Tour: In Search of Beauty: A Writer's Workshop in Italy
Tour Summary
Come join us for this Workout, focused on bringing forward the muses which inspire your writing! This is the very best time of year to be in Assisi. comfortable days are balanced with splendid, cool evenings. We are proud to be working with award winning author and writing instructor Kevin “Mc” McIlvoy for this very special writer’s opportunity in the Umbrian hill village of Assisi.
About Kevin “Mc” McIlvoy: He has served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Writers and Writing Programs and the Council of Literary Magazines and Small Presses.He has been a manuscript reviewer for several publishers, including University of Nevada Press, University of New Mexico Press, University of Arizona Press, and Indiana University Press. He has taught for the Bread Loaf and University of Arizona and Writers at Work national writing conferences.
For twenty-seven years he taught as Regents Professor of Creative Writing at New Mexico State University where he also served as editor in chief and fiction editor of the national literary magazine, Puerto del Sol. He has received a National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Fellowship. In 2005 he was a recipient of the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. He has published four novels, A Waltz, The Fifth Station, Little Peg, and Hyssop. His most recent book is a short story collection, The Complete History of New Mexico. Mc offers online instruction and book editing through his website, mcthebookmechanic.com. He is at work on a new story collection, 57 Octaves Below Middle C.
He incorporates the familiar workshop into a form of instruction he calls the “Workout,” an approach that addresses the inherent qualities of the story, essay, or poem, as well as the writer’s long-term goals.
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How will the Workout help me as a writer?
You will create within a supportive community of other writers.
With the guidance and encouragement of Mc’s perspective on your unique and special writing talent, you will bring new ideas to your writing.
You will exercise your “writing mind” in ways that will bring improvement and strength to your composing and revising processes.
You will experience Italy for ten days, surrounded by the beauty of the Umbrian hills and Assisi’s special creative energy.
Info
Basics
Price: $4400Duration: 10 days.
Travel: Arrive Rome Fiumicino airport Depart Rome Fiumicino airport NOTE: Round trip airfare from the US to Rome included. Departures from Central, Western and Pacific time zones add on to cost.
Tour Dates
May 14 - May 24, 2013Accommodations
Our participants will stay at a lovely four-star hotel located in the heart of the village of Assisi. The hotel’s exceptional location afford visitors easy access to all of the sites in this gorgeous hill town. Room accommodations are quoted for double rooms or twin rooms sharing accommodations. If you are interested in having a private single room, please contact Mc directly at 828-318-4456.
Included Services
Your Workout includes:
Round trip airfare from Asheville, NC to Rome (If joining the workshop from other cities across the US, please see note listed immediately below) Double/Twin room accommodations,including a varied breakfast buffet each morning Welcome reception for the group on the first evening at the hotel Mc’s expertise for the general group sessions and for each of the thirty minute critique sessions scheduled during the early part of the workshop. Lunch at the hotel on the first day of the Workout “Meet and greet” at the Rome airport by group leader Transfers to and from Assisi and the Rome Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino – Airport Farewell dinner on final night of the Workout for the group in Assisi Full-time dedicated group leader for assistance and support during your time in AssisiAdd on airfare costs for departures other than Asheville? Please contact Private Italy Tours representative on 910-575-6735 or 201-787-7487 for further details.
Single Supplement? For those wishing to have a private room during the workout, a single supplement of $600.00 will be added to the workout cost below.
Add-on costs for special arrangement coaching sessions? Please contact Mc directly on 828-318-4456.
Itinerary
Our participants will stay at the gorgeous Hotel Giotto in the center of Assisi, just a few steps from the Basilica of St. Francis and the many sites of this historic and inspirational Umbrian hill village.
