The Writer’s Studio On The Amalfi Coast Positano™

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Dates & Pricing

Join us at Cooking Vacations for The Writers Studio in gorgeous Positano on the Amalfi Coast. This extraordinary Literary & Culinary Week, is set for October 11 to 17, 2024.  Through the use of unique in-class exercises and assignments, you will learn how to make your pages come alive. We provide a safe environment where you can write, expand, surprise, delight, free your creativity, and give a gift to your soul. And, learn the favorite recipes of John Steinbeck, Axel Munthe, D.H. Lawrence, Shelly Greene, and Gore Vidal.

Join our intimate small group of writers in sunny Positano – a destination that has attracted so many writers, artists and poets throughout time.  Our writing studio offers a place where you can relax, focus, learn and meet other writers in a beautiful and safe creative place.

You will learn about developing character, place, dialogue and interesting detail, and how to select those things that will advance and help shape a story for fiction or non-fiction and food & travel writing. You will also have a chance to see how others respond to your work, through kind but honest critiquing. You will discover what techniques work best for you. Best of all, you will be given tools that you can continue to use at home. Our goal is for you to come away with a draft for a finished piece. There’s something about being away from home that can allow us to tap into our creativity in ways we never have before. Join our small group and see what you will discover about yourself. This small, intimate group will be limited to 8 participants. Non-writer companions are welcome and might like to choose a variety of add-on activities from hands-on cooking classes, watercolor painting, and ceramic making while their co-traveler is writing. Learn about the art of writing in this exclusive Writers’ Studio, which includes hands-on cooking classes too. Lauren is a published food & travel journalist, loves to travel and write, and of course loves Italian food!!!

A Note On Lauren  

Lauren splits her time between Boston and Positano on the Amalfi Coast. When she’s not in the kitchen cooking at Cooking Vacations, she is writing. Lauren writes and photographs for Tastes Of Italia Magazine every month. As the Italian correspondent, she travels Italy’s 20 Regions covering interesting food & cooking, artisan producers, slow food advocators, food purveyors and all good things Italian-then puts it all into words and pictures.  Food lover, cook, pastry baker and host, she keeps everyone in the know with her food stories that are published in America’s most beloved magazine dedicated to Italy’s food and cuisine. Presently she is finishing her story and recipe recounting her life in Italy, which will be available for purchase soon. Be guided through learning new writing skills and the process of how to transform the seed of an idea into an article, short story or even the beginning of a book. Learn how to harness the inspiration provided by the gorgeous surroundings of the Amalfi Coast and ensure the writing process is a joyful one. Also learn how to pitch your writing for publishing houses or self-publishing routes.

Get Writing – A Literary Week with a little cooking & touring too!

Wake up every morning in sunny Positano on the sea, while soaking up inspiration, expanding your writing skills and agree with yourself to take your desire to write seriously. This course will help you find your voice, grow in confidence and give you the writing tools you need to continue.

The Writer’s Studio

In talking about being a writer Lauren says, “There is nothing more powerful than being a writer within a group of creative people. Although writing is an alone art form, your best companion is, ‘Escaping Into The Open’ by Elizabeth Berg.” Discuss and learn how to polish your writing and get it in the hands of publishers with Lauren in beautiful Positano. While you are there, enjoy not only a incredible stay at a seaside villa property hotel and the sumptuous cooking classes.

,but also the exclusive writing workshops. You will focus on how to get started; how to write honestly and using your own voice; and how edit your own work. You will also learn inspirational techniques to keep writer’s block at bay and ensure writing is a natural and joyful process every single day. You will return home with a finished piece of work, either an article, short story or a narrative essay based on your stay in Positano. The workshop will be structured in this way:

• Three / 3-hour Writers’ Studios from 3 to 6pm. Each day students will be given an exercise to complete for the following day.
• Participants will have free time to prepare their finished pieces to be read aloud on the last day.

This workshop will teach you about what techniques work best for you as a writer. You will also have a chance to see how others respond to your work, through kind but honest critiquing. Best of all, you will be given tools that you can continue to use at home. There’s something about being away from home that allows us to tap into our creativity in ways we never have before. Come to Italy and see what you discover about yourself. *No pre-written work or manuscripts can be read outside of the group or sent on to publishers during the Writer’s Studio. Manuscripts outside of the studio’s work is not included.

