A Writing Retreat
with Richard Babcock & Gioia Diliberto
May 8-14, 2027
Bordeaux, France
THE CREATIVE SPARK
Take your writing to a new level of creativity and accomplishment in immersive workshops and focused private consultations. For three hours every morning, we will discuss those elements of craft that are crucial to vivid, compelling writing and practice how to achieve them in generative exercises. Your afternoons will be free to work on your own projects, or explore the countryside for inspiration. During the week, each participant will meet with either Gioia or Dick for a deeper consideration of their work and goals for the future.
About Richard
RICHARD BABCOCK trained as a lawyer, but he has spent his career as a writer and editor, moving between fiction and nonfiction. He was a top editor at New Yorkmagazine and editor in chief of Chicago. At both magazines, he was known for helping to produce rich, dramatic narratives. On the side, he wrote and published three novels. Since leaving magazine editing, he has taught writing at Northwestern and worked as a collaborator and editor on more than half a dozen books and memoirs by other writers. His latest novel, A Small Disturbance on the Far Horizon, came out in July 2025.
Books by Richard
About Gioia
GIOIA DILIBERTO is the author of eight books –three historical novels and five nonfiction narratives –and a play. Her work, which focuses on women’s lives, has been praised for combining rich storytelling and literary grace with deep research to bring alive worlds as varied as Jazz Age Paris, nineteenth century Chicago, Belle Epoque Paris, disco era Manhattan, and Prohibition New York. Her books have been translated into several languages, and her articles and reviews have appeared in many publications from The New York Times and Vanity Fairto Smithsonian and The Wall Street Journal.She also teaches graduate writing at Northwestern University.
Books by Gioia
Share a château with eight other writers for a week of creative splendor in the Bordeaux vineyards.
Delicious French meals will be prepared for you daily, infusing you with the joie de vivre of the region.
To maximize your writing time, breakfasts and our chef-prepared lunches are grab and go. In the evening, our chef prepares exquisite sit-down dinners.
In your spare time, enjoy a dip in the pool, hone your writing in cozy corners of the estate, or curl up with a great book in one of the reading rooms.
Activities during your retreat
An optional guided stroll through the château’s vineyard and a private tasting of its wines is offered.
Mid-week, we’ll tour the Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After seeing the fortress, we’ll visit the colorful farmer’s market on the Allée des Soupirs –the Alley of Sighs –and enjoy a restaurant lunch together.
Accommodations
The château features twelve bedrooms, each with a private, full bathroom.
Amenities include toiletries, blow-dyer, washer/dryer and scent-free detergent, printer, and wifi.
YOUR RETREAT INCLUDES:
6 nights in an ensuite private room
freshly prepared French meals
15 hours of workshop instruction
one-hour private critique
scheduled dining out & activities
local transportation
on-site concierge services
Please note that alcohol is not included
$5,950 each for a shared room with someone you know
$4,500 for a guest
After your application is accepted, a $1500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your seat.
“What a lovely experience from start to finish. Everything was so well done for us with such consideration for each of us. The view from my room was spectacular!”
– Mercilee Jenkins