Retreat with me in France
May-June 2026!
Writing in Color:
May-June 2026 in France
A colour-drenched writing experience on an exclusive private estate in the Dordogne, with me and Helen Sword.
On our Writing in Color retreat, Helen and I will guide you with care and focus, wherever you are on your writing journey. As well as nourishing studio time in a tranquil setting, designed to connect you with your creativity through colorful writing techniques, there will be delicious gourmet food, writing trips to medieval towns, plenty of time to relax and read by the pool and, of course, lots of support from Helen and me.
I’m holding a very special writing retreat for a handful of people in a spectacular private estate in the Dordogne region of southwest France, from 30 May to 6 June 2026, with my friend and international writing expert, Helen Sword.
For a long time, Helen and I have been fantasising about bringing people together in a nurturing space for writing, creative rest, delicious food and conversation. And now it’s happening.
30 May to 6 June 2026
Stay in an historic 25-acre estate near Bergerac, France, rented for our exclusive use.
Receive small group workshops, relax by the private heated pool, enjoy indoor and outdoor lounge areas, beautiful gardens, terraces, a private woodland, and a natural pond.
Immerse yourself in colorful, playful and pleasure-saturated writing techniques – including collage, zine-making and observational writing. Leave with a beautiful handmade keepsake notebook of your words and ideas.
Experience gourmet food, local wines (should you choose!) and guided writing excusrions to medieval villages in the Dordogne region.
Find deep creative inspiration and build lasting connections.
We’ll begin each day with a sumptuous breakfast followed by writing rituals designed to help you to find your creative flow. Helen and I will share colorful techniques and approaches that will infuse your creative practice with pleasure and support you in honing your craft.
Whether you’re just starting out on your writing journey, working on a current project or simply looking for new ways to revitalise your writing, we’ll hold a supportive space for you. We’ll explore collage, zine-making, observational and embodied techniques – and you’ll leave with a beautiful notebook full of writing and a clear plan for developing your ideas when you return home.
When we’re not in the writing studio or outside in the spacious grounds of the estate, we’ll be taking trips to the medieval villages of Issigeac and Beynac-et-Cazenac and the local market at Eymet, seeking out more color and inspiration.
Questions about booking?
To make sure that everyone has an amazing experience, we are partnering with UpTrek, who are experts at organising creative retreats.
Take a look at the booking page that we’ve put together with UpTrek. If you still have questions, you can reach out to UpTrek directly at contact@uptrek.com and they will be able to offer you advice and help.
