unit; and a light-source drive unit to drive the light source by reading out the stored pixel data stored, according to the correction value. The correction-value holding unit includes a first area for holding a first correction value corresponding to a first light-emitting element located at an end of an array and a second area for holding a second correction value corresponding to a second light-emitting element other than the first light-emitting element, the first holding area being larger than the second holding area.