Jenna Warren
MA Creative Writing
Jenna is a published novelist and celebrates 10 years as an independent bookseller in Saltburn.
The best thing about the course was the enthusiasm of the lecturers. They encouraged me not only to write, but to broaden my reading. Teesside introduced me to a community of writers, there’s lots going on for writers in the area.
Why did you choose to study creative writing?
I’ve always loved writing, and I became more interested while studying for my undergraduate degree in theatre. I knew I wanted to do an MA Creative Writing and my decision coincided with the launch of the MA at Teesside. The course sounded fascinating, and I love the area. I was very impressed with the University when I visited.
What did you like most about your course?
The course was brilliant, and the lecturers were enthusiastic and inspiring. As well as the core modules, I studied novel writing, playwriting, and poetry. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the poetry element, I’d always found it quite difficult to engage with, but I thoroughly enjoyed studying it and ended up choosing it as an option.
The best thing about the course was the enthusiasm of the lecturers. They encouraged me not only to write, but to broaden my reading. The course introduced me to wonderful books and authors I would not have read otherwise. The class was friendly and we got on well as a group.
What are you doing now?
I opened Book Corner in 2014, my bookshop in Saltburn, and have been an independent bookseller ever since. We celebrated the shop's ten year anniversary recently. I'm also now a published novelist. My debut novel, 'The Moon and Stars', was published by Fairlight Books in October 2022. I've had two pieces of writing for the theatre staged locally and my work has also been published in anthologies.
I would really like to publish more novels and am currently working on two. One is contemporary-set and takes place in and around a bookshop, and the other is a fantasy novel.
Did you enjoy your time at Teesside?
Yes. My time at Teesside deepened my interest in reading and writing, and it was my interest in literature which made me want to open the bookshop. I think it’s really helped me as a bookseller because my taste in books is now so broad. It also means I look at bookselling from a writer’s perspective as well as a reader’s. I’m always very happy when a local author’s book does well. Teesside helped introduce me to a community of writers, there’s lots going on for writers in the area.
