Kindness over gatekeeping
We believe that feedback can be honest without being cruel. Our mentors, editors and workshop facilitators focus on clarity, encouragement and specific next steps rather than judgement.
About the School of Writing
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Big Thinking School of Writing
About Big Thinking School of Writing
Big Thinking School of Writing is the learning and mentoring arm of Big Thinking Publishing – offering practical, accessible workshops, courses and one-to-one support for writers, groups and universities across the UK.
Origins
Where the Big Thinking School of Writing began
Big Thinking Publishing is an independent small press based in Garstang, near Lancaster. The company was incorporated in 2025 and began life by publishing children’s and YA titles alongside charity anthologies and community-focused projects.
Very quickly, it became clear that our work wasn’t just about the finished books. We were spending as much time helping writers shape their manuscripts, build confidence, and understand the realities of publishing as we were designing covers and proofing pages.
The Big Thinking School of Writing grew directly out of that work. It brings together, under one umbrella:
- Creative development: short workshops and longer courses in fiction, poetry and writing for children.
- Mentoring & guidance: the Writers’ Mentorship Programme and query & synopsis support.
- Gentle routes into print: chapbooks, pamphlets and small projects via Little Thinking Publishing and the Voices imprint.
- Partnerships: work with writing groups, libraries and universities to support their writers.
Philosophy
Our philosophy & purpose
At its heart, the Big Thinking School of Writing is about gentle, realistic, kind support for writers who might otherwise feel shut out of the literary world. We combine clear, practical teaching with a focus on long-term creative wellbeing.
Demystifying publishing
We talk about query letters, synopses, submissions and printing in plain language. The aim is to strip away unnecessary mystique so writers can make informed decisions that suit their lives.
Writing as a sustainable practice
We encourage small, steady habits over burnout. Our programmes emphasise realistic goals, repeatable tools and a healthier relationship with creativity.
Access & affordability
Wherever possible, we keep costs low, offer sliding scales or free places, and provide free resources for those who can’t access paid programmes right now.
From page to community
We work with writing groups, universities, schools and libraries so that support doesn’t stop with an individual writer – it ripples outward into communities and classrooms.
What makes us different
What makes the Big Thinking School of Writing different
Rooted in an indie press
The School of Writing is run by the same people who run Big Thinking Publishing. Our workshops, mentoring and resources are grounded in the day-to-day reality of editing, design, production and small-press publishing.
Focus on emerging writers
We’re especially interested in writers at the beginning of their journey – those who may not yet have a network, an agent or a sense of where their work fits. Our structures are built to support experimentation, learning and first steps toward publication.
Community partnerships
Through our Writing Group Affiliate Programme UK and relationships with universities and organisations, we connect individual writers to wider creative communities, events and opportunities.
Who we work with
Writers, groups & institutions
The School of Writing supports individual writers, local and online writing groups, libraries and universities. Some people come to us for a single workshop; others build a longer relationship through courses, mentoring or collaborative projects. However you work with us, the aim is the same: to give you clear, practical support that fits the writers in front of you.
If you’re not sure which strand of the School of Writing is right for you or your organisation, you’re always welcome to send a short email outlining your situation and we’ll suggest a few options.
Next steps
Talk to us about the Big Thinking School of Writing
If you’d like to know more About Big Thinking School of Writing, explore partnership possibilities or ask whether a particular programme is right for you, we’d be happy to hear from you.