WRITE YOUR TRUTH
8-Day Tuscany Writing Retreat With Alan Watt
May 13 - 20, 2023
WRITE YOUR TRUTH
"Perhaps the truth depends upon a walk around the lake." - Wallace Stevens
Imagine the moment Galileo discovered that the earth was round.
Imagine the exhilaration of seeing something in a new way, in a way that literally alters your relationship to the way you see the world.
On the surface, writing your truth seems like a fine idea. But sometimes the truth comes at a price. Thus, we often have blind spots, areas that seem too tender to explore, areas that keep us anchored to fixed ideas and separate from truths that can deepen our relationship to our creative work.
The theme for Tuscany 2023 is Write Your Truth. In this eight-day retreat you will go deep, weaknesses will become strengths, and you will step into your true power and discover how you are uniquely qualified to write your story.
Join us for the experience of a lifetime. Near the village of Montespertoli, just outside of Florence, sits Podere le Rondini, a working winery and olive farm, recipient of the tourism industry's Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years, and one of the top-rated villas in Tuscany.
This 8-day all-inclusive writing retreat includes daily writing workshops, nightly salons, your own private room with en suite bathroom, three meals a day prepared by our 5-star Tuscan chef (and accompanied by superb regional wines), 24-hour concierge service, and an opportunity to spend time and share your work with your fellow warm-hearted generous artists.
"Al’s Writing Retreat in Tuscany surpassed anything I could have imagined. Yes, the villa, the grounds, the incredible food, the beautiful countryside were magnificent. But, more importantly to me the participants of the retreat were like-minded in their curiosity, and their deep willingness to explore their stories. I was led to places I would not have gone without this community of writers, and with Al at the helm. I surprised myself in the best of ways. I fell back in love with my story."
Roma Maffia
"This retreat was like a dream. The villa, the food, the skies, the workshops, the writing, every bit of it magical. The awareness and opening up of my story would not be possible without Al's insight and support. My gratitude for this amazing experience, as well as Al's beautiful way of teaching, is immeasurable. Enjoy life - It's Oh, So Good!"
Piper Norwood
"Al Watt's Tuscany writing retreat was a dream come true. Upon stepping out of the taxi at the Villa, I immediately felt a warm welcome from Al and fellow writers, all of whom I had never met. Al has a deep sense of story and a passion to match. His teaching style is sure to wake the writer up to their own story. No matter where you are with your writing, Al will illuminate your path."
Jessica Pappas
"The retreat was incredible for all the expected reasons, the time to write and the food and drink. It was magical for what I wasn't expecting - the chance to connect with the most amazing people that Al always seems to attract."
Homa Mojtabai
"Being at one of the most beautiful villas in all of Tuscany, a lifetime trip, was a distant second to the incredible people, incredible writers, and incredible teacher. I have known Al's teaching to be powerful and insightful. The workshops were an immersion that helped transform my understanding of the writing process. The food, the wine, the villa — couldn't have been better! Thank you, Al!"
Leigh Collier
A TYPICAL DAY IN TUSCANY
Morning
6 - 10 Morning writing time
8 - 10 - Breakfast
10 - 12 - Workshop
Afternoon
12 - 1 Lunch
1 - 5 Personal writing time, siesta
Evening
5 - 6 Informal workshop, wine and antipasti
6 - 9 - Supper and nightly salon
WELCOME TO TUSCANY 2023
A gentle breeze wafts through your open window. As you complete a satisfying writing session, your senses are awakened by the rich scent of grilled vegetables and Linguine alle Vongole emanating from the kitchen. You pass through the dining room where the table is being set for supper. A fire crackles. Your fellow writers sit lounging and enjoying a glass of Brunello. You join them, with the characters from your story still thrumming inside you. You're in that state of half-listening, half-absorbing, gradually returning to the world outside your imagination. You nibble a slice of pecorino on warm bread from the charcuterie plate and emit a deep sigh.
You're here.
And tonight, after supper, you will read a section from your work-in-progress to a rapt audience of fellow writers who are here to support you and share their encouragement.
Come join us on this once in a lifetime journey to the Tuscany countryside, and lose yourself in the world of your story.
Take a siesta, go for a swim in the pool, or just stroll through the twelve-hectare property of olive trees and ancient vineyards. Quiet your mind, and listen to the story that lives fully and completely within you. Join us each morning for our daily workshops with Al on story structure, explore your protagonist’s dilemma, experience the breakthrough that the clamor of daily life was keeping at bay.
Laugh. Cry. And surrender to the truth of your story, the wider perspective that always leads you back to love.
And fall asleep to the sounds of silence.
PREVIOUS RETREATS PHOTO GALLERY
trip fees
Retreat is limited to 16 writers. Partners are welcome! Retreat includes accommodation, meals, and workshops for writers. Travel is not included.
Single Room plus meals in Villa Reg price: $5495
Shared Room plus meals in Villa (for 1 writer + guest) Reg price: $7995*
Shared Room plus meals in Villa (for 2 writers) Reg. price: $8995
Private two-bedroom cottage (or apartment) plus meals (add $850 for each room, minimum two occupants)
*If you have multiple guests coming who are not attending workshops, the price is $3865 per private room/meals (non-writing guests must be accompanied by a workshop attendee)
Questions about the 2023 retreat?
meet your teacher Alan Watt
Hi, I'm Al. They call me the Writer Whisperer.
I'm the L.A. Times bestselling author of the novels, Diamond Dogs and Days Are Gone, and the recipient of the American Library Association's Alex Award, a Book Sense Pick, a New York Time's New and Noteworthy book pick, and winner of France's Prix Printemps for best foreign novel of the year. Along with the national bestseller, The 90-Day Novel, (Amazon's #1 book on writing for five months) the lab has published five other books on writing. I teach a process of marrying the wildness of your imagination to the rigor of structure, and my students span the range from first-time writers to best-selling authors and filmmakers who've won numerous accolades for their work including the Pulitzer Prize.
I’m also the writer/director of the independent feature, Eddie, Kill the President (formerly Interior Night), which won four best feature awards at U.S. film festivals as well as The Boston Film Festival's Filmmaker Visionary Award. Oh, I also had a small part on Seinfeld back in the 90s when I had a thick lustrous head of chestnut hair. It's the Chinese gum episode. I'm the movie theater vendor who sells Kramer the vile hotdog.
...OR EXPLORE ANOTHER WORKSHOP
Workshops
The story lives within you.
I help you find it.
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