[The following schedule is specific to Spannocchia retreats; however, it will give you an idea what type of workshops we offer. Stories & Songs Writing Retreat in Montana schedule coming soon.]
2024 Schedule with Workshop Leaders:
Storyteller Workshop Track: Karen Leslie Carolyn Flynn
Songwriter Workshop Track: Clay Mills
Hybrid Track: Choose your workshop schedule!
Stories and Songs Writing Retreat Sept. 10-16, 2024
Location: Spannocchia, Tuscany, Italy
Tuesday, Sept. 10
2 to 5 p.m. Tenuta de Spannocchia – Check in Spannocchia
6:30 p.m. Villa Terrace – Welcome to the Stories and Songs Writing Retreat
7 p.m. Villa Terrace – Wine on the terrrace
7:30 p.m. Villa Dining Room -Dinner
8:30 p.m. Villa Terrace – Open Mic sharing of stories and songs [Host: Karen]
Wednesday, Sept. 11
8-10 a.m. Villa Dining Room – Breakfast
8-9:50 a.m. Castello de Spannocchia, locations of your choice –Enter the Day prompts or free writing time
10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Library, Castello de Spannocchia – WHY STORIES, WHY SONGS. Design your writing immersion time. [Karen, Carolyn, Clay]
11 a.m. -1 p.m. – Historical tour of Spannocchia
1 p.m. – Lunch
2-4:30 p.m. SONG FEEDBACK WORKSHOP [Clay]
2-2:45 p.m. PERFECTING YOUR PROCESS: WORDS ON THE PAGE [Karen]
3-3:30 p.m. Writing Immersion
4-4:45 p.m. YOUR STORY IS A SONG [Carolyn]
4:45 p.m. Writing Immersion / Free Time
7:00 p.m. Wine on the Terrace
7:30 p.m. PIZZA NIGHT!!
8:30 p.m. – Open Mic sharing of stories and songs [Host: Clay]
Thursday, Sept. 12
8-10 a.m – Breakfast
8 a.m – Anywhere on site – Enter the Day prompts or Free writing time
10-11:30 a.m. – Museo – CROSS GENRE WORKSHOP [Carolyn & Karen]
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – SONGWRITING & THE POWER OF THREE [Clay]
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – RESONATING IMAGES AND RHYMING ACTION [Carolyn]
1 p.m. – Lunch
2:30-4:00 p.m. CO-WRITING WORKSHOP [Clay]
2:30-4:00 p.m. Writing Immersion – Free time
4:30-6:00 p.m. WRITERS IN CONVERSATION
7:00 p.m. – Wine on the terrace
7:30 p.m. – Dinner
Friday, Sept. 13
8-10:00 a.m. – Breakfast
8-9:50 a.m. – Enter the Day prompts or free writing time
10-11:00 a.m. – THE ART OF CREATIVE CONTRAST [Clay]
10-10:45 a.m. – THE ART OF COMPRESSION: SHORT STORIES AND SONGS [Karen]
10-11:45 a.m. – WRITING IMMERSION
11:30-12:45 a.m. – CROSS-GENRE WORKSHOP: GUIDED WRITING SESSION [Clay]
1:00 p.m. – Lunch
2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – WRITING IMMERSION or Opt. SPANNOCCHIA ACTIVITY: (2 hour Wine Tour & Tasting)
7:00 p.m. – Wine on the terrace
7:30 p.m. – Dinner
8:45 p.m. – Open Mic [Host: Karen]
Saturday, Sept. 14
8-10:00 a.m. – Breakfast
8-9:50 a.m. – Enter the Day prompts or free writing time
10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Free time to write
1:00 p.m. – Lunch
3:00 p.m. – Depart for Siena Writer’s Day, dinner and roaming on your own
8:00 p.m. – Depart for Spannocchia
Sunday, Sept. 15
8-10:00 a.m. – Breakfast
8-9:50 a.m. – Enter the day prompts or free writing time
10-12:30 p.m. – WRITING MORE MUSICAL LYRICS [Clay]
10-10:45 a.m. – SONGS AS STRUCTURES FOR STORIES (HERMIT CRAB PIECES, SETLISTS and ALBUMS) [Carolyn]
10:45 – 11:45 a.m – Writing Immersion
11:45 – 12:30 p.m. – HOW TO FOLLOW AND REFINE YOUR VOICE [Karen]
1:00 p.m. – Lunch
2:30 – 4 p.m. – SONG SHARE & PROGRESS CHECK IN [Clay]
2:30 – 6 p.m. – Writing Immersion
7:00 p.m. – Wine on the terrace
7:30 p.m. – Dinner
8:45 p.m. – Closing Reception/Open mic sharing of stories and songs [Host: Clay, Carolyn, Karen]
Monday, Sept. 16
8-10:00 a.m. – Breakfast
10:00 a.m. – Check out from Spannocchia and Goodbyes for now!