Saint-Malo
Writers' Retreat
This summer, join us for a one-of-a-kind retreat to the northern coast of France where we will dive into your craft and a city worth remembering. You’ll spend your time working on something new and brave, visit a world-renowned monastery, connect with other writers, and, of course, eat good food while rubbing up against medieval history in the process. You won’t come back the same.
About the Workshop
This June, we’re traveling to St-Malo, France—the setting for the worldwide bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner All the Light We Cannot See—to host a writing retreat in the heart of medieval Europe, home of poets, novelists, monks, and more.
This coastal retreat offers great food, beautiful castles, rich history, and wonderful beaches. We’ll walk, talk, write, and explore our best work we’ve yet to create.
Why Join the Retreat?
- Immerse Yourself in History. Walk the streets of All the Light We Cannot See and visit the sites of inspiration for other famous writers and thinkers. How will the history and atmosphere inspire you?
- Expert Guidance. Learn from two WSJ bestselling authors, Joe Bunting, founder of thewritepractice.com, and Jeff Goins, who will lead you through five days of intensive writing and feedback that will help you transform yourself, inside and out, as a writer.
- Creative Connections. Connect with other writers on the retreat who share your passion for the written word and will help contribute to your creative journey. This retreat is not just about improving you but about offering a place for you to speak into the lives of others and form lifelong literary connections and friendships.
- Exclusive Workshops. Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, you’ll grow as a writer in a sixteenth-century French chateau we’ve reserved specifically for the event, the result of which will lead to a finished short-form piece ready to be published.
- Cultural Immersion. From a guided tour of the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey to exploring a WII fortress to walking the streets of this walled city, you’ll immerse yourself in what it was like to be part of French feudal society centuries ago.
The St-Malo Writers’ Retreat is an exploration of a whole new way of being. Join us to turn your writing dreams into reality amidst the unforgettable views of the beaches of Brittany, sacred cathedrals and medieval castles, cobblestone streets, and much, much more.
Every moment we share together prepares you for what’s to come as a writer.
Your Hosts
Schedule
Subject to change!
June 15: Welcome & All the Light We Cannot See Tour
- 3 p.m.—Arrival and registration at Dinard Chateau
- 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.—Guided tour of Saint-Malo’s pirate (yes, pirate!) and literary history (including some of the key points from All the Light We Cannot See)
- 7 p.m.—Welcome dinner and introductions
June 16: Workshops and Writing Time at the Chateau
- 10 a.m.—Workshop #1
- 12 p.m.—Lunch
- 1 p.m.—Workshop #2
- 3 p.m.—Group feedback and discussion
- Evening—Free time
- 9 p.m.—Optional pub gathering in Saint-Malo
June 17: Workshops and Trip to Mont-Saint-Michel
- 8 a.m.—Travel to Mont-Saint Michel, the famous seaside abbey rising out of the Normandy coastline
- 2 p.m.—Return to chateau
- 4 p.m.—Workshop #3
- 7 p.m.—Group dinner
June 18: Free Day
Choose your own adventure:
- Take a ferry to Guernsey island, home of Victor Hugo while he was exiled, where he wrote Les Miserables
- Travel to the beaches of Normandy where allied troops bled, died, and re-captured the beachheads of France in WWII
- Walk to the ruined WWII turrets surrounding Saint-Malo
- Or just read and write in our picturesque chateau
- Evening—Arrange your own dinner in Guernsey, then head back to Dinard Chateau
June 19: Closing Breakfast
- 10 a.m.—Closing Breakfast
- 12 p.m.—Retreat Conclusion
Accommodations
Lodging and most meals will be provided:
Stay at a Chateau on the Beach
You’ll stay in a beautiful beachside chateau, just a few steps from the ocean. Options to have your own room or share a room with another writer are available.
Delicious Cuisine
Our private chef, Talia, will serve French inspired cuisine with local wine pairings.
Inspiring Day Trips
Saint-Malo is a short trip to the breathtaking Mount Saint-Michel, the islands of Guernsey and Jersey where Victor Hugo wrote Les Miserables, and the beaches of Normandy.
Have a question about transportation, accommodation, or meals?
Email us at admin@thewritepractice.com.
Join Us for the Next Journey in Your Writing Career
We’re preparing a place for you in our Saint-Malo Writers’ Retreat. Join us!
This is a great chance to get inspired, explore the literary tradition, and transform into a better author with a community of fellow writers.
What Your Retreat Includes:
Expert Workshops. You’ll get premier level workshops by bestselling authors, tailored to helping you get inspired, make progress on your goals, and connect with other writers in Northern France.
Food and Fun. We will share several provided meals, an inspiring literary tour, and get transportation to Mont-Saint Michel.
Literary Immersion. We’ll immerse ourselves in Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, revel in the pirate history of Saint-Malo, and get inspired by the cuisine and culture of France.
And more surprises along the way!
The Cost
The cost for the retreat is $2,500 for a shared room (containing two double beds) or $3,500 for a single room (one queen or king bed) with an initial deposit of $500 due now to reserve your spot, half by December 31, 2025, and the remaining balance due thirty days before the retreat begins. If you pay in full, you will get a discount.
There are only ten spots available, though, and we do expect to sell out so please reserve your place now. Book today!
Are you Joining Us?
We’d love to meet you in France. Sign up now to join us on this transformative retreat.
See you there?