The Workout schedule offers a balance of writing time with Mc, and individual coaching sessions, both included with the price of the Workout. He will offer several options for special arrangement sessions as well.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Writing Workout participants depart Asheville (or alternative departure cities) for Rome, Italy
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Group arrives in Rome, Fiumicino Airport
Note: All participants must be at Rome’s Fiumicino airport no later than 11:30AM this morning Further details about the meeting point for the group will be sent in advance of the Workouts
Transfer with Mark Smith, group leader, to the Hotel Giotto in Assisi
(about two hours, with stops for restroom, etc. along the way)
Register and check in to rooms at hotel
Afternoon open for explorations or relaxation
6:00PM Group reception, terrace, Hotel Giotto, Assisi
Clients are on their own for dinner this evening
Thursday, May 16, 2013
8:00AM Group breakfast and opening remarks by Mc
9:00AM – 12:00 Noon Writing Assessment sessions with Mc (30 minutes each)
12:00 Noon – 1:30PM Lunch (at hotel, included for the group)
2:00PM – 8:00PM Writing Assessment Sessions with Mc
Participants are on their own for dinner this evening
Friday, May 17, 2013
9:00AM – 11:30AM Group One Writing Workout
12:30PM – 1:30PM Lunch (on your own-please see further details about meal pricing listed below)
2:00PM – 4:30PM Group Two Writing Workout
5:00PM – 8:00PM Writing Assessment sessions with Mc
Participants are on their own for dinner this evening
Saturday, May 18, 2013
9:00AM – 12:30 Noon Writing Assessment sessions (30 minutes each) with Mc
12:30 Noon – 1:30PM Lunch (on your own)
2:00PM – 3:00PM Assessment sessions (30 minutes each) with Mc
3:00PM – 5:00PM General Writing Workout, all participants, with Mc at hotel
5:00PM – 8:00PM Special Arrangement Coaching Sessions (1 Hour each) with Mc.
Participants are on their own for dinner this evening
Sunday, May 19, 2013
9:00AM – 11:30AM Group One Writing Workout
12:30PM – 1:30PM Lunch (on your own)
2:00PM – 4:30PM Group Two Writing Workout
5:00PM – 8:00PM Special Arrangement Coaching Sessions (1 Hour each) with Mc
Participants are on their own for dinner this evening
Monday, May 20, 2013
“The Hills of Umbria”- A visit to Gubbio
Depart Assisi at 9:00AM (Mark Smith, group leader, will provide an overview of Gubbio’s history as we travel to the town)
Morning excursion with group to the village of Gubbio, about an hour and 10 minutes north of Assisi
10:45AM arrive Gubbio
Mc lecture (“Disegno: How Writers Think about Invention and Imaginative Transformation”) at the Roman amphitheater ruins near Gubbio. Bus transfer to Main Square in Gubbio at conclusion of lecture
Lunch – participants are on their own for lunch, then free to explore the village on their own
4:30PM Return to Assisi
7:00PM Dinner-participants are on their own for dinner this evening
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
9:00AM – 11:30AM Group One Writing Workout
12:30PM – 1:30PM Lunch (on your own)
2:00PM – 4:30PM Group Two Writing Workout
5:00PM – 8:00PM Special Arrangement Coaching Sessions with Mc
Participants are on their own for dinner this evening
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
9:00AM – 11:30AM Group One Workout
12:30PM – 1:30PM Lunch (on your own)
2:00PM – 4:30PM Group Two Workout
5:00PM – 8:00PM Special Arrangement Coaching Sessions with Mc
Participants are on their own for dinner this evening
Thursday, May 23, 2013
9:00AM – 11:30AM Group One Writing Workout
12:30PM – 1:30PM Lunch (on your own)
2:00PM – 4:30PM Group Two Writing Workout
7:00PM Dinner – Group farewell dinner on the terrace of Hotel Giotto
Friday, May 24, 2013
Early morning bus departure from hotel and transfer to Fiumicino Airport in Rome for
return flights to Asheville
Participants not scheduled for feedback sessions are encouraged to use their time to explore the village of Assisi or take advantage of this open time to write