Writing And Event Services

Join Us October 12—19 2024

Whether just beginning your writing journey or already a seasoned traveler, you’ll find these eight days a life-changing time of inspiration and creativity. International bestseller and long-time teacher Bret Lott will lead you through a time of finding your path as a writer in both mindful and practical ways.

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Join Us October 12—19 2024

A retreat is meant as a time of refreshment, of revival, of rest and renewal. For the last ten years I’ve led summer writing courses in Italy, and I’ve come to see why this place, with its history and beauty, its vistas and villas and cuisine and especially its welcoming people, has so charmed artists over so many centuries

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Our Tuscany Retreat Is A Gathering Of Writers

Our Tuscany retreat is a gathering of writers who want to spend time together—and apart—to explore the mystery of how putting words together just so can feed us, mesmerize us and sometimes challenge us too. These eight autumn days in our 18th century villa overlooking the gentle hills of the Val d’Orcia will be a time of creativity and craft, of good food and good conversation, of beautiful views and a quiet place to write, all to help us discover through the written word the world, and ourselves

Daily Schedule

Each day begins with a quiet time to write, whether in your room or a common area or outside in a hideaway overlooking the hills of Val d’Orcia. Breakfast is provided by the villa, and can be enjoyed in the breakfast room or with room service.
At 10:00 we’ll gather to work upon the elements of craft and of art, and the way one informs the other to best render what it is our words seek to say. We’ll have prompts, sharing of work, and an ongoing conversation about what it means to write, and to be a writer.
Lunch is served at 1:00, and afternoons are given over to writing time, but also to opportunities for outings. These include a winetasting deep within a majestic 12th century cellar in Montepulciano, a cooking class with Tuscan Women Cook in nearby Montefollonico, and excursions to nearby Pienza and the Val d’Orcia. Or, of course, you can choose simply to spend time taking a walk in the parklands of the villa to be inspired and reflect and look into the distance hills, and relax. Oh, and you can write.
We’ll also make time in the afternoons to meet one on one with Bret to talk about your writing, projects you may be working on or have finished or are contemplating, or just to have a conversation uninterrupted.
Late afternoons we’ll share aperitivo together, and talk about writing and books and the day we’ve just spent. Dinner will be served at the villa or in town, with a final special digustazione our last night together. Afterwards we’ll meet for an evening salon to further explore the practice of writing, and the discipline of the imagination.

“I have always found the most inspiration in quiet, and a room with a view. Of course a glass of good wine with friends at the end of the day helps a great deal too.”

—Bret Lott

Hi, I’m Bretlott Writing,
the founder of A Bret
lott Writing

Bret Lott is the internationally bestselling author of fourteen books: eight novels, three story collections and three memoirs. His novel Jewel was an Oprah Book Club pick and was made into a film starring Cicely Tyson and Farrah Fawcett. He’s been teaching writing for nearly four decades at the College of Charleston, and has led workshops and retreats all over the United States as well as in Italy, France, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bahrain and Israel.

He has spoken on Flannery O’Connor at The White House, served on the National Council on the Arts, and was a Senior American Scholar and writer in residence at Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv. His work has been translated into seven languages.

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About Us

THE VILLA

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Villa Poggiano is nestled amid 6 hectares of parkland on a crest above the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia, just 2 kilometers from Montepulciano. Guests to the Villa will find a refined and exclusive environment, characterized by the sort of warm welcome that only a family-run establishment can offer. There can be no better way to start the day than with a superb breakfast in a luxury boutique hotel. Every morning guests are treated to a display of delicious cakes, biscuits and pastries all made by our chef. We also offer a select range of pecorino cheeses, Tuscan cured meats and many other specialties, which vary according to the season.

MONTEPULCIANO

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Montepulciano is one of Tuscany's prettiest towns, strung along a ridge at 605 meters above sea level and surrounded by walls and fortifications designed by Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio. Montepulciano is well known for its Renaissance buildings and lovely churches, but is especially renowned for the “Vino Nobile” Montepulciano wines.

OUR PRICING

Choose the plan that’s right
for your business

Villa Poggiano, a timeless and elegant boutique hotel, features an array of accommodations, each room with its own unique charm and tailored to your needs. Stay in your own room, share a room with another writer, or bring along a guest. Register soon for early pricing and the best options we can offer!

  • Lodging for 8 days and 7 nights at Villa Poggiano
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • All writing sessions, including a private one-on-one with Bret
  • Aperitivo
  • Cooking class
  • Wine tasting in Montepulciano
  • Aperitivo and dinner in Montechiello
  • All beverages including wine, as well as snacks during the day
  • Arrival and departure shuttle from and to Florence
  • In-town transportation

Single Classic Room

$5150

Early registration $4640

Shared Classic Room (2 writers) (1 room available)

$4640

Early registration $7550

Get started

Single Classic Room

$5150

Early registration $4640

Shared Classic Room (2 writers) (1 room available)

$4640

Early registration $7550

Get started

Single Classic Room

$5150

Early registration $4640

Shared Classic Room (2 writers) (1 room available)

$4640

Early registration $7550

Get started

Single Classic Room

$5150

Early registration $4640

Shared Classic Room (2 writers) (1 room available)

$4640

Early registration $7550

Get started
  • If you’d like to bring a guest, the additional fee will be $2300.

We require a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit for each attendee upon registration. A $1,500 nonrefundable payment for each attendee to be due on March 30 2024. The remainder will be due June 30 2024.
Please note: All payments are non-refundable

If you make an initial deposit of $1000, you will need to pay the balance of $500 ($1500 total deposit) by March 30 2024. The remaining balance is due by June 30 2024.

Registration












    If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us at info@bretlottwriting.com

    FAQ’s

    We’re going to have an incredible time during this October’s Tuscany Writing Retreat. But as with all travel adventures, there will be questions about this and that and that one other thing too. We want to answer every question you may have, so that when you arrive your experience at Villa Poggiano will be fruitful and a blessing.

    If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us at info@bretlottwriting.com

    What happens if I have to cancel my retreat?

    What is your policy regarding deposits and cancellation?

    Deposit
    The deposit is non-refundable. But if you find it necessary to cancel, you can apply the deposit to next year’s retreat.

    Payment
    If you make an initial deposit of $1000, you will need to pay the balance of $500 ($1500 total deposit) by March 30 2024. The remaining balance is due by June 30 2024.
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    What is your policy regarding deposits and cancellation?

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