Set within an exclusive private apartment inside Palazzo Doria Pamphilj on Via del Corso, this retreat unfolds in a space that is not open to the public and is rarely accessible beyond long-standing personal relationships. This is rare. This is intimate.
The setting and workshops allow writers to slow down, think clearly and engage deeply with their craft. With only seven participants, the retreat offers sustained one-on-one mentorship alongside rich discussion with fellow writers. This is not an experience that can be scaled or repeated.
What Makes Rome: Timeless Craft Different
1.
A retreat grounded in craft
Rome: Timeless Craft is built around rigorous storytelling practice. The city is not used as decoration but as an active teaching environment, supporting deeper engagement with narrative skill and confidence on the page.
2.
A complete narrative architecture
Across seven teaching sessions, writers work through the essential architecture of story, including character, conflict, place, theme, dialogue, scene, and the Major Dramatic Question. Each session builds carefully on the last.
3.
Teaching shaped by long practice
The Art of Writing methodology has been developed through decades of teaching writers internationally. The approach is refined, practical, and attentive to the realities of working on the page.
4.
A private Roman setting
Classes take place in a privately owned Roman apartment, opened to the group by its owner, a Roman woman with deep cultural knowledge and long ties to the city. The setting offers discretion, beauty, and a sense of being welcomed into Rome.
5.
Rome encountered through local guidance
Writers receive daily guidance to excellent local restaurants for shared lunches. These moments extend the work beyond the classroom, allowing conversation and observation to continue in the rhythm of Roman life.
6.
Historical context as creative resource
A Roman historical walking tour provides essential context and narrative depth. Writers engage with the city’s political, artistic, and social layers, enriching how place operates within their work.
7.
Sense of place taught in situ
A guided writing walk through Rome focuses on atmosphere, specificity, and movement. Writers learn to treat place as an active force that shapes character and story.
8.
Opening and closing rituals
The retreat is framed by a welcome aperitivo and opening dinner, and a final shared dinner at week’s end. These gatherings establish trust, continuity, and a shared sense of purpose.
9.
Connection to Roman life
Participants are introduced to Roman locals and cultural figures, offering insight into how the city is lived rather than observed. These encounters inform the writing in subtle and enduring ways.
10.
A page to screen perspective
A special session with a London and Italy based film director explores the movement of story from page to screen. Writers gain insight into adaptation, visual storytelling, and narrative translation across forms.
Course Program
Our Success Stories
Scenes from previous retreats
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