At Civitella, I not only experienced a kind of restoration of spirit – spending time with everyone at dinner, braving the long walk to town, and taking lots of alone time in my studio and during all the art- and history-rich excursions – but I feel newly grounded in an evolved writing practice. I finished making a last round of edits on a memoir during the first week and sent it to my agent. I drafted three short stories and started or revised several others. And thanks to the beautiful and compelling places we visited, I wrote at least a dozen new poems, with notes for more. My residency at Civitella has been a treasured experience at a pivotal moment in my life and career.