Becky Wills received a BA from DePaul University, an MFA from The New School, and a PhD from University of Surrey, where she teaches creative writing. She is the founder of Own Your Life Writing, a not-for-profit organization offering educational tools and resources to give people the confidence, skills, and support to write their own life experiences. Originally from Chicagoland, she is based in the UK.

Publications

Stun: A Novel in Pieces, Tortoise Books, 2026 (on Autostraddle’s “Our Most Anticipated Queer Books of March 2026” list)
Star Flower Strange Light, a chapbook, Lillet Press, 2022
“The Paring” in Keep Yer Heid! a zine by Coin-Operated Press, 2021
“the virus diaries #30” in What Rough Beast by Indolent Books, 2020
“If We Ever Made Out” / “Impulsive, Quiet Daydreamer” / “In Case of Attack” in poetry compilation, While You Were Waiting, 2016
“And Violets Are Blue, Roses Are Red, the Daisies Are Yellow, the Flowers Are Dead” a creative non-fiction essay in Gigantic Sequins Issue 6.1, 2015

Readings, Talks, & Interviews

Preserving Disorder on Lumpen Radio, Chicago, IL — June 2026
“Sandburg grad goes ‘full circle’” from Chicago Tribune — May 2026
“Sandburg Alumni Returns as Visiting Writer and Awards Fiction Contest” — May 2026
“…Becky Wills Returns Home” from Southwest Regional Publishing — June 2026
Stun: A Novel in Pieces Launch Event at Books on the Rise, London, UK — May 2026
Own Your Life Writing Stun Reading & Open Mic, Zoom — May 2026
Surrey Writers Festival at University of Surrey, Guildford, UK — April 2026
Tortoise Books Stun Launch Event at Uncommon Ground, Chicago, IL — April 2026
Visiting Writers Series (starts at 1:45min) at Carl Sandburg High School, Orland Park, IL – April 2026
Alumni Reading at University of Surrey, Guildford, UK — February 2026
Language, Dreaming and the Revolution symposium at Birkbeck University, London, UK — February 2026
Office Hours at University of Surrey, Guildford, UK — December 2025
Space Oddities Reading Series at Space Oddities Bookstore, Chicago, IL — April 2019
Reading & Workshop at Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL — May 2017
Poems While You Wait 5-Year Anniversary Reading at Beauty Bar Salon, Chicago, IL — July 2016
THE WOMEN READ POETRY at Uncharted Books, Chicago, IL — April 2016
Senior Creative Writing Showcase at DePaul University, Chicago, IL — May 2015

Poetry on Demand at the following venues in Chicagoland include:

Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel – March 2019
Vintage Garage – October 2015
Harold Washington Library – April 2015
Museum of Contemporary Art – March 2015
Adler After Dark at Adler Planetarium – March 2015
Garfield Park Conservatory – February 2015
Zhou B. Art Center – January 2015
Curbside Splendor Pop-up Book Fair at Empty Bottle – November 2014
Randolph Street Market — November 2014
Dose Market – September 2014
Pitchfork Music Festival — July 2014
Deerfield Public Library — April 2014
Schaumburg Public Library — March 2014
Beauty & Brawn Art Gallery – February 2014
Chicago Book Expo — November 2013
The Boulevard Festival — August 2013