Summary

Learn the basics of creative and autobiographical writing and flesh out your own writing project. We work with inspiring writing prompts, short theory units, and varied writing exercises.

What you will learn specifically: You will receive creative tools that will help you generate new ideas and topics and get into the flow of writing. You will learn how to give your characters polish, depth, and character.
You will practice weaving exciting stories. You will develop a complete story from a basic idea. You will learn how to turn memories into vivid scenes and how to fill your texts with suspense, emotion, and depth.

We will also take a look at the following genres: Autobiographical writing Novels and longer stories Crime fiction After the week: To help you continue your writing process, online coaching is available after your return.

In the afternoons, the focus is on exploring the surrounding area. Depending on your mood, you can stroll alone or in a group through the charming towns of Langres and Chaumont. Or perhaps you'll be drawn to nature: a walk in the woods, a trip to one of the four reservoirs, or a detour to the canal that connects the Marne and Saône rivers. Free days at your own pace—eventful, relaxed, and full of new impressions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is one of a total of 8 exciting themes for which I offer women's retreats. My name is Susanne Hoffmann and my project is called Chrysalide. I live and work in 52360 Celles-en-Bassigny, a small village in the Haute-Marne department. Here I offer women traveling alone in mid-life the opportunity to enjoy an inspiring and relaxing vacation in the French countryside.
The main language during the week is German, but depending on the topic and activity, there will of course also be French moments, with translation always provided. On fixed dates throughout the year, I offer oasis days and women's retreats on specific topics, where 2-3 women share a house and organize their vacation together.
If you prefer to organize your own time on vacation or the dates don't suit you, all of the themes can also be booked as individual stays. Simply write to me with your desired dates and interests. To discover all other themes and dates: go to the home page and select "France >>> "Grand Est".

Arrival and departure days are always Sundays.
Please also take advantage of the opportunity for a free introductory meeting via video chat (WhatsApp, Teams, or Zoom). I can answer any questions you may have and we can see together whether my offer is right for you. Feel free to write to me here under "Contact provider" with a suggested date.

The price of €1,200 quoted here includes a commission for the operator of this website. It may therefore be worth looking around for something else.

There is a discount for two participants who arrive together (friend, sister, daughter...) and share a room. As there are only five single rooms available, it is advisable to register early.
So, now I look forward to meeting you soon!
A bientôt :-)

The retreat at a glance

The most important facts in a nutshell:

Categories: Consciousness, soul, senses & spirit, Mindfulness, Creative Retreats, Creative Writing, Communication, Detox Retreats
Date: Apr | Aug | Oct
Language(s): French, German
Level: Beginner
Group Size: 4
Place: Celles-en-Bassigny, France
Accommodation: Overnight stay included
Catering: Half board
Services: 2-3 hours of daily writing workshop

Accommodation in a single room

Breakfast and one hot meal per day

French country life just a 3-hour drive from the German-French border

Can also be booked as a single stay throughout the year (without half board), please contact me for more information!

A dog may be brought along with the consent of the other participants.

Extension days are available upon request.

Accommodation

The participants share two spacious houses, where we use the kitchen and living room for our joint activities. Each participant has a single room, and the bathroom facilities, living room, and dining area are shared.

If you would like to bring additional people, please let me know. The price depends on the length of stay and the number of people. Pets are welcome on request and for a small fee.

Catering

The organizer will provide croissants and/or baguettes for breakfast. Coffee, tea, butter, jam, and milk will be available. The hot main meal will be served at noon or in the evening, as agreed upon by the group. Either the group will cook together or the organizer will have food delivered. If you have any allergies or intolerances, there are two kitchens available for you to prepare your own meals. There are smaller and larger shopping facilities within a radius of 10 to 20 km. Please note that this is not a hotel and only the above-mentioned items are provided. Participants are asked to bring their own fruit, snacks, and specific food and drinks according to their preferences.

sequence

The writing workshop takes place every morning, leaving plenty of time to explore the surrounding area.

Arrival

The easiest way to get there is by car, just 3.5 hours from Saarbrücken and Freiburg, 5 hours from Cologne and Frankfurt, and 7 hours from Dortmund and Munich. Just look it up on Google Maps: 52360 Celles en Bassigny

Traveling by train is theoretically possible, but in practice it is likely to be rather complicated. The nearest train station is Culmont/Chalindrey. However, there is a well-functioning carpooling service (blablacar) within France, which works really well! As we are a family business, we ask for your understanding that we do not offer any transportation services.

Rue de la Planche 3, 52360 Celles-en-Bassigny, Grand-Est, France

Cancellation policy

If you cancel up to 60 days before arrival, you will receive a 95% refund of the booking price.
If you cancel up to 30 days before arrival, you will receive a 50% refund of the booking price.
After this, the booking is non-refundable.

In the event of a last-minute cancellation less than 30 days prior to arrival, the full price will be charged. However, in this case, I am happy to offer you the opportunity to participate on another date. Perhaps you also have travel cancellation insurance.