Villeferry is the name of the tiny village where we had our writing retreat last week. L’Atelier Writers is the brainchild of writers Michelle Bailat-Jones, Laura McCune-Poplin and Sara Johnson Allen, who did their MFA together in the US ten years ago. Now all of them are busy working mothers as well as writers, so they know just how difficult it is to find the right physical and mental space to dedicate yourself to writing, especially long forms of writing such as novels. They found a quiet place in the Bourgogne, a grouping of restored village houses set on a slope, and offer the perfect mix of quirkiness, tranquility, emotional support and bookish discussion.
We had mornings and afternoons dedicated to the lonely pursuit of word count and polishing of drafts, lively lunchtime discussions of craft and goal-setting, plus readings and literary parlour games in the evening. I rediscovered the joy of writing and of community. It was just what I needed at this difficult period of transition in my life and has made me more determined than ever.
I am tempted to keep it all a secret, so that it maintains its cosy, intimate feel in years to come. Here are some pictures to show you what ‘appalling’ conditions I had to work in…
Looks like a little piece of heaven 🙂
Beautiful pictures. Sounds like a reinvigorating weekend – it must have come at the right time for you.
I’m glad you didn’t keep it a secret Marina. I want to go there! Good luck with all your plans right now.
Looks lovely! I am planning a writers’ retreat in Ireland for 2017, so I’m excited about that.
I’m consumed with envy! What a beautiful place and what a wonderful time. I can imagine this seemed like a kind of refuge from real life at the moment. Hope the move is not too traumatic – good luck!
This looks like hell on Earth, Marina. How you managed to put up with this environment even for a day, let alone several, is beyond my comprehension … ;D
Actually, I’d like to go there and sit in contemplative silence for a day or two. Then I might consider writing something!
I know, it was such a torture!!! Especially the thought of having to leave the place and return to real life.
What a perfectly dreadful spot. : )
Man. I want to go. Right now.
And I didn’t take any pictures of the meals (which some of my fellow participants did), or the wine we enjoyed…
Oh, God, that looks beautiful. Is the retreat very expensive?
You can find out more about it here: http://www.latelierwriters.org/
but of course you have to factor in additional costs such as travelling over here. For me, it was just a 3 hour drive from Geneva (albeit in pelting rain over the Jura, quite an adventure).
That drive sounds mildly terrifying…
What a lovely, lovely place, Marina Sofia! It does look absolutely heavenly! I can see how it’d be absolutely perfect for a writing retreat, and I’m so glad that you had that opportunity!
Poor you! Still, one must suffer for one’s art… 😉
Some of the photos (the first ones) make the place look very new, but then others don’t. When was this built? I especially liked the last photo.
It’s a rather lovely story: a group of schoolteachers banded together and bought a series of abandoned buildings in this small village (old stone houses, the former workshops and homes of the sabot-maker, the baker, the butcher etc.) and the surrounding land. They renovated the older buildings, added some new ones, including some cabins in the woods, and a restaurant, and furnished it with an eclectic mix of furniture and objects collected on their travels, so it’s a mix of old and new.
OK now I understand, so it’s several buildings. That makes sense
Welcome to France’s hidden gems! It looks fantastic, quiet. I love all the pictures and I’d love to have a reading binge in such a place.
It was very remote – nearest shop 8km away, nearest restaurant 9km… But there were certainly plenty of books for a reading binge, as well as a reading nook in my room.
The description fits the word “retreat” 🙂
This will never do! Don’t you know that artists have to suffer?
I suffered with a sore throat and migraine during my stay there – does that count?
Certainly! That’s suffering as far as I’m concerned. 🙂
So so so so so so jealous!
Looks idyllic — you lucky, lucky poisson!
That is absolutely beautiful. It all fits with what I imagine is the perfect place to live, not only write and read.
Now can I build a reading nook for myself? Not really when buildings would be the landscape outside the windows.
But wouldn’t it be lovely to be stranded there?