Positano Accommodations

The attractive B&B or 3-Star property accommodations include rooms with a town and sea view balcony, ensuite private bath, in-room safe, mini-bar, hair dryers and air conditioning. Each room offers a Mediterranean atmosphere decorated with pastel frescoes and Amalfi coast ceramic tiles in azzurra blue and the natural cool colors of the region. There is a concierge, daily continental breakfast served in the common breakfast room is included, and free internet in the common area is also included. This property is just by the piazza and has an elevator. Each morning a tasty International buffet breakfast is served with cappuccino, caffè, tea, fresh Italian croissants, assorted seasonal pastries and breads, cakes and fruits to satisfy any palate. The knowledgeable staff is available 24 hours to answer questions, give advice and offer every comfort you might imagine.

Property Photos & Pricing

Positano Cooking Classes

Lauren loves to cook! Tie on your aprons for a hands-on cooking class that will bring you into the kitchen with our Executive Chef who guides each guest in hands-on cooking while sharing his knowledge on local regional cuisine. Discover how to create authentic southern Italian foods, learning the important cooking techniques for each recipe. In each hands-on cooking class you will prepare an antipasto, pasta or risotto, fish or meat or vegetarian main course, and a delicious dessert. Our Chef advocates the healthy Mediterranean diet using only fresh organic vegetables from the garden and locally produced extra virgin first-cold-pressed olive oil. Dinner follows as everyone joins together at the table to enjoy the foods that were made in class. A toast of local red or white wine is included. The warm sun and rich soil of southern Italy, along with the sea, provide the perfect climate for healthy vegetables and fruits to grow 12 months per year. After each class, everyone enjoys eating the food that was prepared in class accompanied with a glass of local red or white wine.

Positano~ “It’s A Dream Place,” John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck lived in Positano in 1953 and wrote, “Positano bites deep, it’s a dream place, that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.”  Positano is a little Moorish-style village, discovered by American and British troops at the end of World War II. Its small winding streets are filled with tiny cafés, terraces, and artisan shops selling ceramics, limoncello and antiques. In the 10th century, Positano was part of Amalfi’s Maritime Republic and rivalled Venice as an important mercantile power. It was an important center during the 16th and 17th centuries, when its ships traded in the Near and Middle East, carrying spices, silks and precious woods. The majolica dome, Positano’s landmark, is that of the Chiesa Madre, or the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta. It has a green and yellow majolica dome, topped by a cupola. It was built on the site of a former Benedictine Abbey of Saint Vito, a 13th-century Romanesque structure, and was almost completely rebuilt in 1700. Through the years it has been a magnet for writers, artists, musicians and artists during the Grand Tour.

Positano, Amalfi Coast – Writing & Cooking  

October 11 to 17, 2021 – 6 Nights & 7 Days

Saturday: Welcome To The Writer’s Studio~ Chef’s Tasting Dinner

• Pick-up and transfer from Naples airport or train station to the property.
• Arrival, check in, refresh and relax. Welcome snacks and aperitivo drinks upon arrival.
• Read over the contents of your Welcome Bag including helpful information that will acquaint you with the area and outline your Writing program. Also included are your Chef’s apron, general information on landmarks, and our “Positano Hot Pick list.”
• Chef’s Tasting Dinner at our favorite local restaurant. Dine on award-winning southern regional Italian food set in charming surroundings that overlook the panoramic Amalfi Coast. (Wine, drinks, grappa and an assortment of after dinner digestives are not included, and are available at a surcharge).  Everyone has the chance to introduce themselves and tell a little bit of their background.  A reading follows to spark the group’s creativity and set the mood.  You’ll be given your first writing assignment.

