VENICE WRITING RETREAT - Palazzo Albrizzi 28 August to 4 September 2019 and/or 5 to 12 September 2019 - All About Writing Courses
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VENICE WRITING RETREAT
Palazzo Albrizzi
28 August to 4 September 2019
and/or
5 to 12 September 2019
Give yourself time to follow in the footsteps of
EVER DREAMT ABOUT Byron and Hemingway and, most importantly,
BEING A WRITER AT give yourself the gift of time to develop your own
creativity.
WORK IN VENICE?
Whether you are writing fiction or creative non-
fiction, or for film and television, the Venice
Writing Retreat will give you something infinitely
precious: time out of your busy daily life and
responsibilities, and the space to work on your
own writing in an inspiring environment, with
individual mentoring.
Our home for the week, Palazzo Albrizzi, built at
JOIN US FOR SOME the end of the seventeenth century by a noble
INTENSE Venetian family, has remained in the family ever
since, and has impressive literary credentials.
AND CREATIVE
WRITING AT THE Lord Byron frequented literary conversazione and
receptions held by Countess Albrizzi, herself an
HISTORIC PALAZZO author.
ALBRIZZI IN THE
Of course, Byron can no longer enjoy literary
HEART OF VENICE conversazione and receptions at Palazzo
Albrizzi, nor can he relish the romance of
I learnt so much from the tutors, met wandering Venice for creative inspiration.
some like-minded people, enjoyed
luxurious accommodation, ate fabulous That’s for us to do.
food, saw interesting things and so on. A
HUGE thank you to all of you for what I
sincerely hope is not a once in a lifetime
experience.
It was a wonderful indulgence to be able
to step away from everyday
responsibilities and to be simply a writer
for seven full days. All I had to do was
think about the words I had written and
to make my manuscript as good as it
could be.
PALAZZO ALBRIZZI It was a unique venue – rich in Venetian history, luxuriously appointed, spacious and no wi-fi problems. There were plenty of private areas where one could settle down to write and an inspirational view from every window and patio. The meals were extremely generous – no starving in a garret for us!.
Inspiration. Encouragement. Support. Feedback.
WHAT YOU CAN Each day will start, after a leisurely Venetian
breakfast, with a group talk and discussion, led by All
EXPECT About Writing’s Jo-Anne Richards and Richard Beynon
or travel writer and non-fiction specialist Fred de
Vries.
You’ll be free to write for the rest of the day in the
palazzo, or in any inspiring corner of Venice that you
The Palazzo Albrizzi’s beautiful, romantic choose.
setting was a wonderful backdrop in
which to settle down each day to write. I Each writer will have a daily one-on-one mentoring
enjoyed the companionship and catching session with Richard, Jo-Anne or Fred.
up with other writers and aspirant
writers, first thing in the morning around For those who don’t have an existing project, we offer
the big table for breakfast, then again at daily creative exercises with feedback, or
lunch, and on our first and last nights for brainstorming sessions.
dinner.
On three of the evenings members of the group will
share and discuss their projects - both challenges and
triumphs - around the dinner table.
In addition, Fred will set an assignment for would-be
travel writers and provide mentoring and feedback
on the creative results.
The schedule is designed to provide you with the
skills, tools and inspiration every writer needs to craft
a story.
SUPPORTIVE AND DELICIOUS
INSPIRATION AND LUXURIOUS AND
ENCOURAGING TYPICALLY VENETIAN
TIME FOR WRITING HISTORIC VENUE
MENTORS MEALS
You may simply need
Take part in writing The beautiful, historic Enjoy the
the time to indulge
practice talks and palazzo, in a quiet companionship of
your creative self …
creative discussion. residential area in the fellow writers over two
Or, you have a writing
Receive individual heart of Venice, offers meals a day created by
project and relish the
attention from caring an inspiring setting in the resident cook from
thought of seven full
and astute mentors which to write and fresh ingredients
days with nothing to
in daily one-on-one from which to bought daily at the
worry about but the
sessions. explore. Rialto Market.
words on your page.
* Anybody who has longed for the time to
WHO WILL THE exercise their creativity in a warm and supportive
RETREAT BENEFIT? environment.
* Experienced writers who need the space to
write, with the benefit of another creative eye.
