Your Coach
Claire Gillman, your professional writing coach for the ten-days, has been a professional writer for 25 years. In that time, she has written twelve books for adults and eight children's books. She was the editor of several women's consumer magazines before changing tack to become a regular freelance contributor to many leading magazines and national newspapers, most notably The Guardian and The Times.
As the contributing editor to Kindred Spirit magazine, she combines her dual passions for writing with exploring holistic lifestyles, personal growth and mysticism. She is no stranger to The Hill That Breathes, so she knows how amazing and beneficial the effects of relaxing in such a beautiful setting can be on your writing.
Claire is an editor for The Writers' Workshop, regularly writing critiques and discussing manuscripts to help writers towards publication. She has also led writers' workshops and writing groups in various locations over the years, always with the emphasis on fun, style, relaxation and discovering your inner creativity.
They say everyone's got a book in them. What's certainly true is that a lot of people have started (but not finished) a book, or have an idea they're burning to get going on.
Why do we not finish (or start) these ideas? Time. Self-doubt. Lack of guidance when we hit blocks. Probably a combination of all three.
This 10-day retreat at The Hill aims to solve all those problems by -
- Giving you a hefty, undisturbed chunk of time in an isolated peaceful setting to finish (or start) your book
- Start each day off with an hour's relaxation and mindfulness practice, that will calm down any doubts and anxieties and allow you to get writing
- Provide an on-hand professional writing coach for both one-to-one help and a group session each day.
Writers like their routines, so how about this for a routine to really get some great writing done:
8am - 9am: Delicious and healthy breakfast.
9am - 10am: Relaxation & Mindfulness session with John C. Parkin, owner of The Hill and a successful writer himself.
10am - 1pm: Writing Time (we can write together, in silence, or in our rooms)
1pm - 2pm: Delicious & healthy lunch.
2pm - 6pm: Writing Time, with the opportunity for one-to-one time with writing coach, holistic massages, or wandering in the 100 acre wood of The Hill.
6pm - 7pm: Group Writers' Session, led by the writing coach.
7pm: Delicious & healthy dinner and frivolity.
There will be at least one organised afternoon out to clear the head with some of the astonishing local attractions (local Urbino is, arguably, where the Renaissance was born)
So, there you go. It's all on a plate for you (including The Hill's great food). No more excuses now: it's time to finish, or start, or even start and finish, that book of yours.
