TRAVEL, FOOD & WINE WRITING CLASSES
TRAVEL WRITING IN TUSCANYMay 19 - 25, 2013 in Montalcino, Italy with The Writer's Workshop - (nick@thewritersworkshop.net)
The green geometric patterns of the Tuscan landscape soothe the soul. The photo was taken from the garden of the hotel where we'll stay for the Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class.
THE COURSE - Travel writing, Food writing and Wine writing are some of the most appealing genres of nonfiction, calling on all of an author's skills—dramatic scenes, character sketches, concrete detail, point of view, scene by scene construction—to compose compelling, engaging travel narratives. This six-day intensive travel writing class will introduce you to essential techniques of travel, food and wine writing and give you expert, insider advice about how to submit and publish finished travel stories.
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In addition to learning these skills, you’ll dine at outstanding
restaurants, visit some of the world’s best wineries, and explore
fascinating historic sights. You’ll enjoy exclusive
behind-the-scenes tours unavailable to the general public. Best of
all, you’ll receive up-to-date story ideas from local industry
experts that you can turn into finished travel, food and wine
stories by the end of the course and submit to newspapers and
magazines for publication.
The six-day travel writing class will take place in Montalcino, one
of the most beautiful medieval hill towns in Italy, and the
epicenter of the nation's new wine and food scene. The cost will be
$2600 per person, including accommodations and most meals. (Single
supplement, $500 per person) Plane fare, transit to and from
Montalcino and some meals extra (see itinerary below).
To enroll,
please send me a non-refundable deposit of $800 to 201 Newell St.,
Seattle, WA 98109. Enrollment is limited to 10. For more
information, contact me at
nick@thewritersworkshop.net
or 206-284-7121. The balance for the class will be due April 1st.
After that date, there will be no refunds except in the case of
medical emergency.
Online Travel Writing Classes
INTRODUCTION TO TRAVEL WRITING CLASS - The romance of travel writing is easy to understand. Who wouldn’t like to go on an all-expense paid trip to a Hawaiian resort? How about traveling the Whiskey Trail through the American South, visiting the best micro distilleries? Or what about a food and wine tour of Argentina? These are all trips I have turned down recently, mostly from lack of time. Would you like to go in my place? Sign up for the travel writing class you’ll learn the techniques of travel writing which can lead to getting invited on these trips.
Travel writing is one of the most exciting genres of nonfiction,
calling on all of an author's skills—dramatic scenes, character
sketches, concrete detail, point of view, scene by scene
construction. Through readings, written assignments and individual
critiques, students in the travel writing course will gain a
practical grasp of these techniques. Class will discuss where to
market work. Six assignments including a 1,500- to 2,500-word travel
story and its revision. $500.
TRAVEL, FOOD AND WINE WRITING COURSE - TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
This course will give you an intensive introduction to the art and
practice of writing for story, allow you to experience the
incredible richness of the local wine and cuisine scene, and provide
time to explore this amazing place. Tentative itinerary:
SUNDAY - 6:00 p.m. - Welcoming dinner at La Fortezza, the 14th
century castle with wonderful wine bar and enoteca. Sample
regional wines, cheeses, meats and specialties as you get to know
the other participants.
MONDAY – 9 a.m. to noon - Introduction to Writing for Story,
discussion of travel writing, genres of travel writing (article,
essay, profile, etc.), story ideas. Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch - 2 p.m.
to 5 p.m. – Tour of Montalcino. Dinner on the terrace of a
Montalcino restaurant. (Breakfast and dinner provided.)
TUESDAY – 9 a.m. Visit historic Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey; tour
local Brunello producer; lunch at abbey; (Breakfast, lunch
provided.)
WEDNESDAY – 9 a.m. to noon - Lecture and discussion of scenes and
dramatic outlines.- Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch - 2
p.m. to 5 p.m. – Free time - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Cooking class
followed by wine tasting and dinner.
THURSDAY – 9 a.m. Leads and concrete detail, imagery. - 10 a.m. - noon - Draft
story. Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch. - 2 p.m. - Optional walk
through surrounding countryside. (Breakfast provided.)