Jo-Anne and Richard’s approach is * Beginner writers who want to try their hand at
always professional and their guidance writing, with daily support and mentoring.
is thoughtful, generous and
pertinent. From day one, with their first * Anyone with a vague idea for a project, who
short talk on an aspect of writing, I was needs to try it out, brainstorm or discuss it with
experts.
motivated to commit myself to the
process of the retreat. * And finally, those of us whose daily life has been
leached of creativity or romance – and possibly
both.
Palazzo Albrizzi is an historic building located in
THE VENUE San Polo, near the Rialto Bridge. It was built at the
end of the seventeenth century by a noble
Venetian family, and has remained in the family
since then. Not far from the Grand Canal, it
commands its own small square in the quiet of a
lovely neighbourhood.
We'll be spread out over two apartments in the
There it was, dominating the small palazzo - the piano nobile apartment and the top
campiello Albrizzi. The Palazzo, floor apartment, Tempio.
centuries of history peeling off its façade.
Enormous, green wooden doors, that The most striking feature of the imposing piano
nobile apartment is its enormous Gallery/Grand
required some weight be applied to
Hall, which runs almost the full length of the
them, swung slowly into an eerily dark, apartment. It has well-regarded museum quality
cavernous entrance hall. Trish showed paintings on its walls, very tall windows and a
us to the magnificent room which was to wooden ceiling.
be ours for the next seven days. It was
time. The days that followed were a blur The palazzo is elegant and is furnished with
antiques and family heirlooms. Important
of delicious food supplied by the
frescoes in the sitting rooms and dining room by
amiable Marta, writing briefings as a Hayez and Borsato (who worked at La Fenice)
group and the invaluable, one on one have recently been restored. Several rooms have
sessions with Richard and Jo-Anne. … an silk-covered walls. The library walls are covered in
experience of a life time. original mahogany cupboards.
From the tall windows of the apartment there are
views of gardens and rooftops of Venice. These
views can also be enjoyed from a large terrace
with lovely plantings. Several rooms have
fireplaces. The family regularly uses this
apartment, so guests will enjoy the feeling of an
exclusive and magnificent Venetian home.
.
PALAZZO ALBRIZZI
We'll be occupying the main floor of the palazzo,
MEALS AND the piano nobile as well as the spectacular Tempio
ACCOMMODATION apartment on the top floor. In total there is
accommodation for up to fourteen people in:
A master bedroom in the main apartment
Two double beds on the top floor
It felt like a family experience staying A rooms with twin beds in the main apartment
together, not in a hotel, but in a home Four standard single rooms in the main
steeped in history. The food and the joy apartment.
that Marta took in providing delicious
meals was a highlight. I loved that we We suggest you book early to get the room of
your choice.
weren’t rule bound and could do our
own thing. Participants are welcome to bring a non-writing
partner with them. We will limit the number of
writers on the retreat to twelve.
We'll have a cook on hand who prepares two
typically Venetian meals made with fresh
ingredients from the Rialto market every day - a
delicious breakfast, dinner on four nights (the first
night, last night and two mid week meals) and
lunch on four days.
We'll have one of the mid week dinners and drinks
on the last evening on the terrace of Tempio while
watching the sun set over Venice. The spectacular
360 degree view from the top terrace allows you
to see as far as the Pyrenees on a clear day.
ROOMS 1 & 2 PIANO NOBILE APARTMENT
Room 1 - Palazzo Albrizzi main apartment master bed. Sleep in seventeenth century grandeur with
the modern convenience of a spacious bathroom. A large window looks out directly over a canal and
a secret garden. This is a massive room with very high ceilings, a king size bed, desk, sofa, en suite
bathroom with bath and shower, and a dressing room.
Room 2 - Palazzo Albrizzi main apartment – twin. En suite bathroom shower only.
ROOMS 3 & 4 PIANO NOBILE APARTMENT
Room 3 - Palazzo Albrizzi main apartment - double bed. Shared bathroom with room 4.
Accommodates one only unless a couple and a friend take rooms 3 and 4 and are happy to share
one bathroom.
Shared bathroom - rooms 3 & 4,
shower over the bath
Room 4 - Palazzo Albrizzi main apartment - single bed. Shared bathroom with room 3.ROOMS 5 & 6 - PIANO NOBILE APARTMENT
Room 5 - Palazzo Albrizzi main apartment - single bed. Shared bathroom with room 6.
