Life as Story
A Memoir Writing Retreat
with Alison Wearing
October 12-18, 2025
To apply for the retreat, please write to heather@alisonwearing.com for details.
PLEASE NOTE: This will be Alison’s last Italy retreat hosted by Radiant Jane Retreats.
Overview of the Retreat
Begin the day at the window of your bedroom, drinking in the sights and scents of the Tuscan countryside. Wander down to the restaurant for coffee and breakfast or enjoy walking the grounds as the countryside gently awakens. From there, make your way to the studio for an inspiring interactive session of learning and writing, discovering and imagining, and then feel free to spend the rest of the day as you wish: strolling the extensive grounds, reading by the pool, attending a wine tasting, getting a massage, or writing up a storm. At the end of the afternoon, you are invited to return to the studio for a clarifying chat and Q&A session about the day's literary focus. And after that, we will wander down to the dining room for a delicious organic feast paired with award-winning wines, where you can chat with fellow writers about your project or insights, or simply celebrate the pleasures of the day.
Sound like a plan?
The Location, Wine & Food
Fattoria Del Colle is a tranquil oasis in the Chianti region of Tuscany. It is the family estate of Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the award-winning entrepreneur of Il Casato Prime Donne, the only all-female-owned winery in Italy. Donatella’s ancestors first owned land in the Montalcino area in the 16th century and Cinelli Colombini inherited the estate from her mother in 1990. The vintners are all women, and the wine is made on and around the estate of Fattoria Del Colle. Retreat guests are not only invited to walk among the vineyards but also to take a wine tour and enjoy these wines with each meal.
The heart of the estate is a 16th-century villa and chapel, an award-winning restaurant, Osteria di Donatella, and a wellness centre (which participants are invited to use). The veranda holds a large dining room with spectacular views of the vineyards and the medieval village of Trequanda.
Literary Nourishment
This retreat offers a balance of inspiring teachings and the plentiful space and time we need to see our writing with fresh eyes and replenish our creative well.
Bestselling author Alison Wearing will offer focussed daily teachings on the critical elements of memoir and how to employ them in our writing, as well as small group sessions and informal Q&As, ensuring that all participants have a chance to discuss and explore their ideas and projects in depth over the course of the week.
The aim of the retreat is to provide writers with inspiration and insight, as well as the direction, focus, clarity, enthusiasm and energy they need to move forward with their writing projects. This retreat is dedicated to literary nourishment: feeding the creative spirit in an inspiring and supportive environment.
Just to clarify: if you are looking for direct feedback on your manuscript, this is not the retreat for you. But if you are looking to deepen your understanding of the essentials of memoir and what you need to consider and employ when crafting your story or book; if you are looking for inspiration and direction, clarity and companionship, joy, beauty, literary nourishment and balm for the soul — this will be a good fit for you. :)
Prices & Details
YOUR US$3,600 RETREAT PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Daily talks and teachings, lessons and Q&As, as well as small group sessions with Alison Wearing
6 nights lodging
Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner prepared by on-site chefs
Vegetarian options
Group transport to and from the Rome airport (Fiumicino)
Excursion to the stunning UNESCO heritage village of Pienza
Guided on-site wine-tasting
Tour of Fattoria grounds and ancient chapel
Pici pasta-making class
Gentle yoga and guided meditation
Massage (extra cost)
Beautiful classroom studio
Local hiking
Concierge office staff
On-site laundry
Airfare is not included. Participants are not required to submit writing in advance, as Alison will not be reading individual submissions, but rather teaching and offering direction and suggestions on people’s ideas and projects in a small group setting.
This retreat is limited to 18 participants.
Guest rooms are private bedrooms with shared bathrooms in spacious 2-bedroom suites. There are also a number of private bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. These are available for an extra charge of US$300.
To apply for the October 2025 retreat, please write to heather@alisonwearing.com for details.
TRAVEL DETAILS: On day 1 of every retreat (Sunday), our shuttle bus departs at 2 pm from Rome Fiumicino airport (also called Leonardo Da Vinci airport), so when booking flights please plan to ARRIVE in Rome before 12 pm. On the final day of the retreat (Saturday — not Sunday), the shuttle departs the retreat location at 8 am but won't arrive to the Rome airport until at least 11 am. Please book flights to DEPART Rome after 2 pm. This is the safest way to be sure you don't miss the shuttle bus on day 1 and don't miss your flight on final day.
2023 WINNER:
Best Italian Writing Retreat
LUX LIFE Magazine
Resorts & Retreats Awards
A portion of all proceeds will be put toward tree-planting efforts with TreeCanada, which has planted more than 83 million native trees in urban, rural and wilderness areas and sequestered millions of tons of carbon pollution in the process. This ‘carbon calculator’ calculates carbon use (per flight) and estimates the number of trees that need to be planted to offset that use [somewhat]. Obviously, this is an imperfect solution, but it does, at the very least, add more trees to this world.
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