WRITING FOR OUR LIVES.
A RETREAT IN SUSTAINABLE TUSCANY.
An immersion into writing, bliss, and the artful life. | BEING INSPIRED.
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EMBRACING THE SUN. TUSCANY. ITALY.
On June 24, 2011, a Friday, I arrived at the estate of Spannocchia, seeking time and space to write my MORNING SUN in a beautiful, supportive setting.
I stepped inside with a group of ten writers I had never met, stepping into the light of the Tuscan sun. I hummed with the birds singing their songs from morning to night, took flight with the orange and yellow butterflies. I drew in the scent of fresh herbs and flowers meandering in the air. I touched the sun.
Danced in the delight of inspiration all around.
And when we strolled through the Secret Garden, I dipped my hands into the leaves, tipped my face to the skies and said, "This is happiness."
This was bliss, carrying me around the grounds of Spannocchia.
Magic continued to unfold when we came together, a circle of eleven writers and two teachers from California, Canada, Dubai, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Oklahoma. Together in the kitchen, in the living room, in the library, on the terrace drinking, out on the lawn, and in the gardens. Something special was stirring during our two-week stay.
We cooked, ate, shared our dreams (quieting our fears), read and wrote our stories and poems, played storytelling-drawing games. We laughed and cried, the sound of joy and hope deep in our souls, going beyond the rolling hills of Tuscany and into the heart of our lives.
When the hour came for us to leave, we embraced one another and rose with the sun.
In Tuscany. In Italy.
by Mia T. Starr
✶ Click here to apply for the Writing Immersion in Sustainable Tuscany, July 3 - 17, 2012.
✶ Follow us here to learn more about the Wellness and Writing Immersion ~ online classes being offered.
✶ We treasure your comments, and love hearing from you. Thanks so much for being here.
On June 24, 2011, a Friday, I arrived at the estate of Spannocchia, seeking time and space to write my MORNING SUN in a beautiful, supportive setting.
I stepped inside with a group of ten writers I had never met, stepping into the light of the Tuscan sun. I hummed with the birds singing their songs from morning to night, took flight with the orange and yellow butterflies. I drew in the scent of fresh herbs and flowers meandering in the air. I touched the sun.
Danced in the delight of inspiration all around.
And when we strolled through the Secret Garden, I dipped my hands into the leaves, tipped my face to the skies and said, "This is happiness."
This was bliss, carrying me around the grounds of Spannocchia.
Magic continued to unfold when we came together, a circle of eleven writers and two teachers from California, Canada, Dubai, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Oklahoma. Together in the kitchen, in the living room, in the library, on the terrace drinking, out on the lawn, and in the gardens. Something special was stirring during our two-week stay.
We cooked, ate, shared our dreams (quieting our fears), read and wrote our stories and poems, played storytelling-drawing games. We laughed and cried, the sound of joy and hope deep in our souls, going beyond the rolling hills of Tuscany and into the heart of our lives.
When the hour came for us to leave, we embraced one another and rose with the sun.
In Tuscany. In Italy.
by Mia T. Starr
✶ Click here to apply for the Writing Immersion in Sustainable Tuscany, July 3 - 17, 2012.
✶ Follow us here to learn more about the Wellness and Writing Immersion ~ online classes being offered.
✶ We treasure your comments, and love hearing from you. Thanks so much for being here.
Mia's writing corner at Spannocchia.
WRITING AND BREAKING THROUGH THE OBSTACLES.
Mia's emails from Tuscany to family and friends in America:
☼ June 25, 2011. Back to my writing ... then to a 10-minute, private meeting with Stephen Webber, our teacher and coordinator of the writing immersion retreat. We will discuss my writing project.
☼ June 26, 2011. Last night when I could not sleep, I turned on the lights and returned to my historical fiction in progress, my MORNING SUN. I reviewed the next three chapters, entering the troubled areas of my novel. I did not like what I read. I decided the scenes could be condensed. Combine the chapters, move the story along. I had gone on too long in moments that filled the space without fulfilling the story.
☼ June 28, 2011. The day before yesterday was a struggle to write. I spent seven hours being stuck, trying to find words that refused to form on the page for MORNING SUN. And it was here at the beginning of Chapter Six where I had lost my agents years ago. I stepped away and went to the window for both air and inspiration. I repeated the quote I recently read:
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, it became a butterfly.
I returned to my desk. The words still did not come. Later that day when I went to check my emails by the window out in the hallway, I saw a caterpillar wriggling and crawling near me. It was in the process of becoming a butterfly. I saw it as a good omen, even if I had felt beaten in the last few hours.
Prior to going to bed I attempted to write again at a table in one of the main rooms. Again nothing came to me. Stephen walked by and asked how my writing was going. I told him it was bad. He sat down, and we talked about the chapter that was giving me trouble. He listened and gave me two ideas that ended up breaking me free.