Shared bathroom - rooms 5 and 6
Room 6 - Palazzo Albrizzi main apartment - two single beds. Shared bathroom with room 5, bath
only. Accommodates one only unless three friends take rooms 5 and 6 and are happy to share one
bathroom.TEMPIO
Tempio provides a rooftop eyrie paved in Carrera marble, with a spacious living room and kitchen.
Two rooftop terraces allow you to look down on the squares and roofs spread out beneath you,
surrounded by Roman statuary.
View from Tempio upper terrace Tempio living room
Rooms 7/8- Tempio bedroom Tempio terraceCOSTS
Rooms 1, 7 and 8
Writing participant single : 1 week/7 nights: €3450 2 weeks/15 nights: €6625
Writing participant sharing with another writer: 1week/7 nights: €2195 2 weeks/15 nights: €4115
Non-writing participant sharing with a writer: 1 week/7 nights: €1615 2 weeks/15 nights: €3230
Room 2
Writing participant single: 1 week/7 nights: €3050 2 weeks/15 nights: €5825
Writing participant sharing with another writer: 1week/7 nights: €2000 2 weeks/15 nights: €3725
Non-writing participant sharing with a writer: 1 week/7 nights: €1425 2 weeks/15 nights: €2850
Rooms 3 and 6
Writing participant single: 1 week/7 nights: €2250 2 weeks/15 nights: €4225
Writing participant sharing with a writer: * 1week/7 nights: €1590 2 weeks/15 nights: €2905
Non-writing participant sharing with a writer: * 1 week/7 nights: €1015 2 weeks/15 nights: €2030
Rooms 4 and 5
Writing participant single: 1 week/7 nights: €2250 2 weeks/15 nights: €4225
Cost if three friends share rooms 3 and 4 OR rooms 5 and 6 – €2020
Thank you Jo-Anne, Richard and Trish I thought the retreat was totally fabulous
for creating the space at Riccardo’s and it exceeded all my expectations. The
magnificent Palazzo Albrizzi. Your venue was magnificent, allowing
organisational skills, as well as all your participants a huge amount of space in
excellent creative sessions, feedback, which to “operate” so that we could be
encouragement, insight, caring… simply private and meet at common venues like
astonishing. Magic is happening here the patio, the dining room and the
and your writers look to you, hoping drawing room for the early morning
that this is the start of an annual discussions.
tradition!
To book your place or for more information, please email us at
admin@allaboutwritingcourses.com
www.allaboutwritingcourses.comAll About Writing was founded by two writing
WHO ARE WE? professionals, Jo-Anne Richards and Richard
Beynon, in 2007.
We are passionate about writing and have devised
Thanks once again to Richard and Jo- our courses to help communicate that passion –
plus the skills that make it all much more than an
Anne for a week that was simply put, life
academic exercise – to others with a similar
changing.The Palazzo Albrizzi was so calling. Our annual Venice retreat at Palazzo
conducive to writing and enjoying the Albrizzi is the highlight of our calendar.
beauty of Venice.
Jo-Anne and Richard are skilled book doctors,
trusted by publishers to give practical advice on
where a manuscript works, where it doesn’t, and
how to mend its flaws.
With their distinctive honest-but-kind approach
they will tailor their feedback and mentoring to
suit your needs.
Internationally published novelist, Jo-Anne, has
published five books and has a PhD in Creative
Writing. Her first novel, The Innocence of Roast
Chicken, was originally published by Headline
Review in the UK, and has recently been re-
released as one of the prestigious Picador Africa
Classics collection.
Scriptwriter and story consultant, Richard, has
had a long and accomplished career in the film
and television industry. He has conceived, shaped
and written scores of documentaries, has written
over a thousand scripts, and has led numerous
storytelling teams in devising story for many of
the country’s most popular soaps.
Having lived in various parts of Africa since 1985,
Fred de Vries is an experienced traveller and
travel writer. He has worked as a foreign editor
and foreign correspondent for European
newspapers and magazines and has six non-
fiction books to his name. He is currently working
on a book about America’s Deep South.
You'll be in the very capable hands of a team
with decades of professional writing and teaching
experience.
To book your place or for more information, please email us at
admin@allaboutwritingcourses.com
www.allaboutwritingcourses.comWRITERS IN VENICE
To book your place or for more information, please email us at
admin@allaboutwritingcourses.com
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