“The very reason I write is so that I might not sleepwalk through my entire life.”

— Zadie Smith

Welcome! I’m Becky Wills.

I am the founder of Own Your Life Writing, and I host and facilitate life writing workshops for teams, communities, retreats, and through a 12 week virtual course. In a safe and supportive environment, participants are encouraged to write openly and honestly about their emotions, memories, and identity. I believe writing about our experiences is one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves: a precursor to crucial awareness, powerful expression, and cathartic release. The workshops focus as much on contemporary technique and practice as they do connection and wellness.

Why work with me?

I've studied poetry, fiction, and life writing extensively, and have a particular interest in how language conveys traumatic experiences, the blend of autobiography and fiction, the use of persona, and the ethics of life writing. I completed a BA in English at DePaul University in Chicago and an MFA in Creative Writing at The New School in New York City. I received my PhD from the University of Surrey in the UK, where my research focused on narratorial voice, poetic form, and my own philosophy and methodology for life writing. My novel in fragments, Stun, is forthcoming from Tortoise Press in 2026.

Why do I want to work with you?

I believe life writing — autobiography, memoir, journals and diaries, letters, personal essays (and more) — can be beneficial for anyone and everyone. I want to help you explore your creativity and authenticity as a person. This is a space for you to experiment, play, and take risks — either on your own or with others. Storytelling fosters connection; it builds trust and compassion. Life writing is generative; we are able to make connections and reveal truths to ourselves through the process. A healthy writing purge is an effective way to stay present, gain confidence, find perspective — even process and heal. Life writing is like rolling forward on a ball so you’re always ahead.

Listen to what the current Life Writers are saying . . .

"Taking Becky Wills' Own Your Life Writing course was a truly transformative experience. Spanning 12 beautifully paced weeks, the course allowed us to write in our own rhythm while being gently supported and deeply connected through Becky's incredible facilitation. The structure—and, more importantly, the community—that Becky created is unlike anything I've experienced in any course before. She guided each of us with care and sensitivity, helping to weave our stories together in the most organic and meaningful way. Every session felt serendipitous—one story flowing into the next—creating a powerful bridge of connection between all of us. What makes Becky so remarkable is her ability to highlight the worth of every story, no matter how prominently we criticize ourselves. She reminds us that every experience deserves to be written and that someone out there needs to hear it somewhere. I started this course twice before, but life got in the way. I'm so glad I didn't give up on myself. Third time lucky—I finally committed, and I'm incredibly grateful I did. I've learned so much about myself, language's beauty, and shared stories' healing power. Connecting with souls from different walks of life through writing has been one of the most rewarding and healing experiences I've ever had. Because of this course, I now write with more freedom, trust, and self-compassion. I've uncovered parts of myself I hadn't fully acknowledged before, and I feel more connected to my voice and others' stories. It's been a profoundly healing and empowering experience—far beyond just "a writing course." I can't recommend this course enough. No matter your age or background, there's something deeply valuable here for everyone. It's thoughtfully structured, professionally run, and truly heart-led. Thank you, Becky, for your fantastic work. You are amazing!"

Carmen Pop
January-March 2025
"If you want to give your team the gift of clarity, accountability, truth, and radical candour all in one, there’s something you need to do, and that is invest in Becky Wills and Own Your Life Writing. It is so powerful for teams and leaders to walk with their own stories in a way that leaves no space for pretend. Own your narrative. Own your experiences. Own your life. Becky Wills is a force of nature when it comes to us all taking charge of what has made us who we are. Most importantly (and my absolute mission in my own life and business) your team will start applying radical self-candour in a way that makes the future them more informed, sharper, and more assertive, whilst looking at the depth of their experiences in a whole new way."

Sanna Jordansson, MCIPD, EMCC
Corporate Client, Board Advisor & Executive Coach
"There are some experiences that leave a permanent imprint - ones that shift the way you see yourself, your story and how it lives in you. I was lucky enough to be part of the first Own Your Life Writing cohort with Becky Wills and this was one of those moments for me. It's not just a writing workshop, it's a space to feel safe, be seen and finally bring thoughts, memories, and feelings to paper – ones that had circled my mind and body for years. For once, I didn’t need to “get it right.” I just needed to let it be real. Now my story is at home in my body. Becky has created something rare – a space that holds you without fixing you. That invites truth without forcing it. If you ever get the chance to be part of Own Your Life Writing, take it. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime things you carry with you, long after the final session. Becky, you’ve got something powerful and alive in this. Thank you."

Victoria Nakamura
March-May 2024
"Becky Wills' life writing course was a delight. I found it to be deeply cathartic and highly enjoyable. Reflecting on my diverse upbringing across countries as a New Zealand expat now living in Michigan brought a fresh perspective to my experiences. It was a rewarding way to connect with my story and express it creatively."

Campbell Mitchell
March-May 2024
"Inside of all of us there is a writer. Inside of all of us there is a creative. Inside of all of us there is truth that wants to come out, and inside of all of us there is a book to be written. If you are unsure of how to tap into any of that, or if you want to tap in to ALL of that, then you must say YES to the Own Your Life Writing experience. As a facilitator, Becky is top notch. She has been able to marry structure, form, and instruction in such a loving way. With creativity and uniqueness, she really gets to know who we are and gets us to write in our highest possibility in such an effortless, meaningful way. So please take this course, check her out – you’ll be so glad you did."

Joanna Hunt
March-May 2024
"It has been a WONDERFUL experience. I have written more than forty pages of memories and have a lot more to write about. It will probably take me years to write everything I want to write about, and that is OK. I am not in a rush; I am just enjoying the experience. The biggest accomplishment from this process was not the number of pages. It has been how much I have boosted my self-awareness - my ability to perceive and understand the things that make me an individual (personality, values, emotions, thoughts, etc.) and how my environment (culture, religion, education, friends, family, partners, etc.) has influenced how I react to things or what I believe. Thank you, Becky Wills, for your coaching throughout this wonderful experience and thank you to all my fellow Life Writers for sharing their stories and building a community. For you all out there...consider writing your Own Life Story."

Cynthia Machado, PhD
March-May 2024
"I always knew I wanted to write about my life but I didn’t know how to get started. Working in this group has been one of the most important and profound experiences of my life."

Holly Melino
May-July 2024
"I have had the privilege of getting to learn from Becky both in group classes and one on one sessions. I loved the concentrated time I got with her during the 1:1's. These sessions let us really delve into the nuances of my writing and brainstorm ways to expand and enhance the story line. Becky asks great questions to pull more out of you than you think is initially there. She's great at helping you add flesh to the skeleton bones of your first drafts. Becky pushes you without exasperating you and gives you hope that you will be able to express yourself in writing in a meaningful way and with pieces and stories you are proud to share with others."

Rebekah VanPelt
1:1 Client

Real Stories from March - May 2024 participants . . .

"I always knew I wanted to write about my life but I didn’t know how to get started. Working in this group has been one of the most important and profound experiences of my life."