The Word Association

28/03/2026

For anyone finding the info about our new Creative Writing Studio a lot to get their head around... we'll be running an informal Zoom one evening next week to talk you all through it and answer any questions. (We'll record it too, in case anyone can't make it). I promise you, it's actually really straight forward!

Basically, all content (including Zoom links to live sessions) will be hosted on Substack, so you need to subscribe to your chosen pathway on Substack. Content won't go live until Monday April 6th when the first load of prompts will be released as well as all the details you need for your live writing hours and community circles.

If you know which pathway you want to join, you can 'pledge' now and payments won't go out until the 6th. (If you'd rather, you can email us and we can send you a link to do this - just let us know info@the-word-association.com)

You can access Substack through your desktop or mobile devices (via the app). Once you've joined, all of our posts will also get emailed to you so you don't need to sign in to Substack every time if you don't want to.

The Studio means you'll get year-round writing prompts and group sessions, and inclusion in anthologies twice a year.

The Personal Pathway is all about therapeutic writing for self-care.
The Poets' Pathway is all about refining poetic technique.
The Practitioners' Pathway is all about using reflective writing to build resilience for people who hold space for others.

27/03/2026

Who has signed up for our Words to Live By Creative Wellbeing Studio? We have three pathways to choose from...
* The Personal Pathway: Supports your own wellbeing and self-care * The Poets’ Pathway: Focuses on refining poetic technique and form
* The Practitioners’ Pathway: Builds resilience and therapeutic writing skills for those who hold space for others

For just £12/ month you get...

* Weekly Writing Hour (during term time)
* Access to your pathway’s monthly Community Circle
* Weekly therapeutic writing prompts (available in text and audio)
* Monthly grounding and breathwork exercises
* A private online community space
* A monthly themed lens – a perspective to carry with you throughout the month
* Inclusion in our twice-yearly anthology (after 6 months of membership)
* A special anniversary gift: a unique Words to Live By Creative Studio journal with prompts, inspiration, and space to write (after 12 months of membership)

Find out more here:

LAUNCHING 6th APRIL 2026 Welcome to The Words to Live By Creative Wellbeing Studio  As we approach the launch of our brand new creative community on Monday April 6th… Here…

13/02/2026

We're so excited to share this with you!

Something huge is coming in April 2026.

Read more here: https://the-word-association.com/words-to-live-by-creative-wellbeing-studio/

Register your interest here: https://shorturl.at/C5jt3

11/02/2026

This was such a beautiful project and a real pleasure to facilitate... meeting monthly with a small group of Worcestershire residents, exploring nature connection with the brilliant and immensely knowledgeable Jon Cree and writing reflectively from it.

Much gratitude to The Bramblewood Project for partnering with us on this one, inviting us into your glorious woodland and the delicious fire-cooked food!

Enjoy the digital version of the book... it's broken down into monthly sections so you can follow us and the changing woodland through the course of a year.

Over the course of a year, a small group of Worcestershire residents explored the beauty of Bramblewood through nature connection and therapeutic writing. From planting trees and crafting with willow to making ink from oak galls and listening to bird song, each session has followed the rhythm of the...

02/02/2026

Exploring Memory was part of our 2025 programme - we provided participants with the opportunity to delve into the world of biography and memoir writing, using prompts and devices to ignite creative thoughts about our personal and collective past. It was an emotional process, plenty of laughs and a few tears too.
The printed anthologies are in the hands of the authors, but the online version is now available for you to enjoy.
The course will be forming part of our 2026 programme, so stay tuned for updates and for when places will be available.

The Exploring Memory course gave participants a chance to explore their own stories, and through a series of exercises, to find their voice and a way to start to write. Identifying what mattered, collecting facts and then finding some form of structure on which to hang them formed our basis.

09/01/2026

We're working hard behind the scenes to put our next offering in place... in the meantime, join Holly for her new venture in partnership with The Poetry Pharmacy...

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-leave-a-body-embodied-poetry-workshop-series-tickets-1977035454264?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join Holly Winter-Hughes (How to Leave a Body, Verve) as she gently guides you through the process of using writing as a way to connect with ourselves and our embodied stories. Looking at poems that explore themes of embodiment, as well as tapping into our own somatic experiences to enrich our work.

Holly is passionate about bringing the stories held in our bodies to the light, finding fresh way to tell them to deepen personal and community connection.

In this celebration of our bodies and our stories, we’ll bring our somatic experiences into our work, for more visceral, sensuous and engaging writing. This series is all about connection, healing and community.

Join Holly Winter-Hughes as she gently guides you through the process of using writing as a way to connect with our embodied stories

09/09/2025

From the excellent people at Crave Arts. Don’t forget to book your tickets! See you there!

Book now for ‘Power of Worcester: The Play’ 🌟⚡️

Amber doesn't think demolishing a children's playground is progress. She's there to stop the diggers… but she's soon joined by some interesting characters who know a little more about the site of the former power station than she could ever have imagined!

Will their stories have the power to make a difference?

Performance times:
7:30pm on Friday 10th October
2:15pm and 7:30pm on Sunday 12th October 2025
The Hive Studio, WR1 3PD

Book here: https://tinyurl.com/cravearts

Tickets are free but are limited. Please cancel your ticket if you are no longer able to attend.

We’d like to thank National Lottery players for their support through the The National Lottery Heritage Fund and our other funder The Elmley Foundation 🙏

Please note, the Sunday matinee performance will be audio-described - headsets will be provided for those who wish to use the audio-description. Large print and Braille programmes will be available. The play will start at 2:30pm - audiences are asked to arrive at 2:15

Thanks to all of our supporters and partners, including; Worcester City Council's Historic Environment Service; Worcestershire Industrial Archaeology & Local History Society ; Platform Housing Group Friends of Cripplegate Park Sensory Matters Worcestershire Heart of Worcestershire College Canal & River Trust Diglis Island & Fish Pass Worcester Theatres; Worcester Life Stories

19/08/2025

We had a fabulous launch for the Speak Out! 2025 anthology at The Hive on Sunday. If you haven't managed to get hold of a print copy, you don't need to miss out - you can now read the heartfelt work of our poets online. Enjoy!
This project was generously subsidised by The National Lottery Community Fund.

https://online.pubhtml5.com/frwd/tjen/

12/08/2025

Great day on Sunday at the Worcester Show with Platform Housing Group in the community tent, exploring the theme of 'home'. Using our postcard templates, visitors got the chance to get creative with colour and words, and add to our mural.
It's just the start of a bigger project we're hoping to run later in the year. Stay tuned to hear more!