Start your writing adventure. In Lisbon.

What is it?

The Take World is a writing retreat for black and brown writers and was founded in 2023 by writer and author Georgina Lawton. We run five day writing retreats for black women and womxn of colour creatives twice a year, usually around April and September. Each retreat guarantees set writing time in a secluded, gorgeous house, tasty, chef-prepped lunches from our in-house chef, daily yoga and plenty of fun times in and around the magical town of Sintra, 30 mins from Lisbon.
All of our retreats so far have been hugely successful with talks from authors such as Bernadine Evaristo, Nikesh Shukla, Kai Harris, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Abigail Bergstrom and Ore Agbaje-Williams, amidst lifelong friendships being formed.

Join us in October 2025 for our sixth retreat and tackle your writing goals in a supportive and relaxed environment.

Our seventh writing retreat for black women and womxn of colour creatives will be at the end of March 2026.

Where is it?

Set in a charming and secluded house near Sintra, 40 minutes from Lisbon. Sintra is a place of lush mountains and mythical legend, It’s the home of former Portuguese nobility and a place which inspired writers like Hans Christian Andersen. It’s green, gorgeous and serene; the perfect place to get totally lost in your creative project.

Who is it for?

The Take World writing retreat for black women and womxn of colour in Portugal is suitable for writers and creatives of any age and writing experience. We welcome all disciplines and career backgrounds. We have hosted published authors poets, PhD candidates and total beginners. We have those who use he retreat as a springboard to start a writing project, and others who are completing books on contract. Just be curious, respectful and bring the vibes!

Ok. What do I get from the Take World writing retreat in Portugal?

A serene space to crack on with your creative project. A like-minded group to cheer you on and offer feedback. Informative workshops led by interesting people. Activities to spark joy and creativity. Accountability. Some seriously good Portuguese cuisine. A cute and tailored goodie bag!

Sounds good. Give me more details!

A typical day at the Take World writing retreat for black women and womxn of colour in Portugal will begin with an outdoor morning yoga session in the sun led by a local teacher followed by planning and accountability sessions over a delicious breakfast. Then it’s straight to the writing with workspaces available throughout the house and outside. In the afternoon, there’s feedback, workshops on both fiction and non-fiction and practical sessions on navigating and demystifying creative spaces. The evening is for feasting, free time, dreaming and reading. We run Zoom calls before taking any money to check your suitability for the program.

What’s included?

All writing workshops and activities. All breakfasts and lunches, plus opening and closing dinners. Lunches are catered and prepared fresh in-house each day by our local chef. Attendees enjoy welcome and farewell dinners with wine-tasting at two incredible Sintra restaurants, as well as a writing and reflection trip to a gorgeous local beach, daily yoga and a special Take World goodie bag. Check our Instagram to see how the last one went.

Ok I’m sold… but who runs this thing?

Georgina Lawton, a Lisbon resident and London runaway who is also an award-winning author of two books, travel writer, journalist and Audible podcaster. She co-runs the retreat with award-winning journalist and author Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff. Find out more about them here.