Sunday: Boat Cruise To Capri & Guided Writer’s Tour Walking Tour

• Breakfast is served.
• Sail to Capri for a full-day visit to the Isle of Capri, where you can choose to see the Blue Grotto – the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, or stroll along the port. The Blue Grotto has a special cavern entrance where the sunlight reflects on the water in the cave, tingeing it a dramatic Mediterranean cerulean shade of blue. Capri is Italy’s most popular and well-known seaside island and is just twenty minutes away. Once in the port of Capri, you can choose to take the funicular up to the famous Piazza Umberto. The square, better known as ‘la piazzetta’, is perched high above the sea and offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Naples and Ischia. At the main Piazza, you will find many designer shops and luxury boutiques or you can simply sit at a café and enjoy a gelato or Prosecco Mimosa.
• Meet for a Writer’s Walking Tour lead by our Capri guide Annarita and follow in the footsteps of Pablo Neruda, Oscar Wilde and Norman Douglas. Visit the villa of Axel Munthe, who wrote his book, The Villa Of San Michele from this peaceful site. Readings included and inspirational techniques included to open the heart and mind and get you writing!
• Following the tour, explore Anacapri, a favorite place on Capri is Anacapri. This old world village that once captured the hearts of writers, artists and poets is dainty, delicate and quiet. Anacapri, the highest point on the island, virtually carries you back in time. Walk through narrow streets lined with Grecian-style whitewashed villas, ancient churches, and small bookshops. From Anacapri, take the chair lift up to Monte Solaro; pass the castle of Barbarosso, fields of Capri flowers and marvel at a clear blue sky that seems to turn 360 degrees above you.
• This full day excursion departs from Positano port at 9:00am, the boat continues around the island and you will be able to see the Natural Arch, White, Green and Blue Grotto lasting approximately 3 hours, and then docks in Marina Grande approximately at 12noon and you have 4 hours on the island to explore. Your Captain will explain your meeting point please be on time for your departure.  (If you suffer from seasickness let us know and we will put you on the Positano Jet which takes 25 to 30 minutes each way, without the Capri Island tour by boat).
• *For fun and after your Villa San Michele visit, venture up into the chair lift off the Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri for an inspiring lift to the highest viewpoint on the island. Dinner on your own. Your Welcome bag has a Restaurant Hot Pick with suggestions.

Monday: Morning Free & Afternoon Writer’s Studio

• Breakfast is served.
• Spend the morning observing and writing.
• Writer’s Studio ~ Introduction & Character: In the afternoon at 3pm, meet for your writing workshop. 3 hours approx.
• Next day’s writing assignment is given.
• Dinner follows on your own.

Tuesday: Morning Free & Afternoon Writer’s Studio

• Breakfast is served.
• Spend the morning observing and writing.
  Writer’s Studio ~ Dialogue: In the afternoon at 3pm, meet for your writing workshop. 3 hours approx.
• Next day’s writing assignment is given.
• Dinner follows on your own.
  

  Wednesday: Morning Cooking Class & Afternoon Free

• Breakfast is served.
• Morning Cooking Class.  Spend the morning slicing, dicing in our hands-on cooking class.  While you are cooking, sharing the kitchen and interacting with other guests, take time to observe.  Keep your journal nearby and write your observations on the characters, dialogue, details, sounds, sites and smells of the cooking class.  hands-on cooking class featuring seasonal ingredients in regional recipes. We will prepare an appetizer, pasta, fish, meat or vegetarian main course and a sweet dessert. Everyone joins together at the table to enjoy the foods made in class for our farewell dinner. Toast with a glass of local red or white wine, included. Raise your glass and salute to all!
• Olive Oil & Wine Tasting with tastings & discussion. You will taste Cooking Vacations’ Extra Virgin First Cold-Pressed olive oil drizzled over local bread cooked in a wood oven. Informal tastings & discussions included.
• Afternoon off to spend time alone, writing and developing your piece.
• Dinner follows on your own.
  

  Thursday: Morning Free & Afternoon Writer’s Studio

• Breakfast is served.
• Spend the morning observing and writing.
• Writer’s Studio ~ Description, Detail & Place: In the afternoon at 3pm, meet for your writing workshop. 3 hours approx.
• Dinner follows and everyone dines together.

Friday: Check Out & Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Departure transfer to airport or train station. Ciao e a presto!