BONES OF A BOOK
An intensive, inspirational writing retreat for writers of mystery and thriller designed to kick-start a stalled novel or bring an idea to fruition with lectures, one-on-one support, brainstorming, problem solving, and bones!
Dates: April 7-14, 2019 (with April 14-17, 2019 option)
Note: This schedule is tentative and may be adjusted as needed. Writers have the option to skip excursions to spend extra time working on their projects at the hotel or in one of Italy’s many delightful public spaces.
Pre-Trip (dates TBD)
- Phone consultation about your book project
- Group online FAQ and mini Italian lesson
Day 1 Rome
- Arrival
- Piazza Navona meet and greet
- Writers share loglines
- Diana: “What is a Mystery Novel?”
- Traci: “Who is a Sleuth?”
- Welcome dinner at La Campana
Day 2 Rome
- Breakfast
- Diana: “Piecing Together Mystery Plots and Subplots”
- Writing Time
- Lunch
- Explore Rome: Spanish Steps, Via Condotti, Via del Corso, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Bar della Palma
- Brainstorm over aperitivi at Stravinskiy Bar
- Dinner
Day 3 Bologna
- Breakfast
- Traci and Diana meet individually with writers on the train
- Writing on train
- Piazza Maggiore, the Torre
- Lunch
- Explore Naples: Corpus Domini Church
- Traci and Diana meet individually with writers
- Writing on train
- Dinner
Day 4 Rome
- Breakfast
- Traci: “The Bones of a Mystery: The Three-Act Structure, First Sentences, and Scenes”
- Writing time
- Lunch
- Explore Rome: Colosseum, Forum, Mouth of Truth, Piazza Venezia,
- Brainstorm over aperitivi at rooftop bar
- Dinner
Day 5 Rome
- Breakfast
- Diana: “Creating Mysterious and Maniacal Characters”
- Traci: “Disguising Clues and Emphasizing Red Herrings”
- Writing time
- Lunch
- Explore Rome: Catacombe di Domitilla
- Brainstorm over aperitivi in Campo de Fiori
- Dinner
Day 6 Florence
- Breakfast
- Writing on train
- David
- Lunch
- Explore Florence: Ponte Vecchio, Piazza del Duomo, Galileos finger
- Writing on train
- Dinner
Day 7 Rome
- Breakfast
- Traci and Diana meet individually with writers
- Writing time
- Lunch
- Explore Rome: Villa Borghese, Capuchin Crypt
- Return to Amalfi
- Farewell dinner
Day 8 Rome
- Breakfast
- Departing writers to Fiumicino airport
- Writing time
- Lunch
- Explore Rome: Spanish Steps, Via Condotti, Via Veneto, Pantheon
- Brainstorm over bellini at Harry’s Bar
- Dinner
Day 9 Naples
- Breakfast
- Writing on train
- Caffè Gambrinus
- Lunch at Pizzeria Brandi (invented pizza margherita)
- Explore Naples: Cimitero delle Fontanelle
- Writing on train
- Dinner
Day 10 Rome
- Breakfast
- Explore Vatican City: Museums, the Vatican, the Cupola, papal tombs, Castel Sant’Angelo
- Lunch
- Traci and Diana meet individually with writers
- Writing time in Villa Borghese
- Brainstorm over aperitivi in Piazza Navona
- Farewell dinner
- The Trevi Fountain
Day 11
- Breakfast
- Depart for Fiumicino airport
Post-Trip
- Phone consultation about your book project (date TBD)
- Membership in our closed Facebook group for ongoing support