Our Programmes

Writing from Life

20th October 2025 - 24th October 2025

Facilitator: Ali Millar and Dan Richards

Discover how to Find and Hone your Voice

Over the course of this immersive week, Ali Millar and Dan Richards will explore life writing and the many areas it spans, from the personal essay, to memoir, to biography. This deep dive into life writing is suitable for a range of levels and abilities. Through a combination of masterclasses and one to one tutorials, Ali and Dan will equip you with everything you need to develop your life writing.

Event time: 20th October 2025 10:00am - 24th October 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

What is life writing
How to develop it
Supportive 1 to 1 tutorials
Engaging masterclasses
Strong community of fellow writers

What You Will Gain

How to approach life writing
Articulating, honing and editing your work
Developing a long form project
Next steps - towards publication and beyond

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.

Writing from Life Tutors

Ali Millar

Dan Richards

More about Writing from Life

Whether you’re writing memoir, reportage, autofiction or biography, the common thread running through all these forms of writing, is that it relates back to life. During this supportive, tutored retreat, you will have the chance to commit more fully to your writing in a welcoming environment. Alongside experienced tutors and a community of other writers, you’ll spend the week exploring the many facets of life writing while developing your own project.

It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at; whether you have a nearly-complete draft or you’re working on a fresh project, tutors Dan Richards and Ali Millar – authors of books and print journalism, magazine articles, and long-form essays – will help you refine, articulate, and hone your work during masterclasses and 1:1 tutorial sessions. They will critique, encourage and offer new ways of thinking and working, as well as how to develop your text for future publication, should that be your eventual goal. In addition, they will demystify the often mysterious mechanics of the publishing industry, allowing you to develop a full understanding of the role of the working writer.

Practical Information

Ideally bring plenty of notebooks, an array of pens, and little else is needed. Some familiarity with the tutor’s work would be good, but not essential. It’s more about what you’ll learn while you’re here than what you need.

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.

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