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Tuition for Writing Workshops Paris June 2024
$3,495.00

Tuition for Writing Workshops Paris June 2024


Workshop Dates:  June 11th - 16th, 2024

Writing Workshops Paris with Ramona Ausubel, Mark Gottlieb, and Yara Zgheib brings together Fiction and Nonfiction writers and Poets for an intensive week of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth discussions on the craft and business of writing. Our program is inclusive, intentionally small, and takes place in the middle of Literary Paris, rich with history and inspiration.

Each genre workshop will have no more than 10 participants. All writers in Mark Gottlieb's nonfiction workshop and Yara Zgheib's fiction workshop will submit two completed pieces of writing. One submission will be workshopped by your genre-cohort and instructor and a second piece will be submitted for your one-on-one meeting with your workshop leader. Writers in Ramona Ausubel's generative workshop, which is open to all genres, will come to Paris and generate new writing throughout the city each day. Daily craft talks are open to all participants and led by program staff or faculty.

Our workshops are open to writers who want to strengthen their voice, develop a greater understanding of craft, and forge a path to publication along the way. We take your writing seriously and place the highest importance on teaching the craft of writing so that students can produce meaningful and memorable work that has the opportunity to find a readership beyond the workshop. Our mission is to bring your writing out of the wilderness and into community, and for a week every June we think there is no better place to do this than in the heart of Paris, France.


Workshop Faculty

Generative Writing Workshop (For All Genres) Instructor Ramona Ausubel's fifth book, The Last Animal, a novel, was published in April, 2023 from Riverhead Books. Her previous books are Awayland: stories, Sons and Daughters of Ease and Plenty, A Guide to Being Born and No One is Here Except All of Us. She is the recipient of the PEN/USA Fiction Award, the Cabell First Novelist Award and has been a finalists for both the California and Colorado Book Awards and the New York Public Library Young Lions Award. Her work has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review daily, One Story, Tin House, The Oxford American, Ploughshares and elsewhere. She is a professor at Colorado State University, on faculty at the Bennington Writing Seminars and has taught at Tin House, Writing by Writers, the Community of Writers, Breadloaf Environmental Conference and elsewhere. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her family.

Nonfiction Workshop Instructor Mark Gottlieb is a vice president and prominent literary agent working at book publishing’s leading literary agency Trident Media Group in New York City. He has ranked highly among literary agents across the industry for overall number of deals and other individual categories. While at Trident Media Group, Mark Gottlieb has represented New York Times bestselling authors as well as major award-winning authors. He has optioned and sold numerous books to production companies and studios for film and TV adaptation. Mark Gottlieb greatly enjoys working with authors to help manage and grow their careers with the resources available at Trident Media Group. In addition to having worked at the company’s Foreign Rights Department, he also ran the company’s Audiobook Department. Utilizing his drive and intuition for discovering talented writers, he is currently expanding his client list of authors. As a literary agent he looks forward to bringing authors to the largest possible audience.

 Fiction Workshop Instructor Yara Zgheib is the author of the critically acclaimed novel No Land to Light On, which was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize and selected as a 2022 Indie Book Read, as well as by The Washington Post, The L.A. Times, and Newsweek as one of the top books of 2022. Her debut novel, The Girls at 17 Swann Street, was a People Pick for Best New Books and Barnes and Noble pick for Best Books of 2019, as well as a BookMovement Group Read. Her new novel, Why Paris, and her essay collection An Absolute Necessity are forthcoming from Harper Via. She also recently won the 2023 Rose Metal Press competition with Dust and Ions, a novel-in-music-and-poetry written with composer Alex Wakim. It will be released and performed in 2026. Yara is a Fulbright scholar and holds a PhD in International Affairs in Diplomacy. Her work has been published in The Huffington Post, Glimmer Train, Lithub, Holiday, The European, and elsewhere, and her poetry has been adapted into two musical albums, Chasing Comets and City Rhapsodies. On cities: she was born in Beirut and has a piece of her heart there. The other is in Paris, where she lives.


Lodging at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche

Immerse yourself in both comfort and inspiration for 6 days, 5 nights at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche. The 4-star hotel sits in the heart of literary Paris, near booksellers and publishing houses, and is a short walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg. Free Wi-Fi included.


Class Size

Each genre workshop will have no more than 10 participants, led by the genre faculty instructor. Daily craft talks are open to all participants and led by program staff or faculty.

Fiction & Nonfiction Workshops:
Ahead of our arrival in Paris, Yara Zgheib's fiction students and Mark Gottlieb's nonfiction students will submit two manuscripts. One manuscript will be critiqued in the group workshop and include letters of critique from your peers and instructor; your second manuscript will be discussed in a one-on-one conference with your instructor in Paris.

