Diving Into The Wreck: Jumpstarting A Fiction Practice
An 8 day creative writing retreat in
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
With best-selling author,
Emma Copley Eisenberg
October 4-11, 2025
Join best selling author, Emma Copley Eisenberg and hone your fiction chops while soaking up the language, color and charm of San Miguel de Allende, the 500 year old colonial jewel in the heart of Mexico.
This experience is designed to help you jumpstart the fiction writing practice you truly want. Perhaps you have an idea for a novel or collection of short stories but don’t know where to start, perhaps you are able to write the “bones” of characters but don’t seem able to add “flesh”, perhaps you’ve been writing journalism or cultural criticism or working in academia and want to make the leap to fiction, or perhaps you are contending with deeply held blocks about whether you are “worthy” or “talented” enough to truly commit to a project.
In my life as a writer I have stood at all these junctures myself and I have also worked with nearly fifty editorial clients, many of whom are seeking answers to such questions as “how do I trust my ideas or know which ones are worth pursuing? How much do I need to know before I begin? Do I need an outline? Why do people keep telling me that they don’t feel invested in my characters?”
Through a series of lectures, discussions, and in depth assignments, students will become ready to dive in and make substantial progress on a new fiction project. ~Emma Copley Eisenberg
"I worked with Emma in the early stages of a long fiction project, and her enthusiasm, ideas and edits helped me hone in on what really excites me about the story I'm telling. Her encouragement helped me see what really excites about the project, while pushing me to develop my voice and write characters who come alive. The value she provided was far beyond what I paid for, and her thoughtful feedback has been a key part of bringing this book to the page."
— Kathleen Donahoe, journalist & novelist
Location
San Miguel de Allende, located in central Mexico is a Heritage UNESCO puebla magica, not to mention voted one of the best places in the world to live by Conde Nast Traveler two years in a row. Come and be captivated by the friendliness and beauty of this town! Linda Laino has lived in San Miguel for thirteen years and is helping Emma facilitate the retreat. More on San Miguel below.
Venue
We are sure you will be delighted with the accommodations and facilities. Casa de los Angelitos is a family owned villa with stunning views of San Miguel.With Old world style, beautiful views and a friendly staff, Casa Angelitos is a truly remarkable architectural masterpiece.
(Click on the link for a video tour)
About Emma Copley Eisenberg
Emma Copley Eisenberg is the author of the novel Housemates, which was a national bestseller and named a best book of the year by The Boston Globe, People, NBC, Them.Us, Autostraddle, and Kirkus Reviews as well as one of Electric Literature’s “Top 5 Novels of 2024” and Time Magazine’s “16 Best Books to Read for Pride.” Housemates was also longlisted for the VCU Cabell First Novelist award and won The Athenaeum of Philadelphia’s Literary Award for Fiction. Her narrative nonfiction book, The Third Rainbow Girl, was a New York Times Notable Book and Editor’s Choice as well as a finalist for an Edgar Award, a Lambda Literary Award, and an Anthony Award, among other honors. Her fiction, essays, and criticism have appeared in Granta, Esquire, The New Republic, Lux, The Washington Post Magazine, VQR, and many other publications. She lives in Philadelphia, where she co-founded Blue Stoop, a community hub for the literary arts. Her short story collection, Fat Swim, is forthcoming from Hogarth/Random House in 2026.
“Simply put, I found working with Emma transformative. My novel is both stronger and deeper for her insight.” ~Grace McNamee, novelist & Senior Editor at Bloomsbury Publishing
Travel
Please make your reservations* to arrive at Leon (BJX) or Queretaro (QRO) airports, both around 1.5 hours from San Miguel. Information about easy and reliable shuttle service will be shared with participants. Please note, if you decide to fly into Mexico City, it is another four hours to San Miguel.
*Please wait to make your flight arrangements until we inform you the retreat is full.
Please click here for pricing and registration information.
About San Miguel de Allende
Mexico is a huge country that offers its visitors an amazing amount of diversity. San Miguel de Allende is located in the geographical center of the country and is said to be built upon a bed of crystal quartz. Many people believe this legend aids in the “magical” quality so often associated with this town. San Miguel is a peaceful, safe environment, full of friendly people, sophistication and charm to spare. It is small, but far from sleepy. The streets are always full of visitors and locals in a lively and festive atmosphere.
There is more than plenty to see and do on off hours during the retreat. October is a beautiful time of year. Most days you can count on very cool mornings, warm to hot sunny afternoons, and slightly cooler evenings. Think layers and bring a light sweater. There is virtually no humidity. The town is quite hilly in parts, and the streets are cobbled. You will most likely be doing a lot of walking (the best way to see the town!), so we suggest to bring good shoes.
We are at 6000 feet and if you have not been in high altitudes, you may feel a bit tired the first day or two. Luckily, there are numerous cafes, parks and plazas for rest and refreshments all over town. There are also ample and inexpensive cabs (and Uber) available should you need a break from the walking.
The web is full of articles and videos about San Miguel. Here are two to whet your whistle:
“Working with Emma helped me re-see a project I've been working on for years. Her recommendations were tailored, thoughtful and grounded in deep knowledge of the industry and of the current literary landscape.”
—Jessica Langan-Peck, novelist and short story writer
About Linda Laino
Linda is a visual artist and writer who received her MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She has lived in San Miguel de Allende for thirteen years where she formally taught English Language Arts and continues to paint, write and share her love and knowledge of this charming and colorful town with other artists and teachers. She has been a waitress, a textile conservator, teacher and flower farmer, all in service to a lifetime of art making. Her painting and writing can be accessed here: www.lindalaino.com
Cancellation Policy, Please Review
Unless the retreat is cancelled by us, deposits and balances for workshops are non-refundable. We understand that it is sometimes difficult to plan ahead for a trip such as this and these uncertain times have created a bit more challenge. We thank you for your understanding of the need for these policies on our end. We ask that retreat participants be vaccinated. Note: Mexico never closed its borders to travelers during 2020.
Please read our full cancellation policy here.
All participants will be asked to download and sign a waiver form to provide emergency contact info. Please email to lalainoart@yahoo.com
Linda will provide all participants with an SMA “Survival Guide”, listing restaurants, things to do on off hours, and useful phone numbers.
We look forward to welcoming you to San Miguel in October, 2025! Please do not hesitate to contact us. For questions about the workshop, please contact Emma at info@emmacopleyeisenberg.com. For questions about San Miguel, contact Linda at lalainoart@yahoo.com.