Fiction Writing
Fundamentals
A week-long fiction writing retreat in Tuscany, Italy
April 29th — May 6th 2026
What is Fiction Writing Fundamentals?
Fiction Writing Fundamentals is a week-long in-person writing retreat held in Tuscany, Italy, that will teach you everything you need to plan and start writing your fiction novel.
Open to writers of all levels, this retreat is designed for those who have an idea for a fiction novel but haven’t started writing yet, as well as those who have just begun and need support to make progress.
Throughout the retreat, you will be guided through each step of story development, from identifying genre, to exploring plot structure, and creating complex and three-dimensional characters your readers will love.
Unlock your creativity!
Join us for our Tuscan writing retreat from April 29th — May 6th 2026.
What you’ll be learning
Lesson 1
Finding inspiration, understanding themes, tropes, and genre.
Understanding genre, tropes and themes allows you to create impactful stories that resonate with your target audience.
Lesson 2
Creating three-dimensional characters, utilising character arcs, using voice, POV, and dialogue.
Characters are the backbone of our story, so creating realistic and well-developed characters is essential for engaging our readers.
Lesson 3
Understanding story structure, developing story beats, and learning your best approach to planning.
A strong story foundation is absolutely essential for creating dynamic and gripping stories that engage and satisfy readers.
Lesson 4
Building realistic worlds, developing magic systems, using setting as a character.
Establishing fullyl realised words adds depth to our storytelling and can hugely impact plot and characters.
Lesson 5
Perfecting internal monologue, descriptions, and prose, avoiding info dumping.
Perfecting your technical writing skills is vital to ensure your writing flows and engages readers.
Lesson 6
Finding your book’s opening, crafting a strong first chapter, and learning how to write to “the end”.
Where you open your story and how to develop it can be make or break, so it’s essential to get it right.
What’s included in your stay?
✔ 7 nights accommodation at an historic Tuscan estate and meals prepared by a private chef.
✔ Welcome and farewell dinner and cocktails. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks available daily.
✔ Traditional oven-baked pizza workshop. An on-site wine tour and tasting. Wine served with dinners.
✔ Full-day trip to historic San Gimignano; half-day trip to the Frantoio Pasquini oil mill.
✔ Exclusive use of the property, including common areas, the large natural garden, extensive vineyards, olive groves, swimming pool, and the private lake.
✔ Round-trip transfers at pre-arranged times from/to Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR).
✔ Fully staffed venue and private transportation between activities.
Meet your mentors
On this retreat you’ll be taught by not one but
two book editors and writing coaches.
Collectively, we have 20 years of experience and our own authorly insights to share.
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Book editor, writing coach, writer of mysteries and thrillers, previous in-house editor.Developing story ideas and seeing inspiration spark is one of Isobelle’s favourite parts of her job. Nurturing a writer’s creativity is what she is most passionate about. She wants to help you fall in love with your story so you feel excited and confident to start writing.
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Book editor, writing coach, speculative fiction author, PhD, MA, BA in Creative Writing.Rachel’s philosophy centers on the belief that everyone has the potential to write something great. Through education, focus, and creative learning, she empowers writers to transform their ideas into compelling narratives.
What we believe in
✔ Providing constructive and solutions-based feedback that motivates and inspires our writers.
✔ Teaching essential writing skills that can be used on repeat for every story you write.
✔ Nurturing creativity at all levels.
✔ Working on mindset and motivation so writing to “the end” feels as manageable as possible.
How we lead our lessons
✔ All our lessons are open discussion, which means there will be opportunities for Q&As and practical exercises.
✔ We will be working according to a workbook custom designed for the retreat. You can complete lesson exercises and makes notes (and take it home!)
✔ To make sure everyone is staying energised, there will be breaks between lessons to grab refreshments and stretch your legs.
✔ We believe in nurturing creativity and building confidence, so you will never be expected to share work or answer questions if you’re not ready.
Limited Spaces
Limited Spaces
In the interest of keeping our retreat personal and intimate, we have limited spaces available.
Join us for:
✔ A week of collaborative creative writing lessons with your fellow writers.
✔ Dedicated writing time so you can make significant progress in your planning and drafting.
✔ A week’s stay in a beautifully restored medieval estate in the heart of Tuscany, Italy.
✔ A week of Italian meals cooked by a private chef, local wines with dinner, and cocktails in the sun.
✔ Cultural immersion day trips to local sites.
✔ Wine tasting and pizza making workshops.
✔ And so much more!
This is for you if…
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You want to ignite your creativity in a relaxed setting where you can remove the burdens of daily distractions.
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You want to gain confidence in your writing skills so you can commit to your book and make progress.
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You want focused feedback on your writing and the chance to learn from two industry professionals.
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You want to be inspired by and learn alongside fellow writers and book lovers.
✺ Frequently Asked Questions ✺
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Guests travelling from the US, Canada, UK, EU, and/or Schengen member states may enter Italy for tourist purposes without a visa or travel authorisation. Please contact UpTrek (contact@uptrek.com) for further guidance.
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No! Once the number of guest reservations reaches the minimum number required for the retreat to become guaranteed, the host (UpTrek) charges the guests the cost of the retreat. Guests who reserved will be notified 48 hours in advance that their payment method on file is about to be charged.
This means you have plenty of time to prepare!
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You will arrive after 4:00 PM on April 29, 2026. Check-out is after breakfast, at 10:00 AM, on the last day, May 6, 2026.
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Please direct any questions you have to the team at UpTrek. You can contact them here: contact@uptrek.com.