OUR OCTOBER 2025 DATES
WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Join Us October 13--19 2024
for an elegant and refreshing writing experience

Whether you’re just beginning your writing journey or already a seasoned traveler, I know you’ll find these seven days a life-changing time of inspiration and creativity. I’ve been writing and teaching writing for four decades now, and will be leading you through a time of finding your path as a writer in both mindful and practical ways. Not to mention our curated excursions into the Tuscan countryside for historical and literary and culinary pursuits. Together with trusted providers, we’ve created a truly bespoke Italian experience. Everything is included so you won’t need to worry about a thing.

Register now for our best prices!

Why a retreat matters

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 cuisine and especially its welcoming people, has so charmed artists over so many centuries. A writing retreat is meant as a time of refreshment, of revival and regrouping, so we’ll be asking the important questions:

• What do you want to do with your words?

• What are your goals?

• What is it you want--and need--to write?

We'll ask these questions and more to help nourish and revitalize your writing life. And we'll do it all in the inspirational quiet and beauty of Tuscany.

What we'll be up to

Our Tuscany retreat is a gathering of writers who want to explore the blessing of how putting words together just so can feed us, transform us and sometimes challenge us too. This week spent in the 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 our stories. Afternoon outings will serve to enliven our imaginations and deepen our appreciation of this incredibly beautiful and beloved region of Italy. 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.

Our Time in Tuscany

Each day begins with 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 outside where you can take in a view you won't believe.
Midmorning we’ll gather to work on the elements of craft and of art, and the way one informs the other for us to best write the stories we need to write. We’ll have prompts, sharing of work, and an ongoing conversation about what it means to write, and to be a writer.
We'll share lunch either at the villa or out for a picnic in the Tuscan countryside. Afternoons are given over to outings that include a wine tasting in Montalcino, home of the famous Brunello di Montalcino; a cooking class in a restaurant atop a hill overlooking the Tuscan countryside; and excursions to nearby Montepulciano, 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 distant hills, and relax. Oh, and you can write.

We’ll also make time to meet one on one with me 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 can share aperitivo together, where we can 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--a wine pairing dinner--our last night together. In the evenings we may meet for a salon to further explore the practice of writing. Or, of course, one can find a cozy spot to keep on writing.

People Say the Nicest Things:

“Bret Lott’s fiction workshop is a must for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills and unleash their creativity. He teaches you how to craft engaging and meaningful stories that will captivate your readers and transform your approach to writing.”

Becky Nesbitt
Associate Publisher, Forefront Books
Former Editorial Director and Executive Editor, Penguin Random House

“I have had the privilege of both participating in and serving as host of the Good Lit Writer’s Retreat under the leadership of Bret Lott for the past nine years. Bret never fails to inspire and encourage writers on what is often a solitary journey. His passion for Italy, his love for writing, and his calling to nurture writers will make this retreat the trip of a lifetime.”

Angela Correll
Author of the bestselling novel trilogy Grounded, Guarded and Granted and the memoir Restored in Tuscany: A True Story of Facing Loss, Finding Beauty, and Living Forward in Hope

About Us

Here I am in the third person: Bret Lott is the internationally bestselling author of fifteen books: eight novels, three story collections and four memoirs. His novel Jewel was an Oprah Book Club pick and was made into a film starring Cicely Tyson and Farrah Fawcett. He has 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 also 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 eight languages. But here's the most important thing he wants you to know: he loves teaching, he loves writing, and he loves Italy. He and Melanie will make sure participants have a terrific and meaningful time on the Tuscany Writing Retreat.

Melanie Is the real brains behind the outfit, and serves as the director of the Tuscany Writing Retreat. Together we've lived in the south of France, taken a sabbatical in Ireland, and traveled to at least a dozen countries. But we've stayed in Italy more times than we can count--really, last time we tried we lost track around 18 or 19. We've been married for 44 years now, and she has been my first reader—and first critic—since we began dating and I shared a short story I'd written in an effort to impress her. When she returned it to me, gave a small rueful laugh and slowly shook her head at the failure in her hands, I knew I was in love: she was honest about my work, and has remained so through all these years. Her background in business, having worked with architects in historic Charleston, the safe water nonprofit organization Water Mission, and alongside engineers and artists alike makes her especially set for helping retreaters as we move toward and then settle in to this very special week in Tuscany.

About Us

THE VILLA

Read More

Built in the 18th century as a summer house, the villa belonged to the noble Gagnoni family of Siena. Old maps show that the house was called Villa Gagnoni and its property consisted of 200 hectares of land, producing both wine and olive oil. When the Savini Family purchased the property in 2001, it was nearly abandoned and in a state of almost total decline. The restoration of the house took two years, and another six months for the pool. In 2003 they opened the villa for guests as an inn. “Villa Poggiano is not a hotel,” Stefania Savini emphasizes, “but a home we wish to share with guests to our beautiful Montepulciano area, where life is simple, the silence magical, and the daily pattern of one’s days follows the time-honored rhythms of nature. These are some of the memories that I hope my guests will take away with them.”

Please see our Gallery for images of the villa's splendid rooms.


MONTEPULCIANO

Read More


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

Options for your stay
at The Tuscany Writing Retreat

Villa Poggiano, a timeless and elegant boutique hotel, features an array of accommodations, each room with its own unique charm. 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!

