Blog
From Bootcamp to Paris to Publication: Christine Sandoval's Journey to The Taborian
by Writing Workshops Staff
3 weeks ago
"I just finished Tom Andes' class last night, and what a wonderful last eight weeks!" That's how Christine Sandoval, Associate Professor of English at Riverside City College, recently described her latest experience with WritingWorkshops.com. But her journey with us, and toward her most recent publication, began well before that enthusiastic message landed in our inbox.
Christine came to WritingWorkshops.com as a writer with an established foundation. Her work had already appeared in WOW: Women on Writing, and she had co-authored a college-level textbook, Grammar and Usage, Naturally, published by Cengage. As a professor teaching English in Southern California, she understood the craft of writing from the academic side of the desk. What she sought was something different: a dedicated space and expert guidance to continue developing her creative work in the company of fellow writers who shared her passion.
Her journey with us began with Kelly Luce's Short Story Submission Bootcamp, a program designed specifically for writers ready to navigate the submission process with strategic, informed intention. Working one-on-one with Kelly, Christine refined her short story, "The Proposal." She developed a submission strategy tailored to publications that were a good fit for her voice and subject matter.
The work paid off. In February 2025, "The Proposal" was published in The Taborian, a literary journal that showcases distinctive contemporary fiction. The story itself is a stunning meditation on heartbreak, longing, and unexpected grace, following a woman who travels alone to Maui after a devastating breakup, only to find small moments of beauty and connection amid her grief. With its lyrical prose, fragmented structure, and profound emotional honesty, "The Proposal" demonstrates exactly the kind of ambitious, literary storytelling that emerges when talented writers have the right guidance at the right time.
Building on that momentum, Christine joined us for an immersive experience at our Writing Workshop in Paris, France, in the summer of 2024. Surrounded by the city's legendary literary history, she continued developing new work in the intensive workshop environment—writing in the mornings, absorbing the inspiration of Paris in the afternoons. For a writer already committed to her craft, Paris offered both creative fuel and the kind of concentrated focus that's hard to find in everyday life.
Even after achieving publication and writing in Paris, she sought out new challenges, most recently completing Tom Andes' Advanced Short Fiction 8-Week Zoom Workshop. Her assessment of the experience was glowing: "He's a great teacher: passionate and excited about reading and writing, and knowledgeable about craft. The group of students was a good mix, too. I'm sad it's over."
That mix of genuine enthusiasm and a touch of wistfulness speaks to something essential about what happens in these workshops—writers don't just learn techniques; they become part of a community that sustains them. The connections made in class, the feedback from peers and instructors, the shared commitment to the craft—these elements create an experience that writers carry with them long after the final session ends.
As for what comes next? Christine continues to write, to teach, and to advocate for the workshop experience. "I'm constantly telling every writer I know to check out Writing Workshops," she says. Coming from a published author and professor who has spent her career cultivating the next generation of writers, that endorsement means everything.
We can't wait to see what Christine creates next, and we're honored to have been a small part of her journey from bootcamp to Paris to The Taborian and beyond.
Ready to write your own success story? Whether you're drafting your first short story or polishing work for publication, our online creative writing workshops connect you with expert instructors and a supportive community of dedicated writers. Join us and discover what's possible when craft meets commitment.
