Our Programmes

From Inspiration to First Chapter

13th January 2025 - 17th January 2025

Facilitator: Ally Wilkes and Cat Camacho

In this course you will create the first chapter of your book, guided by award-nominated novelist Ally Wilkes and Cat Camacho, an editor with over 10 years’ industry experience. You will learn specific writing techniques to craft the perfect opening, including in-depth guidance on plotting, point of view, and voice amongst others. You will benefit from exclusive one-to-one sessions with the course tutors, along with targeted writing exercises on which you will receive feedback from your fellow course writers.

Our mid-week guest speaker is novelist, Emilia Hart.

Event time: 13th January 2025 10:00am - 17th January 2025 4:00pm

Interested in spreading the cost of this course? Select Clearpay at checkout.

Not seeing Clearpay? Email info@hawkwoodcollege.co.uk for your payment options.

What Is Included

For the majority of our courses, both residential and non-residential rates are available. Residential options are fully inclusive with all meals provided. Non-residential options include suppers, lunches and all refreshments and exclude B&B. Some of our short day courses, events and talks do not include meals and refreshments. For more details about this course, please see the Practical Information section below.

Additional Activities

Mindful walking through our woodland trails
Meditate in our Woodland Sanctuary
Go on a hike and explore the Cotswolds AONB
Discover surrounding charming market towns

At a Glance

Targeted masterclasses on:
Openings: first sentence; first paragraph; first page
Narrative Point-of-View and Voice: person and tense
Plotting and Storytelling: how to develop an effective plot
The Publishing Process: from agents to bookshops
How editing works: applying feedback to improve your writing
One-to-one tutorials with industry experts geared specifically towards your individual needs and goals
Group sessions in a friendly, supportive environment
Free writing: ample opportunity to craft that all-important first chapter
Savour Hawkwood’s natural surroundings and delicious food

What You Will Gain

Attendees will have ample opportunity to create the first chapter of their novel in free-writing sessions
Workshop participants will gain skills and craft knowledge at the daily masterclasses offered by professional writers
One-to-one feedback from our expert tutors on creating an impactful opening as well as guidance on how to continue their novel after the course
Group feedback will enable participants to develop their critical skills as well as offering insights into one another’s work
Industry understanding: an insider lifts the lid on the publishing industry

Booking Options

Residential (single)Residential single rate

£950.00

Interested in spreading the cost of this course? Select Clearpay at checkout.

Not seeing Clearpay? Email info@hawkwoodcollege.co.uk for your payment options.

From Inspiration to First Chapter Tutors

Ally Wilkes

Cat Camacho

Emilia Hart

More about From Inspiration to First Chapter

Do you have great ideas for a novel but have never had a chance to take those all-important first steps? We offer a course that will give you everything you need to craft the perfect first chapter, in a supportive, warm residential setting. This is perfect for writers at any stage of their writing journey, whether you’re just getting started or want to level up your skills and make your work more appealing to readers and publishers.

Hawkwood, a beautiful manor house set amongst gorgeous woodland, is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the creative process. It offers a serene escape for writers looking for time, inspiration, and the support of tutors and your fellow course writers.

Each day will start with an in-depth masterclass, covering a specific aspect of crafting a successful first chapter. For example, you will explore how to create an impactful opening using a range of exciting techniques including experimenting with tense, point-of-view and style, while receiving a unique perspective into the publishing industry from seasoned professionals and guest speakers.

The course features one-to-one feedback from your tutors on how to create and polish your first chapter. On this course, your tutorials work for you. You are free to choose the structure of your one-to-one sessions, whether these are in the form of a short, daily progress update, a longer examination of your work as a whole, including goal setting and next steps, or whatever works best for you!

This course builds in ample free-writing opportunities, when you can exercise your creativity and be inspired by this unique setting to create your first chapter. You will also learn the art of giving and receiving feedback amongst your fellow course writers. Even better – this retreat is fully catered, allowing you more time to spend crafting the perfect opening for your book.

Practical Information

Is this course for me?
This course is open to any experience level, from published writers to people who have yet to produce their first novel. Whether you have a complete novel draft or are yet to write your opening pages, all of Ally and Cat's courses will provide plenty of free-writing sessions, allowing you to focus on the part of your manuscript that matters most to you.

Attendees need to come to the course with an idea for a novel, big or small, that they can then build on to create their first chapter while on the course.

All attendees should bring along a mood board: this can be an A3 sheet of paper or similar containing pictures and quotations relating to the world of your novel. A music playlist is also encouraged. This will be for a show-and-tell to your tutors and fellow course participants on Day 1. [We can provide an example of a mood board if useful].

Attendees need to complete the pre-course questionnaire which Hawkwood will send out, to give the tutors the best understanding of your writing goals.

Your tutors are happy to pre-read material before the course of up to 700 words.

About Hawkwood

Hawkwood is a stunning Grade Il listed 19th Century country house, surrounded by 42 acres of sustainably managed woodland, farmland, and gardens. Set in the heart of the Cotswolds - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - it is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. With a diverse selection of nearly 150 courses, there's plenty to choose from, including courses in transformative leadership, future thinking, inner life, music and the arts.

Other Courses You Might Like

The Middle Section: Sowing Seeds for Your Endgame

14th April 2025 - 18th April 2025

In this course you will concentrate on the overall plot and driving force of your novel, guided by award-nominated novelist Ally Wilkes and Cat Camacho, an editor with over 10 years’ industry experience. You will learn specific plotting and writing techniques to craft an engaging and exciting mid-section, including in-depth guidance on how to effectively use your characters to move the plot forward, tips and tricks to solve knotty plot problems such as the mid-point, and other professional skills. You will benefit from exclusive one-to-one sessions with the course tutors, along with targeted writing exercises on which you will receive feedback from your fellow course writers.

Finishing Your Novel: How to Wrap Things Up

1st September 2025 - 5th September 2025

In this course you will learn how to craft an effective and satisfying conclusion to your book, guided by award-nominated novelist Ally Wilkes and Cat Camacho, an editor with over 10 years’ industry experience. It doesn’t matter if you have a whole novel drafted or you are yet to write your opening pages: this course offers ample opportunity in free-writing sessions to work on what’s most relevant to you. You will also learn specific writing techniques to wrap your book up, including in-depth guidance on crafting the five-point finale and the difference between finishing your story and finishing your plot. You will benefit from seeing exactly how an editor works with a live editing session, as well as exclusive one-to-one sessions with the course tutors, and targeted writing exercises on which you will receive feedback from your fellow course writers.

Preparing Your Novel for Submission

3rd November 2025 - 7th November 2025

In this course you will prepare your novel for submission to publishers, agents or the wider reading public, guided by award-nominated novelist Ally Wilkes and Cat Camacho, an editor with over 10 years’ industry experience. It doesn’t matter if you have a whole novel drafted or you are yet to write your opening pages: this course offers ample opportunity in free-writing sessions to work on what’s most relevant to you. You will also learn specific techniques to make your novel stand out and be the best it can be, including in-depth guidance how to draft an exciting and attention-grabbing synopsis and the perfect pitch letter, along with exclusive publishing industry insight from an experienced publishing professional. You will benefit from seeing exactly how an editor works with a live editing session, as well as exclusive one-to-one sessions with the course tutors, and targeted writing exercises on which you will receive feedback from your fellow course writers.