For years, my students had been asking me when I was going to take them on a retreat. Frankly, I’d been on creative retreats, and while I enjoyed the camaraderie, I was never a big fan of communal bathrooms.
But then I started to imagine the retreat I would love to go on.
I wanted beautiful surroundings, and a small enough group that we could all connect and share our work. I wanted amazing food and wine. I wanted classy private ensuites. (Why does being an artist have to mean roughing it?) And I wanted it to be as affordable as possible.
I started to think, This could be fun.
The first retreat was in the spring of 2016 at the Ojai retreat center, a magical spot. There were six of us — a very special group of writers. The workshops went deep, and each night we went out and visited all of the top restaurants.
It was unlike any retreat any of them had been on. I consulted Bob at Point de Chêne, a fabulous boutique wine store, and he hooked us up with some really great regional wines that we popped open at some of the restaurants.
At the end of the week, we sat toasting each other as the sun set over the mountains (Ojai’s “pink moment”), when someone said, “Let’s go to Europe next.”
And I thought, I rather love this idea.
I returned home and started doing research. My mother is Italian, and her favorite city in the world is Florence. She’d taken us there as children. I had fond memories of the surrounding region of Tuscany, the rolling hills and stunning architecture.
I knew what I was looking for. And so, I trolled all of the sites, and probably looked at a hundred villas before I found Podere Le Rondini, one of the top-rated villas in the region. The rooms were gorgeous, but more than that, they were tasteful. And they offered the number one prerequisite: I wanted every writer to have their own private room with their own personal ensuite bathroom.
I began speaking with the owner, Nicola. And to my delight, he was both charming and very accommodating, and has since become a dear friend. He not only runs the villa, but has become our 24-7 concierge — meeting our guests every need, from door-to-door laundry service, to spontaneous drives into town for an afternoon cappuccino.
From the moment you arrive, I want you to feel safe and supported so that you’re free to do the work you came here to do. You’re going to have fun, and you will be immersed in the world of story. The Tuscany retreat is a hive of creativity and imagination — a place where you will meet some very special people from across the globe, and you will likely bond and forge relationships that will extend beyond the retreat itself.
2025 is the fifth time we will return to Tuscany. The theme this coming spring is Step Into Your Power. Embracing your true power isn’t about forcing outcomes; it’s about trusting that your expression is valid, even when it feels unshaped, hovering just beyond full consciousness.
I believe that our sole purpose as artists is to build a body of work. I believe that life is short and that we’re here to make memories. Come join us in Tuscany and celebrate the wonder of your creative imagination. I look forward to seeing you soon.
8-Day Tuscany Writing Retreat With Alan Watt
Unlock the Story Within
May 10-17, 2025
Learn more about marrying the wildness of your imagination to the rigor of structure in The 90-Day Novel, The 90-Day Memoir, or The 90-Day Screenplay workshops.
Tell Your Truth