Sue Dawes

After completing my honours degree in Social Science in 1991, I travelled extensively in Australasia, including spending 13 months getting lost in a 1971 VW campervan. On my return I couldn’t settle, and worked in customer service, social care, and finance (to name a few of the many jobs I’ve done). It wasn’t until after the birth of my two children and the completion of an MA in Creative Writing at Lancaster University in 2010, that I realised I just wanted to write.

Since that point I have had several short stories published in magazines and on-line anthologies and I’ve won a few writing competitions.

I finished a PhD in Creative Writing in 2023 (now officially Dr Sue – the writing doctor). For my thesis I studied gendered language and inclusion, which involved writing a non-binary speculative utopia. This was published by Goldsmiths Press in April 2025. Other work-in-progress includes completing a hybrid crime/speculative thriller, writing short stories, and flash fiction, experimenting with Japanese short form poetry (haibun) and the odd play.

I juggle my writing with part-time manuscript assessment and mentoring for The Writers Company ,teaching Creative Writing at Essex University and volunteering as a TEFL teacher for people who can’t access education. As well as occasionally leading workshops for Colchester Writenight, I advocate for my mother, who has advanced dementia.

As the saying goes ‘ask a busy person if you want something done.’

In addition to all things writing, when time allows, I love to bake, paint, read, make jewellery and binge TV series. My preference is Sci-fi and crime – anything that involves time travel, alternate universes, serial killers or is set in the future. I’m also a big fan of comedy. The way to my heart is through books, films, my pets (both past and present), and cake (homemade and preferably chocolate).