NEWS
Writing Retreat in England with Kathleen Jamie and Jon Boden
A writing retreat in England is special. A writing retreat in Devon, arguably one of the most beautiful counties in the country, makes a brilliant setting for creative inspiration: the moment when a poet reads a line aloud in a room and the air changes. The...
The Affordable Alternative to an MFA in Creative Nonfiction
Two Courses. One Destination. Your Book in the World. The Art of Narrative Nonfiction and Writing Your Nonfiction Book Proposal are now open for registration — and together, they offer an affordable alternative to an MFA in creative nonfiction. There is a particular...
Lecture & Discussion Series: What Alice Munro Teaches Narrative Nonfiction Writers (April-May-June)
There are writers who teach you things about craft. And then there are writers who teach you things about being alive. Alice Munro is both. This spring, I'm launching something new at the writing school — a mini lecture and discussion series built around...
Writing Retreat in Devon: A Celebration of Craft, Community, and Creative Joy
Ashley Court, Devon, January 9-11, 2026 In early January, when it seems all of England was covered in a surprising blanket of snow, people travelled from all over Britain to warm their artistic souls inside at Ashley Court, where a different kind of beauty took...
Winnie-the-Pooh at 100: Why This Bear Still Matters
Winnie-the-Pooh at 100: Why This Bear Still Matters In 1926, A.A. Milne published a small book for children about a bear of very little brain and his friends in an English forest. A hundred years later, that bear remains one of the most recognisable literary figures...
Gift for Writers
As the year draws to a close and we turn our thoughts toward giving, I’m reminded of how meaningful it is to offer gifts for writers that enrich rather than clutter our lives. While I appreciate a beautifully handmade gift and well-chosen book as much as anyone, I...
Narrative Nonfiction Mentoring Path: Which to Choose?
Tier 1 or Tier 2? One of the most common questions writers ask me—usually after taking a course or two and discovering that yes, writing is in fact both beautiful and occasionally maddening—is: “What narrative nonfiction mentoring path would best help me now?” It’s an...
Writing Retreat Update (January 9-11, 2026)
Slip away from the ordinary and into the timeless beauty of the Devon countryside. In January, when the days are short and the year still new, the hills and hedgerows of Devon hold a quiet magic: mists drifting over fields, ancient oaks standing sentinel, and lanes...
Creative Nonfiction Courses This Autumn
Autumn is a season of change. Leaves shift, light softens, and the world pulls inward. Yet creativity stretches outward, reaching for new beginnings. It is in this liminal space -- between endings and beginnings -- that some of the most fertile writing lives. As the...
The Salt Path: Truth Matters in Memoir
Truth matters, especially in memoir. In the world of narrative nonfiction, the bond between author and reader rests on a quiet but profound contract: This really happened. The power of a personal story comes not just from how it is told, but from the authenticity of...
Why Every Writer Should Study Poetry
In a time when the written word floods our screens and bookshelves, it can be easy to overlook poetry as something reserved for the literary elite or wistful romantics. But for writers of all genres—essayists, memoirists, nature writers, novelists—poetry offers a...
How to Find a Writing Mentor for Creative Nonfiction
How to Find a Writing Mentor for Creative Nonfiction In the world of writing, mentorship can make all the difference. A good mentor not only helps sharpen your craft but also supports you in navigating the long, often solitary journey of transforming personal...
Writing Erotica: Five Ways to Start
A Literary Approach to Desire, Presence, and the Page For centuries, sensuality has found its way into literature not through spectacle, but through subtlety—through the charged pause, the remembered glance, the weight of longing carried in silence. Writing erotica is...
Writing Mentors: A Writer’s Trusted Weapon
Writing is often romanticised as a solitary pursuit—one writer, one desk, and the quiet hum of inspiration. Yet, the truth is that even the most accomplished writers benefit from guidance, accountability, and meaningful conversations about their work. A writing mentor...
Memoir Writing Course: From Diarist to Letter-Writer to Author
For some, a memoir writing course is the beginning. For others, it starts earlier. For me, it began with sensations. The feel of a pen in hand. The sight of my handwriting unspooling in black ink across a blank white page. The crisp sound of a turning new pages in a...
Living Narratively: Ways Online Writing Courses Shape Lives
A life well-lived is a story well-told. To write with depth is to live with intention—to move through the world as both participant and observer, attuned to the rhythms of conversation, the quiet language of landscapes, and the undercurrents of emotion that define...
Nature Writing Courses: Nature Poetry and Ecopoetics
Nature has always been one of my greatest sources of inspiration. It serves as a mirror to the human condition and a window into the sublime. That’s why I was thrilled to introduce to my Autumn 2024 nature writing courses, An Introduction to Nature Poetry and...
How To Find Your Voice as a Writer
Finding your voice as a writer is a journey as intricate as the landscapes we walk through. It’s a personal process, one that asks for patience, self-reflection, and courage. Voice isn’t just the way you write; it’s the distilled essence of who you are, shining...
Nature Writing in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities
Nature writing, a genre rooted in deep observation and connection with the natural world, has long served as a bridge between humanity and the environment. In today’s digital age, however, the way we engage with nature—and write about it—has evolved dramatically....
Writing and Walking: From Path to Page
Writers are often portrayed as stationary creatures—seated at desks, hunched over notebooks, or tapping away at keyboards. But writing doesn’t always happen at a desk. In fact, I know from personal experienced that some of the best writing starts when we step away...
Ten Common Writing Mistakes
First, let's be honest: even seasoned writers make mistakes. It is a misconception that our first drafts are flawless. In fact, we know that writing is messy and requires dozens of drafts to make it all look easy. We know which common writing mistakes to avoid in...
Becoming a Nature Writer: Top Ten Tips
Becoming a nature writer requires an observant mind. Nature writing is an evocative genre that bridges the human experience with the natural world. Whether you’re drawn to lyrical prose, keen observation, or environmental advocacy, becoming a nature writer is a...
My Top Five Books of Creative Nonfiction
There really cannot be a "definitive list of best narrative nonfiction" but if I could suggest five great books for aspiring writers and incoming students, these would be my choices based on storytelling, depth, and perspective: 1. Dead Wake by Erik Larson masterfully...
Writing Mentors: Inspiring Through Example
A writing mentor can be a game-changer in a writer’s journey, offering guidance, insight, and encouragement that fuels growth and confidence. Writing mentors provide expert advice and personalized feedback, helping writers develop skills that might otherwise take...