The WriteTreat

A GENRE FICTION WRITER’S RETREAT, SOUTHWEST FRANCE, MAY 1–7, 2025

Enjoy 5 full days, and 6 nights in a beautiful French estate house on 14 acres of land in the South of France with 8 other like-minded authors.

Relax as you’re cared for by fun, friendly hosts and top local chefs.

Level up with personalised writing, publishing, and marketing workshops led by an accomplished sci-fi/fantasy/romance author guest speaker who’s published in both trad and indie, and who literally wrote the book on author productivity.

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Why WriteTreat Yourself?

Well honestly, I think a better question is why not?

  • You want to uplift and focus your energy and attention on your blooming writing career.
  • You’ve wondered what to do after that manuscript (or several) are complete.
  • You want some real, honest, easy-going companionship with a close-knit group of like-minded authors that has more meaning than a social media comment thread or a heart emoji.
  • You want a living breathing roadmap to enjoyable success in the genre fiction publishing space that can answer your questions thoroughly and point your next steps in a confident, clear direction.
  • You want a high-end, curated experience that’ll transform the way you see writing and publishing for the rest of your life.
Book A Spot Already…

Who is this for?

Not everyone.
Spots are limited to 8 – 10 attendees.

In fact, you’re going to be personally interviewed before we confirm your booking. If there’s something you want at the WriteTreat that we can provide, we’re going to go ahead and make it happen for you, and if it doesn’t seem like the WriteTreat is a perfect fit for you, we’ll say so right away.

It’s not for you if…

  • You aren’t a genre fiction writer that has completed at least one manuscript
  • You don’t enjoy meeting other writers and industry professionals
  • You always take yourself and life extremely seriously and never have a good time
  • You don’t enjoy and value the finer things in life
Book Now

Venue

The Unique Gindou Luxury Estate in Gindou France

With luxurious levels of space, the retreat house sits on 15 acres of French countryside, complete with real horses roaming the surrounding landscape.

Garden and Grounds

15 beautiful acres. Horses are kept on the bottom fields, and though they aren’t for riding it is fun to watch them gallop across the view. Two jacuzzis, one under cover and one with a fantastic view from the middle terrace, There is a sauna, barbecue zone, and we are developing more activity areas.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Informal and family style catering mixed with Local chefs to attend to you! Hampers organised for writing inspiration day trips

Wifi And Equipment

Wifi, TVs, Cinema room, Board games, Pool table, 2x Chess tables… if you have any ideas of what else we would ideally provide, let us know!

Concierge & Housekeeping

We will help keep the place clean & tidy, do laundry, do supermarket/special needs runs in advance of arrival (if needed), book restaurants, etc… we’ll your make your stay easy, productive, and relaxing.

Pool & Bar

When we want to take the retreat outside. One of the two outside dining spaces is at the end of the pool.

Transport

Arrive at the Bergerac airport, we’ll take care of the rest!

LET’S DO THIS!

Guest Speaker

RACHEL AARON (BACH)

  • 26 published novels
  • 10,000 newsletter subscribers
  • 500,000 books sold total across all titles
  • 70,000 copies of 2k to 10k sold
  • 15 years of experience as a full-time writer in both trad and indie.

Author of Nice Dragons Finish Last and the post apocalyptic urban fantasy DFZ world, the best-selling writing productivity book 2k to 10k, and The Legend of Eli Monpress, published by Orbit Books.

Rachel is a self-professed story craft nerd who writes crazy enjoyable fantasy and sci fi with a healthy dash of romance. She’s also written 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love, which you should definitely also read if you haven’t already.

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What to expect

An easy, enjoyable pace with plenty of personal feedback.
Rachel will lead us through writing workshops such as:

  • The big story idea for your series and books
  • Plotting like a pro
  • Creating lovable characters (and hateable villains)
  • Writing 10K words a day
  • Self editing and using editors
  • Publishing, Self and Trad
  • Book marketing the right way
  • Going from unknown to well read
  • Personalised Q & A sessions to give you the exact help you most need now

Bonus Features

Because we really are going all out here…

  • Personal one-on-one workshop with Rachel during the retreat to work on the specifics of whatever you most need help on in your writing career.
  • Monthly Zoom round-table meetings with all attendees leading up to the retreat, so we can all get to know each other before we arrive.
  • Sharing each others books and / or manuscripts in progress before we arrive to get to know each others’ work more closely.
  • There are more, but we’ll keep them a surprise!

Daily Program

Afternoon / Evening: Arrive in Bergerac Airport, any time in the afternoon or evening. Find our shuttle pickup and take a pleasant drive through to the picturesque village of Gindou.

6:00 – 8:00pm: Enjoy refreshments and a buffet dinner on arrival.

8:15 – 8:45pm: Introducing The WriteTreat concept, your hosts, and the guest speaker. Ice-breaking character crafting session: meet other guests and have fun doing it!

8:45pm onwards: Relax, settle in, jacuzzi, night cap, enjoy!

7 – 8:30am: Breakfast

9 – 10:20am: Storycraft Workshop: The big story idea for your series and books

10:20 – 10:40am: Refreshment break 10:20 – 10:40

10:40am – 12pm: Storycraft workshop: Plotting like a pro

12:20 – 1:20pm: Lunch prepared by local chef

1:30 – 5pm: ⁠⁠Excursion to local POI including writing prompt workshop (light snack/refreshment baskets included for those peckish during the trip)

6:30 – 8pm: Dinner prepared by local chef 

8pm onwards: Informal evening schedule. Anything from Q&A on everything covered during the day, writing critiques, jacuzzi, sauna, cocktails, cigars, massage, attendee special requests, etc.