FRIDAY – 9 a.m. to noon – Write, workshop stories - Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Discuss publication, writing query letters, course evaluation. - 7 p.m. - Class celebration at local restaurant. (Breakfast and dinner provided.
SATURDAY - Have breakfast, check out of the hotel, alas!
Channeling Hemingway, Blake Hoskins works on his story for the Travel Writing Class.
THE PLACE -
Located 25 miles south of Siena, Montalcino is an undiscovered gem
of a town set in the green hills of Tuscany. Best-known for its
robust Brunello di Montalcino, the town also boasts outstanding
restaurants, important architectural monuments like a 14th
century fortress and panoramic views of the rolling golden hills and
cypress-lined roads of Tuscany.
Founded in the 8th century, the town makes a great base
for exploring this lovely region, which includes olive oil
factories, famed Brunello di Montalcino wineries like Biondi-Santi
and Castello Banfi and the historic Sant Antimo monastery, founded
on an ancient road called the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route
between Florence, Rome and France. Local cuisine features wild boar,
hare (try the delicious Pappardelle alla Lepre), bruschetta,
Cannellini beans, grilled sausages, homemade pastas (such as “Pinci”
and Gnocchi with sage), pheasant in grape sauce, roast guinea hen
and the immense slabs of Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Montalcino is a
town built on the human scale, perfect for relaxing strolls, window
shopping, and late evening suppers. It epitomizes la dolce vita
of Tuscany.
Teresa Galli coaches Nicholas O'Connell, Writer's Workshop founder, on the finer points of making pasta, important research for the Travel, Food and Wine Writing class.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Double-occupancy rooms at three star hotel. Single rooms
available with a $500 supplement.
TO ENROLL:
Please send me a non-refundable deposit of $800 to 201 Newell St.,
Seattle, WA 98109, USA. Enrollment is limited to 10. Spouses,
partners or friends can attend the events and meals but not the
class for $1700, with a $700 deposit. For more information, contact
me at nick@Thewritersworkshop.net or 206-284-7121. Please sign up
early; the class likely will fill quickly.
This in-depth knowledge
of Europe quickly led to writing about it. Today, I contribute to
Newsweek, Gourmet, Condé Nast Traveler, Saveur, Food and Wine, The
Wine Spectator, Outside, GO, National Geographic Adventure, The New
York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Commonweal, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Westways, Sierra, and other
publications. I’ve written the following books, On Sacred Ground:
The Spirit of Place in Pacific Northwest Literature (2003), At
the Field's End: Interviews with 22 Pacific Northwest Writers
(1998), Contemporary Ecofiction, (1996), Beyond Risk:
Conversations with Climbers (1993).
In addition to working as a freelance travel writer, I moonlight as a winemaker, making a Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah under the Les Copains label. At one time I contemplated a career as a winemaker, but shelved the idea because I enjoyed writing and teaching too much. After completing my MFA in fiction writing and PhD in Literature at the University of Washington, I went on to create the university’s year-long program in Narrative Nonfiction in 1993, one of the first such programs in the country. After teaching in that program for a number of years, I founded www.thewritersworkshop.net, an online and on-campus writing program based in Seattle, Washington. This program allows me to indulge my passion for teaching small, personalized travel writing classes as well as introduce students to the incredibly rich history and culture of Provence, one of the crown jewels of this beautiful continent. For more: nick@thewritersworkshop.net
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TRAVEL WRITING CLASS:
Double-occupancy rooms at the Hotel dei Capitani in the medieval city. Single rooms available with a $500 supplement.
After a busy morning of travel and wine touring for the Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class, students enjoy lunch at one of the many outstanding restaurants in Tuscany.
TRANSPORTATION TO MONTALCINO, ITALY
The easiest way to get to Montalcino is to fly
in to Florence or Rome. From Rome or Florence, you can take a public
bus to Montalcino. It will take the better part of a day to do this,
so I’d advise flying in a day or so before our class and then making
your way to Montalcino. If
you’re on a tight schedule, you might consider taking a private
coach from the Rome airport to Montalcino. These are faster but
considerably more expensive.
