One Year. One Book. Yours.

You have been carrying this material with you for a long time—as a novel, a legacy, a body of knowledge, or a method that, until now, has only existed in fragments or conversations. Perhaps you started writing, then hesitated—until daily life became more urgent once again.

Every delay comes with a price. Your story remains untold—and in a sense, you remain unfinished. Not because you lack the ability, but because you haven't yet granted yourself the permission.

The truth is: Either you give your book idea a form now—or it will never be realized.

When the initial euphoria of a book project fades, the noise of daily life and doubt becomes louder than the vision. Suddenly, the question lingers: “Is this good enough?” The gap between what you want to say and what is actually on the page feels immense—and walking away becomes a tempting escape.

This is not a personal failure. It is simply the predictable moment where structure and experience are missing: a clear process to carry you forward, and people who recognize exactly where a project typically tips.

That is why the Book Year does not start with motivation – you bring that yourself. It starts with a protected space, a committed circle, and a stable process:

In 2027, the Holdenweid in Hölstein will become our literary headquarters. A fixed ground – shared with 12 accomplices, all devoted to the same cause: their book.

You will be guided by experienced authors and mentors, providing individual support – until your book is complete.

The entire year follows a predictable rhythm: regular residencies (usually 3–4 days), individual coaching, open writing ateliers with authors—and in between, a weekly group exchange with clear workloads and check-ins.

A closely-knit web that holds you gently within the process, ensuring you don’t walk away when things get critical.

A book doesn’t require heroic acts; it requires consistency. Plan for at least five hours a week—not as a suggestion, but as a prerequisite. If you cannot reserve this time for yourself, then this year is not the right format for you.
 

You bring the hours. We bring the structure.

Rebekka Salm published her debut at 43. She knows procrastination as intimately as she knows the arrival—she will guide the year as a lecturer for process and dramaturgy.

Karin Reber is an editor at Zytglogge Verlag and an author. She hears where a text holds its ground and where it still evades—she will guide the year as a lecturer for language and textual precision.

Additional authors and experts will join us—tailored to the specific subjects and stories you bring. Program direction: Patrick Castellani.

The Holdenweid lies off the main road, hidden in a small valley between forests and fields. It is not a place of passage—but our temporary home and sanctuary. A space without digital noise, reduced to silence and concentration. Those who come here come to move forward.

The group is intentionally small and carefully curated: individuals with diverse backgrounds, goals, stories, and ambitions.

Talent and skill level are not the criteria for entry. What matters is the substance you bring—and your willingness to make it a priority for one year.

That is the contract you sign within the circle.

At the end of the Book Year, you will hold a first version of your manuscript. You won't leave with fragments, but with a work that is ready for editing, the final polish—or even publication.
 

You have allowed your voice to take shape; you have taken yourself seriously. This is authorship.

And a part of you no longer has to wait.