Creative Writing in Tuscany with Deborah Winter

Thursday 28th May to Thursday 4th June 2026

Enjoy A Week Creative Writing with Deborah

We’re delighted that writer and performance storyteller Deb Winter will be leading a Creative Writing course again this year. At the heart of Deb’s teaching is a genuine interest in each individual and a gift for inspiring others and valuing their unique voice. In the words of one beginner: ‘I found stories inside myself that I didn’t know were there. Gave me bags of confidence.’

A Creative Writing Workshop facilitator with over 30 years’ experience, Deb is loved for her warmth and enthusiasm and has a real gift for inspiring others to write. She runs lively, stimulating workshops full of ideas and laughter.

This is what previous participants have said:

‘I found the whole thing totally inspiring. Came away buzzing with ideas.’
‘I haven't had so much fun for years! Your energy and enthusiasm certainly got my grey cells working overtime and I very much appreciated your guidance.’
‘The best writing course I have ever been on. The exercises were inspirational.’
‘Deb puts everyone at ease. It was great to spend time with other people who love writing. There was so much laughter but I filled up so many notebooks too!’

From Deb: Do join us for what will be a thoroughly enjoyable week in beautiful, atmospheric Tuscany!

My aim is to inspire you to write and have more confidence in your voice as a writer. Beginners and experienced writers are equally welcome: all you need to bring is your imagination. Treat yourself to the luxury of time to concentrate on your writing and find the stories inside you that are waiting to be written. I’ll share tips, techniques and advice to guide you in the art of crafting a good story.

I use a variety of imaginative exercises to trigger ideas that over the years have helped students produce some wonderful pieces of writing. I do get unfailingly excellent feedback and people usually comment on how much fun they have had whilst getting a lot written. We’ll mainly write in a group setting, exploring different aspects of writing, but you can write at your own pace and can follow your own interests with complete flexibility, with the freedom to go off and scribble furiously on your own if you wish. I’ll build in some time to give one-to-one feedback on your writing where desired. All this combined with fascinating outings, wonderful food and an inspiring landscape rich in history and beauty.

Deb Winter, your tutor:

Deb has a first-class honours degree in English Literature and an M.A. in Poetry but much more importantly, loves teaching writing and bringing out the best in her students. Having dabbled in travel journalism to begin with, writing for the Independent, Deb then found her love of crafting prize-winning short stories. She has led Creative Writing courses for many years for the LEA and arts festivals in York, Somerset and Wales Over the last decade Deb has gained a widespread reputation as an oral storyteller of excellence and performs her original stories at festivals and arts events across the UK, including Aberystwyth Storytelling Festival, End of the Road Festival, On Land’s Edge, Swansea Fringe, Llangwm Literary Festival and many more. Deb won the Esyllt Harker Prize for women storytellers in Wales, performing her original story at Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival in 2023 to a standing ovation. Deb’s skill in re-imagining myths and traditional folk tales and engaging audiences with stories of emotional power guarantees you a special week with a unique tutor.

In 2021 Deb was one of four storytellers across Wales to be chosen to be a ‘Contemporary Cyfarwydd’ (Community Storyteller) to deliver, promote and develop storytelling. As part of her Cyfarwydd role, Deb worked on ‘green’ myths, inspired by a love of the wild and rising to the challenge of using storytelling to raise awareness of climate chaos. Deb also won a commission from Cultural Freelancers Wales to mentor six women across Wales who wanted to create new stories for a contemporary audience. With background in the voluntary sector, Deb is also active in using stories for ‘mental health and well-being’. During the pandemic, she was funded to bring ‘Stories to your Door’ to isolated people, standing in gardens telling stories to delighted recipients through an open window.

Locations & visits

EVERYTHING is included in the cost of your holiday: tuition, accommodation in a good sized double/twin room with en suite shower-room, all meals, plus pre-dinner aperitivi. Lunch will be taken out at local restaurants, and dinner will be served back at The Old Olive Press, where you will enjoy freshly home-made traditional Italian dishes.

A short drive by car the Medieval town of Fivizzano offers a wealth of interesting things to see, not forgetting the weekly Tuesday market which is when the town comes to life. During your stay you will have the opportunity to enjoy one evening a pizza at Pizzeria Medicea, with its extensive selection of pizzas. On your last evening we will drop you off in the square after dinner. On a warm summer evening Fivizzano comes alive! Go for a stroll, enjoy a gelato or even a digestivi in one of the many local bars.

From Fivizzano a few minutes trip by car takes you to the beautiful village of Verrucola with winding streets dominated by the castle. Here you will enjoy lunch at Ristorante Locanda al Castello. 30 minutes drive from Terenzano is Monte dei Bianchi. A small mountain village with remains of a monastery, and a recently restored monastic vineyard, Monastero dei Frati Bianchi, with spectacular views. This small family-run vineyard produces around 12,000 bottles a year. Between Terenzano and Monte dei Bianchi is the village of Codiponte where there is a delightful small Romanesque Church, with naïve carved stone column capitals. There is a fantastic Agriturismo nearby in Reusa, where after lunch you may relax by their private pool, and enjoy a glass of wine or two! 5 minutes drive from Terenzano is the now disused Carmelite Convent . The Convent has been recently restored after years of neglect. The complex is now used to host events, weddings, etc.

There will be five days of tuition and one non-tuition day during your holiday, where you will have the opportunity to visit the famous walled city of Lucca, birthplace of the opera composer Puccini. We will drop you off at Aulla railway station where you will take a direct train to Lucca, the journey should take one and a half hours and the ticket is included in the cost of your course.

Non-participating partners

We would like to welcome ‘non-participating partners’ or friends of people attending one of the courses but who do not wish to participate themselves. You will be able to accompany your partner on their various excursions, which are all to interesting historic locations, and enjoy lunch with them at local traditional restaurants. Or just relax and enjoy the local surroundings and walks.

Getting here

Flights are not included and you will need to book your own flights to Pisa. Many UK airports fly here including Heathrow, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol plus many more. We will collect you from Pisa Airport between 11 am and 1pm, a precise pick-up time will be organised closer to the date once we know all our guests arrival times. For guests arriving by train or if you are unable to make it to Pisa in time for collection you can travel to Aulla, which is our nearest mainline train station, where we will collect you. Transfers to Aulla are not included in the holiday. On the day of departure we depart for Pisa Airport shortly after breakfast at around 9 am. It takes approximately one and a half hours door to door. If you need to leave outside of these hours we can arrange transportation for you at an additional cost. If your flight is leaving later in the day, you are able to leave your luggage at Pisa Airport and spend a few hours sightseeing in Pisa. There is a shuttle service (People Mover) which departs for Pisa Centrale every few minutes. For guests wishing to arrive by car, we do not have a car park however there is on-street parking near by.

Cost of the Course

Included in the cost of your Creative Writing holiday:

• transportation; including transfers to and from Pisa airport and the mid-week excursion by train to Lucca
• all tuition fees and accommodation
• all meals including breakfast, lunch at restaurants on location, dinner at The Old Olive Press, aperitivi and wine

Single: £1650 single occupancy
Sharing: £1500 per person sharing (there is a £300 saving if you share!)

We look forward to welcome you to The Old Olive Press