Writing retreat in Puglia
Write your book in one week in the heart of Puglia
Six years ago, I fell in love with an old trullo and an olive grove in Puglia. After buying them, I also lost my heart to the town of Ceglie Messapica. This special region offers peace, space, and authentic Southern Italian life: a wonderful setting in which to work on your book without distractions. You will receive as much one-on-one guidance and personal feedback as you need. Everything is taken care of, including delicious Italian meals with regional specialties and short excursions.
Results you can achieve in 1 week
In just 7 days, you will make huge steps with writing your book. You will return home with a much-improved version. Whether you are in the finalization phase of your manuscript or are still at the very beginning, I will give you the guidance you need at the perfect moment. Results you can achieve in 1 week are:
- Inspiration and personal feedback to improve your manuscript
- Write the back cover and bring structure to your book
- Use AI smartly for your project and during the writing process, while preserving your own voice
- Make huge progress with your book or even finish it
- Overcoming any possible writer’s block
- Starting your book promotion and publishing
- Check out some of the books published by previous participants
A writing week for everyone
During the more than 40 writing retreats I have organized, I have helped hundreds of CEOs, entrepreneurs, writers, and aspiring writers get their books off the ground, improve their concepts, finish their manuscripts, or even complete a book in one week. Read more about the results and examples on the general writing retreat page.
Where: Ceglie Messapica, Puglia, Italy
When: May 21-28, 2027
All-inclusive price: From € 3.495,- p.p.
“The peace and space I experienced here made my book idea tangible.”
Andrea Dronk
“I came here with nothing but an idea. I leave with more than 40,000 words on paper and a clear plan for my book.”
AJ Scott
“I had an incredibly exciting idea, but I was stuck. To make it concrete, you need Esther: super sharp, creative, and wonderfully practical.”
Anneke Veenendaal
“The food is unbelievably delicious and the surroundings are inspiring. I am ready to publish my life story.”
Carole Donkers
A luxurious all-inclusive book-writing retreat
What is included?
Image a week where you can focus completely on writing your own book. You will stay at a luxury writer’s villa, where you will be completely pampered and will receive personal guidance towards your writing journey.
This all-inclusive writer’s retreat includes:
“What a creative and meaningful week of writing! And eating 😋 and drinking 🍷.”
Kees-Jan Dijkstra
“Enthusiastic, professional, and always with the practical Esther Twist. She knows how to write and successfully publish a book. I now have two books to my name, and it all started with Esther!”
Nienke Bloem, author of ‘The CX Travel Guide’
“Incredibly inspiring, with so many lovely people around you. Great ideas and tips, plus a wonderful place to work.”
Angelika Kuiper
Program
An abundance of inspiration and time to focus on your book
The week is, of course, all about writing. Alongside the effort you put into your book, Puglia offers plenty of opportunities to relax. During the retreat, we will take several short excursions to discover Ceglie Messapica and its surroundings.
An ideal balance of work and leisure
We follow a structured daily program to get the most out of our time together. After a scrumptious sit-down breakfast, there is a writing workshop on a theme that you can immediately apply. Whenever you need one-on-one guidance, I am available.
Tasty light lunches are served so you can focus on your writing project without an energy dip. At the end of the afternoon, we may take a walk, go swimming, or enjoy a short excursion. Afterwards, we will enjoy Italian food and regional specialties. There will also be a fun cooking workshop.
This writer’s retreat is therefore an ideal combination of maximum writing time and still getting a feel for island life.
Daily themes and writing workshops
Day 1. Arrival in Brindisi with transport to our writers’ villa in Ceglie Messapica.
Day 2. Workshop on writing your back cover. Why is it so important, and how do you do it? I show you how AI can help sharpen the core of your book.
Day 3. Structure workshop. Using my reverse writing method and AI, you create a clear structure that fits your story while preserving your own voice.
Day 4. Workshop ‘everything you’ve always wanted to know about (self) publishing’; investment, prices, etc. What does a publisher look for? Print or digital? We explore how AI can support research and publication planning.
Day 5. Workshop on promoting your book your way, without being too pushy.
Day 6. Your title, subtitle, and book cover. My designer creates a concept for you. Q&A session for all remaining questions.
Day 7. The last evening there is an official closing with a festive dinner, where everyone reads a part from their book.
Day 8. The retreat ends after breakfast. You can still write on the last morning, but there is no more workshop or guidance. A taxi will go to Brindisi Airport around the time most participants are flying.
Excursions
Because I now know the region well, I will take you to the most beautiful places, the best food, and authentic life in and around Ceglie Messapica.
On the first evening, during the welcome dinner, we will decide on the program together. Below are a few examples of possible excursions:
“Working with Esther is a delight. I love her support, speed, and out-of-the-box thinking. She kept encouraging me to take the next step and see the bigger picture.”
Anne-Lies Smal, author of ‘Kleuren van Geluk(t)’
Secure your place and book now
All-inclusive price of the writing retreat in Puglia from May 21 to 28, 2027
Everything is included in this price: accommodation in our writers’ villa, all meals, non-alcoholic drinks and some beer and wine, snacks, daily writing workshops, personal guidance, and excursions. Your trip to Ceglie Messapica and extra alcoholic drinks are your only additional expenses.
Or choose:
Private room
Regular price € 4.995
Early bird price € 4.495 per person
Package includes:
- A private room with ensuite bathroom in our luxurious writers’ villa
- Daily workshops
- Private writing coaching
- All delicious meals, drinks, and snacks
- Daily excursions
Shared room (bring your own ‘roomie’)
Regular price € 3.995
Early bird price € 3.495 per person
This package includes:
- Book together with your partner or writing buddy and share a room and bathroom in our luxurious writers’ villa
- Daily workshops
- Private writing coaching
- All delicious meals, drinks, and snacks
- Daily excursions
They went before you
Elena, Yann, Willo, and Annaliza share their experiences during the writing retreat.
Travel info
TUI, Transavia, and Ryanair fly directly to Brindisi, Italy, from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven respectively. The flight schedules for the 2027 season have not yet been published, but the flights will probably depart on May 21 and return on May 28. I will arrange transport from Brindisi for these flights. More information will follow.
