OUR VISION
THE WRITING SET EXISTS TO HELP WRITERS GROW
We welcome anyone with a story to tell or a dream of finding one. A kind of magic happens when writers get together. Blocks melt away. Characters are born. Ideas turn into stories.
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS
Who we are
The Writing Set is passionately local. Our journey began in Bath, with a small group of professional novelists meeting each month to write new stories and eat chocolate cake. We’ve grown a bit since then: now we offer courses, masterclasses, tutored retreats and online writing sessions. We felt incredibly honoured to win the Creative Bath Award for Best New Creative Business 2024. But creative connections are still at the core of everything we do. Oh, and so is cake.
“We really liked this business. modest in approach and definitely set for growth through its pure creativity. Impressive.”
Judges of the Creative Bath Award for Best New Creative Business 2024
passionately local
OUR TUTORS
JOANNE RUSH
Joanne has loved books all her life. She is an award-winning short story writer, featuring in collections that include Best British Stories and Ghost: 100 Stories to Read with the Lights On. Her poetry chapbook, Peninsula, was published in the UK and America in 2023. Her debut novel, Dancing on Knives, was longlisted for the Mslexia First Novel Award and will be published by Honno Press on 30 January 2025.
Joanne has led creative writing workshops around the world – from Shanghai to San Francisco, London to Rome. She also has years of experience teaching literature to Cambridge University students. What she enjoys most is discovering new and exciting voices.
Anna Dempsey
Anna is a Florida-born writer and educator whose work explores themes of grief, swampy landscapes and community. She holds an MA in Education and Creative Writing and has recently completed her PhD in Creative Writing and Creative Grieving at Bath Spa University.
In 2019, Anna won the Costa Short Story Award. In 2024, she was runner up for the Bridport First Novel Award. She has been published in Litro, Dear Damsels, Sonora Review and more.
sabrin hasbun
Sabrin is an Italian-Palestinian transnational writer. Her research focuses on using collaborative practices to explore the histories of marginalised groups, and she has worked around the world – across cultures, languages and generations.
Sabrin has published many articles about collective creation in communities. She has worked as a writer, editor, translator, and trainer, and is currently a lecturer in creative writing at Cardiff Met university.
Alyssa hollingsworth
Alyssa was born in small-town Milton, Florida, but life as a roving military kid soon mellowed her (unintelligibly strong) Southern accent. Stories remain her constant.
Alyssa received her MA with honors in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. Her award-winning debut novel The Eleventh Trade and her second book The Invisible Boy were published by Roaring Brook/MAcmillan (U.S.) and Piccadilly Press (U.K.)
what our writers say about our tutors:
“Enjoyable, fun and (most importantly) practical. Joanne has given us so many useful and insightful tips and tools for creative writing. I highly recommend this course.”
Amanda, January 2024
“Anna was very clear and easy to understand. I learned a lot and I really recommend this course.”
Shân, March 2024
“Fabulous, Joanne. These sessions run beautifully and your taste in books and knowledge of writing are both wonderful.”
Anna R, April 2024