Creative Writing + Pilates Retreat

The Writing Course:

Everyone has a book in them – the old cliché is true – but the trick is how to turn that everyone into a writer.

There is no universal recipe for becoming a writer, every author has their own, unique way of working, but the process always starts with finding a headspace – as well as a physical space - to develop and nurture your idea. And what better place to kick-start your writing project than a beautiful 19th century farmhouse in Umbria, Italy?

Here is a unique opportunity to give your full attention to the writing project you’ve always wanted to develop - be it a short story, a novel or a film script - but never had the time to do so.

Obviously, you won’t be able to write a whole book or script during the course – but we'll give you the tools, the space, and the motivation to continue. You can start each day with a beautiful walk around the idylic countryside or have a Pilates sessions to get your body enlivened, so that your imagination can follow.

The course is structured in a way that will benefit both beginners who want to learn basic technical skills, as well as writers who might need feedback and help with their existing projects.

In an informal blend of practical morning workshops, discussions with fellow participants, and one-to-one afternoon sessions, we will concentrate on the process of writing, as well as its key aspects: the plot, the characters, the dialogue, and the style. And, last but not least, we will explore ways of finding an agent and getting published.

Aga offers WhatsApp or Facetime follow-up 1-2-1 tutorials which are an hour long and include discussion of up to 3000 words of text you can send her in advance. The discounted price for the retreat clients is £80 per session or £260 for a block of four sessions.

If you haven't been on retreat with us yet, but would like to find out more about having 1-2-1's with Aga or about the writing component of this retreat, you can email Aga for more information.

Your Writing Teacher, Aga Lesiewicz, is a London-based fiction author and screenwriter.

She began her career as a radio presenter, and subsequently worked as a voice-over artist, interpreter, TV promo producer and director. A serious knee injury in 2013 forced her to give up her day job and write her first novel.
Her two psychological thrillers ‘Rebound’ and ‘Exposure’ have been published by Pan Macmillan. A feature animated film based on her screenplay is currently in pre-production. She writes full time and is now working on her third London-based psychological thriller as well as a historical novel.

Aga has an MA in English from the University of Warsaw and an MPhil in English Literature from the University of Lancaster.

agalesiewicz.com panmacmillan.com/authors/aga-lesiewicz/

Your Pilates Teacher and Massage Practitioner:

Now what makes this Writers Retreat any different to what else is out there?

We are combining the writing tools that you will be given with detailed pilates practices to help you embrace the physical demands of writing. Imagine having a pilates lesson in the morning so that you are primed and ready for the writing workshops ahead.

People often get stiff lower backs, tight hips, weak cores and uptight shoulders when they commit to the writers life, or simply spend a lot of time at a desk each day. We welcome Georgie Chester, Massage Practitioner and Pilates instructor to accompany Aga on retreat, so that you may get physically and mentally in the zone for writing each day.

Georgie has over 25 years experience as a Massage Practitioner and has been part of the Shine team for almost 20 years. Her skills are impressive, adaptive, powerful and peace giving.

Travel Details

We are set in the beautiful countryside on the border of Tuscany and Umbria.
Our nearest train station is Chiusi-Chianciano Terme.
Our nearest local airport is Sant'Egidio Airport (PEG - Perugia)
Our nearest major airports are Fiumicino Airport (FCO - Rome), Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA - Pisa)

If you are flying in to Perugia, a taxi is your best method of transport to come to us and is around 110 euros from the taxi rank.
If a few of you are flying in that way, the cost will of course be less. We can help organise a larger pick up if necessary for you to split cost.
Train transfer from all other airports is quite easy, and we can help you with tickets and directions.
We will always be happy to pick you up from Chiusi train station.