Generative Workshop (For All Genres): 
Writers in Ramona Ausubel's generative workshop, which is open to all genres, will come to Paris and generate new writing throughout the city with Ramona as their guide on daily writing field trips.



Schedule


Tuesday

3:00PM: Hotel check-in begins.

5:00PM: Sunset meet & greet picnic in Luxembourg Gardens.


Wednesday - Saturday

Mornings: Workshops and one-on-one instructor meetings.

Afternoons/Evenings: Lunch Break & free time. Optional afternoon seminar, led by faculty or staff. Optional evening activity and dinner, led by Mike Franz.


Sunday

12:00PM: Final check-out at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche.


Optional Evening Activities

Wednesday: Latin Quarter Walking Tour & Dinner

Thursday: Evening concert at Saint Chapelle & Cohort Dinner

Friday: Night Bike Tour & Dinner in Tuileries Garden

Saturday: Reading on the Banks of the Seine River with Champagne Toast & Farewell Dinner


**Details subject to change. Final version will be sent out by May 15th, 2024.


 


Tuition

Tuition is $3,495.00 and includes the following:

  • Lodging in your own room at Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche for 6 days, 5 nights
  • A welcome cocktail and hors d’oeuvres picnic with faculty and staff
  • 4-day writing workshops in small groups of no more than 10 writers, led by program faculty
  • Critical feedback on two writing submissions
  • Several craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
  • One-on-one conference with faculty
  • A literary walking tour in the Latin Quarter (Monday), an evening boat cruise on the Seine (Tuesday), and a night bike tour of the city (Wednesday).
  • Please Note: meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are not included in the price of tuition.

 

2-Day Versailles & Monet's Garden Add-On,  June 16 - 18, 2024

Join our "add-on" tour for two unforgettable day trips from Paris. On Sunday, experience the grandeur of the Chateau of Versailles. On Monday, discover the beauty of Claude Monet's Gardens. Both days are led by our experienced tour guide, Mike Franz, who has guided tours to these sites since 2003.

On Sunday, we'll take a train to Versailles. Our first stop is a vibrant open-air farmers market, where we'll pick fresh ingredients for a picnic. Afterward, we'll explore the expansive gardens of Versailles, including the iconic fountains. A picnic lunch is planned by the Grand Canal, followed by a visit to the chateau. There, we'll learn about the history of Versailles and its notable figures like Marie Antoinette. Once we return to Paris, you can choose to dine out or relax at the hotel.

Monday takes us by train to Giverny, home to Monet's Gardens. We'll have lunch at a local cafe and visit notable spots, including Monet's grave and the Église Sainte-Radegonde de Giverny. Next, we'll tour Monet's former residence, where he painted for 43 years. This includes a chance to view the famed water lily pond that inspired over 250 of his paintings.

The tour wraps up with a final dinner in Paris, marking the end of our journey through Versailles and Monet's Gardens.

**The cost of the 2-day add-on is an additional $1,495, which includes lodging for two nights at Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche, as well as transportation and entry to Versailles and Monet's Garden at Giverny.

 

Our Destination Workshop Testimonials:

"Do this if you are serious about writing." -Jeannette B.

"It was amazing. I am so so grateful that I was chosen to be a part of such a special space and rich experience." --Dakotah J.

"This Writing Workshop is a fabulous blend of literary endeavor and sightseeing in the City of Light." -Michael W.

"A serious writers' workshop in one of the most beautiful cities in the world." -Lori F.

"The workshop exceeded my expectations. The communication was excellent leading up to it, and Writing Workshops was on top of every detail. The nonfiction workshops was incredibly instructive and helpful, and I feel I learned a lot. The hotel was in a wonderful section of Paris, and the evening activities brought us closer as a group. The whole experience was life-changing (without sounding overly dramatic) and gratifying." -Ethan J.

"Hands down the best workshop feedback I’ve ever received. I felt so lucky to be a part of this workshop and really enjoy the friendships I forged." - Ben H.

"Writing Workshops Paris absolutely made my summer! Both the staff and the participants were lovely, and all of the workshops, seminars, and optional activities were well-planned and well-executed.It was the perfect Parisian vacation, but with a slew of great suggestions on how to improve my writing for publication, and the added take away of what I feel will be lifelong friends and professional connections. I cannot overstate how much fun I had, and I'm returning home inspired and eager to apply all of the feedback I received to my work". - Becky R.

"For me, as a yet-unpublished writer, it was a great introduction to the world of workshopping. I felt comfortable sharing my stories with this helpful, diverse and dedicated group. And even though I'm daunted by the amount of work I have ahead of me, I'm inspired to start combining my stories into a memoir--something I hadn't considered before." -Sue P.

"Immersion into the artistic Parisian culture with a small community of like-minded aspiring writers was nothing short of inspirational. How wonderful it was to escape the ordinary, explore the extraordinary, and revel in the craft of writing --for the sheer joy of it--in the heart of beautiful Paris." -Estee C.

