Join us for a week-long writing retreat. Your facilitator, Veronique Manfredini, will provide a structure designed to maximize your creativity. With a quiet reading and writing prompt to get you going in the morning, followed by a lavish Italian breakfast, tours to feed your creative well, and evening workshops featuring generative writing exercises and group discussions about craft. She will also offer office hours for group discussions or one on one chats about your creative work.
Our retreat will close with a Writers’ Showcase that includes the option of a public reading and delicious appetizers.
We intend for this to be a non-hierarchical creative space. We welcome writers of any genres and experience levels.
Meet your facilitator:
Veronique Manfredini
Veronique Manfredini, is an Italian writer from Bedonia, Italy, currently based in New Jersey. She has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and an M.A. in English from Monmouth University, a B.A. in Creative Writing from Columbia University, and dual A.A. degrees in English and Business Administration from Brookdale Community College where she is also an adjunct instructor.
She runs The Bookish Godmother's Writing Workshop at Thunder Road Books in Spring Lake, NJ every 3rd Sunday of the month.
Winner of the Monmouth University Creative Writing Award in Poetry for Spring 2024, her work has appeared in Strip Mall Magazine, Spirit Lake Review, the Monmouth Review, the Platform Review, amongst others. She is currently working on a mystery novel and a collection of poems.
You can find her on social media as @TheBookishGodmother.
What's Included
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7 night stay at the Villa
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5 days of literary inspired and culturally driven tours
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Transportation to and from the retreat location
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Breakfast each morning
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Welcome dinner upon arrival
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A Writing Showcase on the last night of the retreat
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Happy hour with snacks at the showcase
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A week of creative community
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One on one meeting with facilitator
Additional tour activities may be bought for an additional fee.
What you will bring:
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An open mind and care for other writers
- Attention for and interest in expanding your creative practice
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An inquisitive mind about Italian writers
Tour Excursions & Activities
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Cultural & Literary Day Trips
- Compiano: Walk a medieval village, explore an antique castle, eat a medieval meal, and swim in their pool overlooking the valley, while filling your writing well.
- Florence: Spend a day exploring Renaissance art, iconic architecture, and vibrant city life while learning about Leonardo Da Vinci, Giovanni Boccaccio, and Dante Alighieri.
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Genoa: Walk through the antique naval fortress city, taste authentic, traditional pesto, and learn more about singer/song writer and poet Fabrizio De André, as well as poet and journalist Eugenio Montale.
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Portovenere: Walk around the Borgo dei Poeti (Village of Poets) in the Cove of Poets, where Lord Byron swam from Lirici every day to sit in the cove to write his poetry for years.
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Artisan Food Tours
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Parmigiano Reggiano: Tour a local Parmigiano Cheese factory while the cheese is actively being made, followed by a handmade meal and live music with local residents.
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Lunch and Dancing: Travel up the local mountain, eat delicious, local food, and dance with the locals to the tune of Italian Liscio music.
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Leisure & Personal Time
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Free Day: Take time to explore our host village on your own or catch a local bus/train to discover neighboring towns.
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Writing Workshops: Work on your writing, participate in workshop, read your work, and enjoy craft talks.
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One on One Office Hours: Pop in to talk to your facilitator about any creative endeavors or struggles you're experiencing.
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Watering Hole: Walk to the watering hole, swim with the locals, and write.
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Please note: The list above highlights excursions and activities for our Writing Retreat. Specific inclusions may vary, and a finalized, day-by-day itinerary will be sent to all confirmed guests upon booking.
