Our next creative writing retreat will be:
5th to 12th October 2013
accommodation
The retreats will take place at the historic Villa Montaperti, an 11-bedroom residence with magnificent views over the Tuscan countryside. All rooms are beautifully and tastefully furnished doubles, each with a writing desk to work at, and either en suite or with an adjacent private bathroom.
The villa is set in a garden and park of approximately 10,000 square metres, which includes a large olive grove and a 14x7m swimming pool.
For more photos please look at our gallery.
meals
A buffet breakfast and lunch will be served daily, followed by home-cooked traditional Italian evening meals with wine and dessert.
On Wednesday evening, there will be a trip into Volterra, the local town, for a restaurant meal. We will cover the cost of transport to Volterra; guests must pay for the meal themselves. If you do not wish to eat out on this day, a simple evening meal can be provided at the villa.
Vegetarians can be catered for. If you have any other dietary requirements, please enquire before booking.
workshops
There will be three optional creative writing workshops during the week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10.00-11.30am) exploring different aspects of the craft of writing fiction. These workshops will use literary examples and guided exercises to help you develop your work. You will also have the opportunity to read your work to the group for feedback.
one-to-one tuition
Our resident creative writing tutor will be on hand to offer support, guidance and constructive criticism throughout the week. As well as receiving feedback on a piece of your work (up to 3,000 words) before the retreat begins, you will be able to book two individual sessions with the tutor during the week, by appointment.
writing time
You will be able to decide how many hours you would like to spend writing during the week. Aside from the workshops and tutorials, both of which are optional, your week will be free to develop your creative work. If you would find it useful to be set some deadlines to work to, you can discuss this with the tutor on your arrival. On the other hand, if you work best without pressure, you are welcome to set your own pace and take the time to daydream, talk to the other writers, walk in the grounds, or even venture further into the local area to find inspiration.
On the final Friday, there will be an evening of celebratory festivities, where guests will be warmly encouraged to read their writing out to the group, or otherwise reflect upon the week’s successes and struggles. Attendance and participation is voluntary.