Pricing includes everything below--as well as the priceless blessings of inspiration, fellowship, and time to contemplate the stories you need to tell.

  • All writing sessions, including a private one-on-one with Bret
  • Luxury accommodations for 7 days and 6 nights at historic Villa Poggiano
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner, including evenings out to Montechiello and Montefollonico
  • Aperitivo each afternoon
  • Cooking class
  • Wine tasting in Montalcino
  • Afternoons for strolling and shopping in Montepulciano and Pienza
  • Two picnic lunches in the Tuscan countryside
  • Transportation for all excursions
  • All beverages including wine, as well as snacks during the day

Single Classic Room

SOLD OUT!

$5990

Shared Classic Room (2 writers)

SOLD OUT!

$5240

Get started

Single Suite

SOLD OUT!

$6385

Shared Suite (2 writers)

SOLD OUT!

$5620

Get started

Luxury Suite

SOLD OUT!

$6385

Shared Luxury Suite (2 writers)

SOLD OUT!

$5920

Get started
  • If you’d like to bring a guest, the additional fee will be $3650.

A non-refundable deposit of $1000 per person is due on registration with a second deposit of $500 per person due March 30 2024. The remaining balance is due by June 30 2024.

If you are bringing a guest, please add a second deposit to your cart for a total initial deposit of $2000; a second nonrefundable deposit of $1000 will be due March 30 2024. The remaining total balance is due by June 30 2024.

Early registration ends January 31 2024.

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

Registration












    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 You Need to Know

    Below you’ll find a list of helpful information for planning your trip, but please know we’re happy to answer questions about anything regarding the retreat—simply write us at info@bretlottwriting.com.

    What happens if I have to cancel my retreat?

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

    Is travel included?

    Travel to Italy and to the villa is not included, but we will help you arrange transportation from airports in Rome, Florence and Perugia using trusted providers through Villa Poggiano. We can also pick up participants from the railroad station in Chiusi-Chianciano Terme in Chiusi, Tuscany.

    What will the writing sessions include?

    Our time together will be spent exploring elements of craft—developing a character, the importance of setting, meaningful but believable dialog, plot—along with strategies for starting a new work, seeing a work through its middle ground, and ending the work too. Time will be made for generative writing—on-the-spot writing prompts—and for sharing work with each other.

    in addition, each participant will meet with Bret individually for an hour to talk about particular concerns you may have with your writing, projects you may be working on or have finished or are contemplating, or just to have a conversation uninterrupted. In the evenings, for those who wish to do so (you might want to write somewhere on the estate!), we can meet together for a salon during which we'll talk about books, publishing, and more things writing.

    What’s the weather like in October in Tuscany?

    The temperature in October averages 59º to 72º F. It’s a good idea to bring a light rain jacket and a travel umbrella. Dressing in layers is always a good way to adjust to variations in weather.

    What should I bring?

    • Make sure to bring your passport, prescription medications or vitamins and supplements, clothing, comfortable shoes or sandals, sunscreen, as well as other personal essentials.
    • Layer clothing and bring a jacket or scarf for windy hilltop towns.
    • Good walking shoes are essential. Italians often wear stylish tennis shoes, even with skirts or dresses, so choose your sandal or shoe selection based upon comfort.
    • Bring a swimsuit in case you want to try the (absolutely beautiful) swimming pool at the villa.
    • Italy uses different outlets and stronger voltage than the United States, so bring an adapter. You may want to purchase a European adapter, available through Amazon and at Target and Walmart stories. Phone or laptop chargers and curling irons can be plugged into Italian outlets with an adapter, but converters are needed with larger items that use more energy. We pack a dual-voltage travel hair dryer. Most CPAP machines are dual voltage, making a converter unnecessary, but always double-check before traveling.
    • Before leaving, please contact your cellular provider to see what international features are included in your plan.
    • Be sure to submit a travel notice to your bank or credit card company before traveling. You can get euros ahead of time (this is more expensive!), but we always use our ATM card. You can get euros at one of the airport ATMs or one of the many bank ATMs in Montepulciano and, of course, throughout the country.

    What does the guest fee include?

    The guest fee includes all activities offered to participants, except for our morning writing sessions.

    Do I have to participate in all the activities?

    No, but the fee for participants and guests is fixed, so there will be no prorating for not participating in our planned activities.
    Now a Word About Travel Insurance

    To protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances once you’ve registered for the retreat, we are requiring all participants to purchase trip insurance, and to provide proof of that purchase. Travel Insurance protects you if

    • You cancel your participation in the retreat
    • The retreat is cancelled due to your illness, the retreat leader’s illness, emergencies, acts of God, and not enough participants
    • You lose your baggage
    • Medical expenses and the cost of repatriation are incurred if you become ill or injured

    It’s best—and recommended—that you find a travel insurance company that offers the option for a comprehensive “cancel for any reason” policy. Purchase of this class of travel insurance allows you to cancel up to 48 hours prior to travel for any reason, and your airfare, hotel, transportation and especially your retreat costs will be covered. Often, insurance such as this requires you purchase the policy within 15 days of making your deposit with the retreat as well as any other costs involved with your travel.

    The travel insurance aggregator Squaremouth lets you chose from 21 insurance providers, and is a great place to look for the best company for you.