Writing retreat in Puglia
A week in Italy to focus on your book or writing project
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 to step away from everyday distractions and finally focus on the writing project that deserves your attention. Most participants come to work on a book, but you can also use the week for your website, articles, blogs, social media content or another substantial writing project. 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.
What you can achieve during this writing retreat
In just one week, you can make enormous progress because you finally have the time, focus and guidance to work without everyday distractions. You may arrive with the first idea for a book, an unfinished manuscript, a website that needs rewriting, a series of articles or blogs, social media content you want to create, or another writing project. I meet you wherever you are and help you move your project forward.
- Inspiration and personal feedback to improve your book or writing project
- Get to the core of your project and create a clear structure
- Learn to use AI in a way that fits you, to think, research, structure, write and edit faster while keeping your own voice, experiences and examples
- Turn your own stories, experiences and expertise into authentic content for your book, website, blogs or social media
- Apply what you learn about AI beyond your writing project, to save time and work smarter in your business and everyday life
- Make huge progress with your book or other writing project, or even finish it
- Overcoming any possible writer’s block
- Learn how to share, promote or publish your work
- Check out some of the books published by previous participants
A writing retreat for everyone
During the more than 40 writing retreats I have organized, I have helped hundreds of CEOs, entrepreneurs, writers and aspiring writers turn ideas into books, improve concepts, finish manuscripts and make enormous progress in just one week. The same focus and practical approach also works for other substantial writing projects. You don’t need to call yourself a writer. Maybe you want to write a book, finally rewrite your website, create articles or social media content, or tackle another writing project that keeps getting pushed aside. You just need something important you finally want to get written.
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 writing retreat in Puglia
What is included?
Imagine a week in Southern Italy where everything is taken care of and you can focus completely on writing. Whether you are working on a book or another substantial writing project, you have the time, space and personal guidance to make real progress. 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 writing
The week is all about focused writing and making tangible progress on your project. For many participants that means a book, but the same time, guidance and workshops can be used for another substantial writing project. Alongside all that focused work, 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 experiencing life in Southern Italy.
Daily themes and writing workshops
Day 1. Arrival in Brindisi with transport to our writers’ villa in Ceglie Messapica.
Day 2. Workshop on getting to the core of your project. For book writers, we start with the back cover, using my Reverse Writing method. For other projects, we define the audience, purpose and key message. I also show you how AI can help you sharpen your ideas without taking over your voice.
Day 3. Structure workshop. Using my Reverse Writing method and AI, you create a clear structure for your book or writing project. We also explore how to feed AI your own experiences, stories, examples and ideas, so the result sounds like you rather than generic AI content.
Day 4. Workshop on working smarter with AI. We explore practical ways to use AI for research, writing, editing, brainstorming and your business or everyday life. Book writers can also use this session to explore publishing options, costs and preparation for publication.
Day 5. Workshop on sharing and promoting your work in a way that feels natural to you. For book writers this includes book promotion; for other projects we look at how your writing can strengthen your visibility, website, content or business.
Day 6. For book writers: your title, subtitle and book cover, including a concept from my designer. For other writing projects, we use this session to sharpen presentation, positioning and next steps. Q&A for all remaining questions.
Day 7. The last evening we celebrate with a festive dinner, where everyone can share a piece of what they have created during the week.
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
Willo, Yann, Bob, and Tom share their experiences and results 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.