If you have the time, stay for a night or two in either Rome or Florence. Both cities are simply amazing places, stuffed with art and history and stylish Italian culture.
FROM ROME:
If you’re traveling from Rome to Montalcino, take a
Sena or Sita bus from Rome to Siena. This costs about 20 euros and
takes three hours. The buses run every hour. From Siena, you can
take a Busfox to Montalcino. This takes 60 to 80 minutes, depending
on when you go, and costs about 3 euros. Bus travel is less frequent
on Sundays. For schedules, please take a look at the websites:
http://www.busfox.com/timetable/
FROM FLORENCE:
Take a bus to Siena, then a Busfox to Montalcino.
There are also hourly TRA-IN buses from Siena (1 hr.); a few require
a change at Buonconvento. The
bus terminus in
Montalcino is Piazza Cavour, a couple blocks from Hotel Dei
Capitani, where we’ll be staying.
http://www.busfox.com/timetable/
PRIVATE COACHES
Here are two possibilities, though many companies
offer this service. The key is splitting the cost by having more
than one person share it. You may be able to coordinate with other
classmates to make this happen.
http://www.airportconnection.it/
WHAT FORMER STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THE TRAVEL WRITING CLASS
You are the Domaine de la Mordorée rosé of writing teachers!
-Julie Ramos writes from West Nyack, New York.
What an amazing week in the most beautiful place on earth! Learning the craft of food, wine and travel writing with your excellent insight and instruction was so helpful. Thank you for organizing the dinners, excursions and wine tastings. I would recommend this travel writing adventure to anyone with a curiosity to learn what writing for this genre can entail.
- Michelle Morgando is a judge and chef from Las Vegas, Nevada.
I wanted to say thanks for an amazing travel writing trip! It keeps hitting me now just how special everything was, particularly meeting the winemakers…wow! Thanks so much for making the trip so memorable.
- Anne Banas is the Executive Editor of Smarter Travel
The Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class was so much fun that I find myself smiling whenever I think of it. The small class size is ideal for a seminar and even better for the excursions to the wineries and restaurants. Nick is extremely knowledge in all areas included in the seminar and is a marvelous host with a great sense of humor. It is obvious why the small “garage” wineries and the venerable estates alike warmly welcome Nick and his entourage. While not a fan of group travel in general, this travel writing class could not have been better. I highly recommend it to aspiring travel writers, Francophiles, and anyone who wants to enrich their appreciation of wine and food.
- Kate Jackson is a writer from Missoula, Montana.
James and Marcus howled with
laughter. Ann and Jack, heads crushed together, pored over photos.
Nick gestured wildly, indicating precisely what it is about Bordeaux
that speaks to his soul. Balash, the international party
boy/philosopher, snatched and drained half empty glasses. Out of the
corner of my eye I saw silver-haired Barbara tiptoe into the kitchen
in search of more crème brûlé. I felt the kind of relaxing smile you
feel at the end of a long day with people you know well. How did
this selection of strangers become so at ease with each other?...
http://www.thewritersworkshopreview.net/article.cgi?article_id
- Erin Byrne is a writer from the Seattle area.
I can’t thank you enough for our week in Saint-Émilion. Rosemary and I had so much fun. I learned so much about travel, writing, food, wine and good teaching. I am so grateful.
- Andy Hall is a freelance writer from Seattle, Washington.
I'm still smiling over our excellent St. Emilion travel writing adventure! Take care and thanks!
- Kristin DeCook is a freelance writer from Chicago.
Thank you for such a wonderful week - you are a master!
- Lauren Hirt is a freelance writer from Seattle, Washington.
The rustic twin towers of Montalcino overlook a landscape little changed in the last five centuries. The town's combination of outstanding restaurants, world-class wine and tranquil, unspoiled character makes it an ideal destination for the Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class.
| Nearby Pienza seems to grow out of the landscape like a native plant. It's one of many appealing historic destinations in the area, some of which we'll visit as part of the Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class. | |