7 – 8:30am: Breakfast

9 – 10:20am: Character craft workshop: Creating lovable characters (and hateable villains)

10:20 – 10:40am: Refreshment break 10:20 – 10:40

10:40am – 12pm: Writer productivity workshop: Writing 10K words a day

12:20 – 1:20pm: Lunch prepared by local chef

1:30 – 5pm: ⁠⁠Excursion to local POI including writing prompt workshop (light snack/refreshment baskets included for those peckish during the trip)

6:30 – 8pm: Dinner prepared by local chef 

8pm onwards: Informal evening schedule. Anything from Q&A on everything covered during the day, writing critiques, jacuzzi, sauna, cocktails, cigars, massages, attendee special requests, etc.

7 – 8:30am: Breakfast

9 – 10:20am: Editing workshop: Self editing and using editors

10:20 – 10:40am: Refreshment break 10:20 – 10:40

10:40am – 12pm: Publishing workshop: Publishing, Self and Trad

12:20 – 1:20pm: Lunch prepared by local chef

1:30 – 5pm: ⁠⁠Excursion to local POI including writing prompt workshop (light snack/refreshment baskets included for those peckish during the trip)

6:30 – 8pm: Dinner prepared by local chef 

8pm onwards: Informal evening schedule. Anything from Q&A on everything covered during the day, writing critiques, jacuzzi, sauna, cocktails, cigars, massages, attendee special requests, etc.

7 – 8:30am: Breakfast

9 – 10:20am: Marketing workshop: Book marketing the right way

10:20 – 10:40am: Refreshment break 10:20 – 10:40

10:40am – 12pm: Marketing workshop: Going from unknown to well read

12:20 – 1:20pm: Lunch prepared by local chef

1:30 – 5pm: ⁠⁠Excursion to local POI including writing prompt workshop (light snack/refreshment baskets included for those peckish during the trip)

6:30 – 8pm: Dinner prepared by local chef 

8pm onwards: Informal evening schedule. Anything from Q&A on everything covered during the day, writing critiques, jacuzzi, sauna, cocktails, cigars, massages, attendee special requests, etc.

7 – 8:30am: Breakfast

9 – 10:20am: Writing career workshop: Personalised writing career workshop discussing suggested next steps for each attendee

10:20 – 10:40am: Refreshment break 10:20 – 10:40

10:40am – 12pm: Tailormade workshop: Personalised Workshop or Q & A session based on what is most requested by attendees

12:20 – 1:20pm: Lunch prepared by local chef

1:30 – 5pm: ⁠⁠Excursion to local POI including writing prompt workshop (light snack/refreshment baskets included for those peckish during the trip)

6:30 – 8pm: Dinner prepared by local chef

8 – 8:20: Parting gift to remember The Write Treat experience. Coordinating keeping in touch as a writer group. Trying not to feel sad that it’s all coming to an end.

8:20pm onwards: Informal evening schedule. Anything from Q&A on everything covered during the day, writing critiques, jacuzzi, sauna, cocktails, cigars, massages, attendee special requests, etc.

7 – 8:30am: Breakfast (can be arranged earlier if needed)

8:30am onwards: We shuttle you back to Bergerac airport to catch your flight home.

We’ll also take day trips to inspirational locations like a medieval fortress just 45 min away,

cave boating through the Caves of Padirac, and various nearby medieval castles.

Sounds great. I’m In!

Your Hosts

MATT ZIRANEK

CEO of Rocket Expansion
Author Marketing Agency

CHRIS ARNOLD

Fantasy Writer and
Owner of Unique Gindou

BOOK NOW

How much to WriteTreat yourself?

Pay just the retreat fee and stay in a shared living space (or your own privately booked accommodation nearby), or add on a premium room for an extra fee.

THE WRITETREAT OCT 2024
$5,000

Covers the full retreat experience. Excludes private rooms.

  • All workshops
  • All meals & refreshments
  • All day trips
  • All shared spaces
  • All daily activities
  • Airport shuttle rides
  • Access to hot tub, sauna & games room

Includes optional curtained-off double bed pod in the shared ground-floor living space at no extra charge.
(If you’d prefer a private room see the next section below.)

Sign Me Up!

Private Rooms

Prefer having a private space to recline? Add on one of 5 private rooms available in the Unique Gindou estate house for an extra fee.

Master Suite
$5,000

6 nights in the best room in the house

  • Subject to availability (there’s only one!)
  • Top floor. Amazing views of the surrounds
  • Beautiful natural light
  • Master on-suite bathroom
  • Luxurious, spacious suite
  • Overlooks upper terrace
SOLD OUT

INDIVIDUAL ROOMS

$3,000

6 nights in one of 4 individual rooms, each with their own unique charm

  • Subject to availability (there’s only four!)
  • Two rooms have on-suite bathrooms
  • Two rooms share a comfortable mezzanine living space and a bathroom
BOOK INDIVIDUAL ROOM

Is the WriteTreat for you?

We put together this genre fiction writer’s luxury retreat to create a unique, high-end, high-value-packed experience for genre fiction writer’s near the beginning of their author career journey.

We want to have fun, learn a ton, forge firm friendships, and do it in style! If that all sounds like your thing then…

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