France Writing Retreat

"...the best investment I've ever made in myself!"

"This Retreat experience was so much more than I even expected. This was the best investment I've ever made in myself."
Abby R., Essayist, Personal Memoir Writer

"...the best experience ever."

"My heart is still in Tuscany... I am glad I took some me time for writing in such a peaceful environment with amazing people. Thank you for the best experience ever. I miss everyone already."
Masako T., Nonfiction Writer

"...couldn't possibly have loved it more!"

"

"I couldn’t possibly have loved it more! Thank you again for putting it on and allowing us all to come together in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever spent time!"
Kimberly P., Novelist

"...more work done in my novel in past week than in past year."

"Missing the villa and great company! I managed to get inspired enough to get more work done on my novel in the past week than in the entire past year."
Aloy A., Screenwriter and Novelist

"...surrounded by people who share your passion for books and writing."

"What an experience: that workshops, the evening conversations and dinners. There's absolutely no substitute for getting to be surrounded by a group of people who share your passion for books and writing."
Carolyn R., Novelist

"Loved every minute!!!!"

"Loved every minute!!!! Thank you all so much, miss you already!"
Manal N., Short Story Writer, Personal Essayist

"...incredibly amazing... help, guindance, and friendship..."

"I hope you know how incredibly amazing you are! You taught me more than I ever expected in a very short amount of time. The week was filled with so many new adventures and surprises. All I could see was an impressive array of activities that you managed to put together seamlessly. Your give and take worked wonderfully for everyone in attendance. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Prague, the retreat, and mostly meeting all of you. I will remember this time fondly and with great appreciation for the help, guidance, and friendship from everyone. Thank you so much."
Debbie M., Fiction Writer

"...now more inspired to continue on my novel...create productive spaces and habits."

"I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of you during our wonderful week together and hope to see your faces again whether in person, on more book covers, TED talks, or national interviews celebrating your works. I took your advice and have used some of the writing prompts to write about my writing, completing a synopsis, a beat sheet and a back cover blurb to help light the way forward and am now more inspired to continue on my novel and create productive spaces and habits."
Jillian S., Novelist

"...conversational warmth and good humour... I pondered how reality could exceed my dreams."

"Evenings are filled with the conversational warmth and good humour of like-minded participants who freely share their emotions and insights into the writing life. It can be unimaginably exhilarating to connect with people from all walks of life that share a common passion. I’m sitting at my desk again surveying my surroundings in wonder, pondering how I really got here, and yet feeling as though I have discovered a sense of place. For those wanting to explore their inner writing muse and reflect on your life thus far, a writing retreat in Tuscany may just be the path you were destined to follow. Surrounded by such beauty and mesmerised from my continued state of surreal disbelief, I pondered how reality could exceed my dreams."
David S., Travel Writer

"...literally life-changing...found courage and inspiration to write every day..."

"The Paros Retreat experience was literally life-changing for me.  I've found the courage and inspiration to write every day and have written more words in the past week than I had in a year."
Isabelle P., Memoirist

"inspiring... and completely transformative!"

"Extraordinarily inspiring! When I read all the reviews about how transformative this program was I was skeptical but I could not believe how completely transformative it truly was!"
Kate M., Novelist & Screenwriter

"special... memorable... fabulous"

"Thank you for making all of our time so special & memorable. Every detail was obviously carefully planned, & you shepherded us through each delightful meal & activity with the kind of grace that let us blissfully forget all the work that goes into organizing a group (working) holiday. All your tips enriched every day. I had a fabulous time talking & laughing with you all week."
Heather G., novelist

"ideas gleaned... inspired"

"I'm back in Chicago (and back at the office -- Day 2, ugh). But I'm working hard on my script with all the ideas gleened from the workshops and our talks and newly inspired to stay on course!"

Kate H., scriptwriter

"inspiration... memories... friendship"

"Thanks for the inspiration, the friendship and all of the wonderful memories, moments which I look forward to reliving through my journal and photos - and continued friendship with a stellar bunch of people."

Chris K., non-fiction writer

"beautiful souls...sharing"

"Thank you, to each of you beautiful souls, for sharing your lives and stories this week and being so attentive and helpful with mine. I had no idea that I'd take so much away from the last 9 days."

Liz S., dramatist

"invigorating...filled with joy...bursting with ideas"

"I was nervous on arrival, not quite sure what to expect meeting strangers with whom I would be spending the ensuing week. Those fears dissolved with the welcome dinner and upon waking the following morning, I felt a sense of hope that had long been absent from my life. Each day proved more invigorating than the previous and by the end of the week my heart was filled with joy, my journal overflowing with words, and my mind bursting with ideas. I see a way forward in my writing that was lost to me prior and have made bonds that will last a lifetime."
Isabelle T., memoir writer

"trip of a lifetime"

"I've gotta say this has absolutely been a trip of a lifetime. My face hurts from smiling so much, my mind is reeling with input and ideas. I feel inspired. Invigorated."

Lisa D., screenwriter

"life-changing"

"Thanks for the energy and inspiration! What a life-changing week, my notebooks are filling!"

Maureen J., travel & non-fiction writer

"re-inspired my writing... creative well"

"I really can't put into words my experience at the Write Away retreat. I went as a traveler/writer should, with an open mind and heart, and what I have received has not only re-inspired my writing, but has given me a creative well to draw upon. I believe if that well is to ever run dry I can reflect upon my time at the retreat and again be re-inspired."
Travis K., fiction writer

"laughter...deep talks...back on course"

"I already miss you all, our boisterous laughter, our deep talks of life and writing, and the salient and sometimes silly jabber. During our week together, you all helped me remember how good life can be, and who I was trying to be before I strayed from my path. I'll be grateful forever, to all of you, for nudging me back on course, in both life and in writing."
Amy M. novelist

"teachable moments...creative input...intellectual generosity"

"The teachable moments, the constructive creative input, infectuous laughter and the immense intellectual propensity and generosity of the facilitators along side the participant writers is a must for any writer."

Mike L., novelist

"blown away... well organized"

"I was blown away by the well organized dining and travel accommodations that took the usual anxiety away from travel. To all this I say thank you with a big heart and anyone one that embarks on a Write Away Retreat will have it placed as an anchor in their hearts."

Jesse T.,

"first book deal... productive workshops...inspired"

"The Write Away retreat was given to me as a surprise gift, I just signed my first book deal based on my blog and proposal and I needed to decide on the plan for my book and ideas to fill the pages. I found both at the retreat. After each productive workshop, I was raring to get planning and writing. I'm feeling inspired and well-armed with lots of thoughts for moving forward with my book."
Sarah M., non-fiction lifestyle writer

"re-inspired my writing...lifetime memoriers"

"My experience in Greece… has not only re-inspired my writing but it has also re-invented how I think about writing and how I'll approach it in the future. Days flew by in a heady haze of meeting great new people, stimulating writing workshops and enjoying fantastic food (and drink) but I know the experience and memories of the trip are something that will stay with me forever! ."
Neil F., fiction writer

"...time... attention...inspiring talks..."

"What a wonderful week! The opportunity to be surrounded by so many creative people all sharing the common interest of writing was fantastic. The give and take and supportive atmosphere of the workshops was terrific but some of the best memories are the inspiring talks during the evening social gatherings."
Anwar M., fiction writer