10-DAY TUSCANY WRITING RETREAT WITH ALAN WATT
MAY 18-28, 2020

Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, 28 kilometers outside of Florence, sits Podere le Rondini, one of Tuscany's most acclaimed villas, and winner of the tourism industry's Certificate of Excellence for the last five consecutive years. Set on twelve hectares and containing it's own winery and olive farm, this stunning eighteenth-century Tuscan villa contains nine bedrooms, each with an adjoining bathroom, and all the modern amenities including a large outdoor swimming pool. This ten night, eleven day all-inclusive retreat includes your own private room, three meals a day prepared by our personal Tuscan chef (and accompanied by superb local wines), writing workshops, and a day trip to the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. There are opportunities to book a Tuscan cooking class, hot-air ballooning, wine tastings, horseback riding in the countryside, truffle hunting and shopping at the world-famous luxury outlet "The Mall."

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

TUSCANY DAILY RETREAT SCHEDULE

(a typical day)

MORNING
8 - 9 AM - Breakfast
9 AM - 12 PM - Personal writing time

AFTERNOON
12 - 1 PM - Lunch
1 - 4 PM - Personal writing time, siesta
4 - 6 PM - Workshop

EVENING
7 - 9 PM - Supper
9 - 10 PM -  Salon

Craft Workshops Include:

Unlock the Story Within
Story Structure
Transformation
Dilemma
The Art of the Rewrite

FLORENCE DAY TRIP

Join us on a day trip to Florence where we will visit the Galleria dell'Accademia and dine at one of Florence's renowned trattorias. Buon Appetito!

Al Watt's 10-day 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

Imagine completing a marathon writing session followed by the succulent tastes of Tuscan bistecca fiorentina, ravioli alla checca and truffle cheese. 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. Listen to the story that lives fully and completely within you. Meet for a writing workshop with Al on story structure, explore your protagonist’s dilemma, experience the breakthrough that the clamor of daily life was not permitting to emerge. Laugh. Cry. Share your work with a community of supportive fellow artists. Meet for supper. Read your work. Watch a classic film and fall asleep to the sounds of... silence.

Come and join us on this once in a lifetime journey to the Tuscany countryside and lose yourself in the world of your story!

"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

FEES

Partners are welcome to come for the retreat!
Retreat includes room, meals, and workshops for writers. Travel is not included.

REGISTRATION (for Rooms in the Villa)
Single Room: $4865
Shared Room: $6745 (for one writer and guest)
Shared Room: $7545 (for two writers)

LATE REGISTRATION (starting Feb. 15, 2020)
Single Room: $5265
Shared Room: $7245 (for one writer and guest)
Shared Room: $8145 (for two writers)

We also have two spacious two-bedroom cottages with ensuite bathrooms available.
These are 250-year-old converted stone barns with living room, kitchen and fireplace, and all the modern amenities.

REGISTRATION (for Two- Bedroom Private Cottages)
Accommodation for two - $10870 (for one writer and guest)
Accommodation for two - $11370 (for two writers)
(add $1890 for each additional non-writing guest)
(add $2690 for each additional writing attendee)

LATE REGISTRATION (starting Feb. 15, 2020)
Accommodation for two  - $11270 (for one writer and guest)
Accommodation for two - $11770 (for two writers)
(add $2340 for each additional non-writing guest)
(add $3290 for each additional writing attendee)

PAYMENT TIMELINE

$2500 (non-refundable) due now to reserve your spot
Remainder (non-refundable) due by February 28th, 2020

"Ten days 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. Having a full ten days of writing and workshops
was 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

ABOUT ALAN WATT

Alan Watt is the author of The 90-Day Novel, Amazon’s #1 book on writing, as well as The 90-Day Rewrite and The 90-Day Screenplay. He also runs the publishing company, The 90-Day Novel Press which has also published The 90-Day Play. Watt has written screenplays for numerous production companies and is the author of the L.A. Times bestselling novel Diamond Dogs (Little, Brown). He has won a number of awards for his writing including France’s Prix Printemps (Best Foreign Novel), the American Library Assoc.’s Alex Award, and Barnes and Noble’s Discover Great New Writers. He has been a New York Times New and Noteworthy book recipient and a BookSense pick. He is also the author of the novel, Frontier Hotel (editions du Masque) published in June 2017, as well as being editor of the essay collection, My First Novel, which includes essays from Cheryl Strayed, Rick Moody, Janet Fitch, and others.

He is the writer/director of the 2018 award-winning feature film, Interior Night, which picked up four best feature awards at U.S. film festivals in New York, Breckenridge, Cleveland and Catalina, as well as The Boston Film Festival’s Visionary Award.

Alan Watt first began teaching when he was invited to lecture at a summer creative writing workshop at UCLA in 1998. He has been teaching and lecturing on the creative process in Los Angeles and at colleges around the country ever since.

He founded L.A. Writers’ Lab in 2002 as a place for writers to deepen their craft by learning to marry the rigor of story structure to the freedom of the muse. He has taught everyone from award-winning authors to A-list screenwriters, USC business school students, journalists, poets, actors, professional athletes, war veterans, housewives, doctors, lawyers, maximum security prisoners, television showrunners, Emmy-winning directors, and first-time writers. Many of his students have gone on to successful careers, writing New York Times and International bestsellers, appearing on Oprah, winning major literary awards, becoming top screenwriters and television show-runners, and most importantly, developing a craft and methodology that delivers consistent results. His mantra is that by placing our focus on craft and process the results take care of themselves.