The next day, the fourth day here at Spannocchia, I embarked my first writing marathon--a letter per second for three hours straight in the morning, and again for four hours straight in the afternoon. I did not write a letter per second, but I did more than I had ever imagined was possible for me. I made use of two ideas Stephen gave me. In time I found the beginning of my scene and more. I wrote almost four good pages. It also helped that I was not alone in a room trying to write. There were Casey, Melissa, and Rachel doing the writing marathon with me. Stephen had mentioned that this would also help to keep us going; indeed, it did. The other writers's presence kept me moving forward. When on my own at home I would have been lucky to write a page.
☼ July 7, 2011. I am full of gratitude for Stephen's guidance, which made it possible to take my story, MORNING SUN, to another level.
Mia's emails from Tuscany to family and friends in America:
☼ June 25, 2011. Back to my writing ... then to a 10-minute, private meeting with Stephen Webber, our teacher and coordinator of the writing immersion retreat. We will discuss my writing project.
☼ June 26, 2011. Last night when I could not sleep, I turned on the lights and returned to my historical fiction in progress, my MORNING SUN. I reviewed the next three chapters, entering the troubled areas of my novel. I did not like what I read. I decided the scenes could be condensed. Combine the chapters, move the story along. I had gone on too long in moments that filled the space without fulfilling the story.
☼ June 28, 2011. The day before yesterday was a struggle to write. I spent seven hours being stuck, trying to find words that refused to form on the page for MORNING SUN. And it was here at the beginning of Chapter Six where I had lost my agents years ago. I stepped away and went to the window for both air and inspiration. I repeated the quote I recently read:
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, it became a butterfly.
I returned to my desk. The words still did not come. Later that day when I went to check my emails by the window out in the hallway, I saw a caterpillar wriggling and crawling near me. It was in the process of becoming a butterfly. I saw it as a good omen, even if I had felt beaten in the last few hours.
Prior to going to bed I attempted to write again at a table in one of the main rooms. Again nothing came to me. Stephen walked by and asked how my writing was going. I told him it was bad. He sat down, and we talked about the chapter that was giving me trouble. He listened and gave me two ideas that ended up breaking me free.
The next day, the fourth day here at Spannocchia, I embarked my first writing marathon--a letter per second for three hours straight in the morning, and again for four hours straight in the afternoon. I did not write a letter per second, but I did more than I had ever imagined was possible for me. I made use of two ideas Stephen gave me. In time I found the beginning of my scene and more. I wrote almost four good pages. It also helped that I was not alone in a room trying to write. There were Casey, Melissa, and Rachel doing the writing marathon with me. Stephen had mentioned that this would also help to keep us going; indeed, it did. The other writers's presence kept me moving forward. When on my own at home I would have been lucky to write a page.
☼ July 7, 2011. I am full of gratitude for Stephen's guidance, which made it possible to take my story, MORNING SUN, to another level.
CHERISHING THE MEMORIES AND THE JOYS.
Jade's email to the writers the day after an unforgettable retreat in Tuscany, a passage from the heart:
I can't tell you enough what a fantastic group you all were. Grace with her deep openness and internal richness that she lets shine. Mia with her complex imagination and the wisdom and joy she radiates. Casey's deep love of her grandmother and her moving reading the last night. Josh's hilarious straight man writing and beautiful photos. Bill's silly stories and "grappia" experiences. Rachel's love of laughter, cooking, Graziella and the written word. Melissa's smile and her beautiful memories of rock concerts. Melanie's insights and memories, her painting, her writing and her willingness to try new things. Michelle's wonderful unicorn and her love for the children in her life. Rob's great poetry and generosity in critique and in group meetings by always commenting and always being willing to share. Eva's deep, beautiful way about her, her lovely memories and insights and her wisdom.
Warm hugs and best wishes,
Talk to you soon (and hopefully see you soon),
Jade
Jade's email to the writers the day after an unforgettable retreat in Tuscany, a passage from the heart:
I can't tell you enough what a fantastic group you all were. Grace with her deep openness and internal richness that she lets shine. Mia with her complex imagination and the wisdom and joy she radiates. Casey's deep love of her grandmother and her moving reading the last night. Josh's hilarious straight man writing and beautiful photos. Bill's silly stories and "grappia" experiences. Rachel's love of laughter, cooking, Graziella and the written word. Melissa's smile and her beautiful memories of rock concerts. Melanie's insights and memories, her painting, her writing and her willingness to try new things. Michelle's wonderful unicorn and her love for the children in her life. Rob's great poetry and generosity in critique and in group meetings by always commenting and always being willing to share. Eva's deep, beautiful way about her, her lovely memories and insights and her wisdom.
Warm hugs and best wishes,
Talk to you soon (and hopefully see you soon),
Jade
VIEWS FROM SPANNOCCHIA. TUSCANY. ITALY.
I walk from window to window, taking in the view.
-Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun | On the path of possibilities. Thank you for being here. Grazie mille. -Mia T. Starr, Journey into Writing |
