Bath - People and Places

Back to Bath Writing Destination Overview

Across Bath, authors, educators, teachers, parents, book sellers, libraries, and schools work together to inspire and support writers. This page introduces some of the people and places involved.

Our Dare to Write? Library workshop at Bath Children’s Literature Festival in 2017.

The home of internationally-renowned Creative Writing Courses, Bath Spa University.

An installation in the ‘Words on the Street’ story trail run by Bath Festivals and Paper Nations.

The Bath writing landscape is made up of numerous writers, educators, and publishers.

Hazel Plowman

A leading figure is Hazel Plowman - Director of Creative Learning at Bath Festivals. She is responsible for the Creative Learning team and its work. Read more about Hazel’s work at Bath Festivals.

Alice Maddicott

Alice Maddicott is an author, tutor, and visual artist currently living in Bath. Her work has spanned everything from novels and poetry to scriptwriting for CBBC. She runs workshops in schools and museums across the UK. She was the Writer in Residence for the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s 60th Anniversary in 2009, and the Bath International Literature Festival in 2015. Alice works with the Bath Festivals Young Writers’ Lab and has contributed as a freelancer to the Paper Nations Creative writing in Schools programme.

“I do a lot of outdoor learning and have a real interest in creating imaginary worlds from our everyday environments, but each project varies and is tailored the school I’m working with. I’ve been working in schools for fifteen years, so my work with children and young people has developed along with my own creative practice until it has become an integral part of it.”

Alice Maddicott, Author, Tutor, and Visual Artist

Lucy Condon

Lucy Condon runs workshops across the UK, including Bath and worked for three years as a volunteer coordinator for the Arnolfini in Bristol before becoming a freelance Dare to Write? Library workshop leader.

“I try to stay away from traditional ideas of creative writing. I want to inspire writers to think in a free and creative space. In my workshops writers can throw the rule book out of the window and just experiment and play.”

Lucy Condon, Writing Facilitator

RAR (Formerly known as Rhyme and Reason)

RAR poets began as Bath's first Spoken Word Event. Back then, it was known as Rhyme and Reason and was first set up by Bath Spa University students James "JP" Pavett and Sam Boarer in 2013 with a few gigs in Burdall's Yard. Over the years, Rhyme and Reason gained more traction and the events began to take place in Bath Brew house and Bath Spa’s Student Union, regularly gaining large audiences. In 2018, it was rebranded to RAR Poets.

RAR Poets prides itself on its family atmosphere. Every fortnight, they welcome poets new and old into their open mic section and showcase some of the best spoken word artists and poets the South West has to offer.

Various students have taken the helm as they came and went through the halls of Bath Spa, including Billie Stubley, Nick Compton, and Eliza Burmistre. Beth Lancaster, along with intern, Rose, now run RAR Poets.

Novel Nights

Since 2018, Novel Nights in Bath has scheduled guest speakers including best-selling authors, literary agents and publishing professionals. The aim is to inspire and support writers and to build a writing community where writers learn and thrive. Guests such as Maggie Gee, Tessa Hadley, Gerard Woodward, Xan Brookes and Juliet Pickering from Blake Friedmann have shared tips on writing and finding an agent. At every event, local writers are invited to submit their work for the Writers’ Showcase, where they can read in front of a friendly audience on the same bill as established authors.

“I started Novel Nights to support and inspire writers and book lovers. At our events you can network, meet authors and discover new writing talent. We’ve been going in Bristol since 2013. Join us.”

Grace Palmer, Novel Nights Director

26 Lead Soldiers

26 Lead Soldiers is a new company which runs creative writing courses in Bath. Run by two experienced writers, our courses take place in Tivoli cinema café - email info@26leadsoldiers.com or check us out on facebook.com/26leadsoldiers.

We thoroughly believe in writing for the sake of writing and encourage people to carve out two hours a week doing what they love. Engaging the creative part of the brain is good for the soul! The courses cover everything from long-form prose to haiku and are packed with exercises, skills, prompts, fun and sharing (breathe!).

Our next course on 17th Sept at 6.15pm and runs for five weeks. In November we are running a memoir writing course and we have plans for a course for teens soon too.

26 Lead Soldiers is part of a quote from Benjamin Franklin - 'Give me 26 lead soldiers and I'll conquer the world’.

A Word In Your Ear

A Word in Your Ear was set up in 2012 by Clare Reddaway to encourage and promote new writing. A Word In Your Ear runs a regular, popular live lit event in Bath, Story Fridays. The company has also produced a number of site specific story events in Bath, has toured a play in Edinburgh, London and around the South West, produced an audio play, runs regular story events in Bristol, and runs regular writing workshops.

This Dare to Write? Atlas page features people and places who have collaborated with Paper Nations and has begun to document the wider writing landscape and to tell the full story of people and places in Bath associated with writing in the area. The team are currently working on entries for Bath and NE Somerset Libraries. Get in touch if you would like to feature in these pages.