"This workshop exceeded my expectations. The classroom critiques and instructor one-on-ones were extremely helpful, the people were wonderful, and the atmosphere was inviting. It was an experience I'm so glad I didn't miss." - Carissa C.

"WWP was the first workshop I attended. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to receive constructive feedback on my book-in-progress from both Diana and my new writing community! Merci, merci." -Christina K.

"Writing Workshops Paris was my first professional workshop,and it won't be my last! Aside from the magic of being in Paris, which cannot be understated, the amazing people I met were the best part of the week. I left with unexpected friendships that I will have for life,and a fresh motivation to finish my novel. My approach to my writing has been invigorated and my motivation renewed, and I feel connected to this amazing community of writers in a way I never expected. What an amazing week of inspiration and history, great writing and incredible people. Thank you so much for a life-changing week!" -Kerrin S.

"The Workshop in Hawaii exceeded my expectations. I loved connecting with other writers in such a beautiful and inspiring place. I also reconnected with myself. Thank you to the organizers, instructors, and guides. It was a magical experience that I'll never forget. The trip was so refreshing, and helped me reconnect with myself and connect with other writers. The space was also amazing. The combination of both made for the best time I've had in years. Diana is great and definitely helps me think about things in a whole new way. I loved the authenticity of the place and the owner. It felt like a true Hawaiian experience - spiritual and peaceful. The instructors. The guides. People make the experience, and there were some wonderful folks on this trip." -Sam H.

"The communication leading up to the workshop was excellent. Diana was a wonderful workshop leader and I would gladly take a class from her again. As organizers, Blake and Mike cover all the bases so attendees can totally relax in the environment and focus on writing and group connections. The overall experience, the inclusion of food and housing, the community that was built, the work we did -- thumbs up on everything!" -Catherine V.

"I highly recommend Writing Workshops Paris for any serious writer. It was absolutely magic: the people, the workshops, the lectures, and all the great activities Blake and Mike have thoughtfully planned for the week. I already see my poetic craft evolving in a fresh direction. Also, just being in Paris is so creatively rejuvenating. The hotel is as centrally located as it could be, which allows access to the many great cafes where one could scribble away while sipping espresso and smoking a cigarette or two. It felt like a surrealist dream written by the likes of Baudelaire or Rimbaud. So much wine! So much cheese! So much joy and inspiration! The energy and vibes were on high. I gained so much in such a short amount of time and wish I could do it all again. This program might have started my life long love affair with Paris and the beauty it exudes." -Justin G.

"Writing Workshops Paris afforded me a once-in-a-lifetime experience to learn and hone my craft with an accomplished author I personally admire, along with a cohort of talented, interesting, engaged writers—all there for the same reason: to get better at writing and see more of the world in the process. What could be better than that?" -Kyle S.

"This was a tremendous experience! I learned so much, had a once in a lifetime first experience of Paris, and left feeling inspired and supported by a whole new writing community. Highly recommend!" -Fiona R.

"Best experience I've had as a writer. I have done writing workshops before, but nothing like this one. I received genuinely transformative feedback, knowledge, and social support around my writing and novel. I will always be grateful for all I gained, learned, and experienced in this workshop. I can wholeheartedly say that the amateur writer who came into this workshop is now a tremendously evolved amateur writer with a new lens on transferring thought into text. I learned so much about my own craft, and how to tailor the style, and plot points to better suit the story I want to tell. The adventures, authors, experiences, feedback, people, places and workshops were gratifyingly high quality. It felt safe being an amateur. I received transformative feedback on my current WIP which has greatly shifted the ways I write." -Enrique E.

"The workshop exceeded my expectations. The support from my group members was so helpful, but group cohesion was much better than I could have predicted. I looked at the week as a personal retreat, so the money was worth the time alone. And then being able to enjoy the grounds of the retreat and the company of other writers made it even better. I appreciated Brandon Hobson's generous feedback and the way he structured the workshops to allow specific and focused feedback. It was a lovely hotel with beautiful grounds and a great staff." -Margie D.

"I loved my first experience with Writing Workshops Hawaii. The teachers were amazing, the location was beautiful, and the community of writers were inspiring to be around. The entire trip was well thought out and organized, from the shuttles to the planned activities. For me it's not the destination, it's the workshop itself. I'll probably follow you anywhere." -Diane F.

"Brandon Hobson was very helpful and I’m returning home feeling inspired and re-invigorated. The week overall provided a great balance of structured group time and individual time. It was a fantastic experience and I’m glad I did it. I would 100% recommend Writing Workshops Hawaii!" - Aubrey M.

"Writing Workshops Hawaii was one of the most amazing gifts that I have ever given myself. I did not have to think of anything but writing and taking in the beauty and wisdom that Hawaii offers because everything was already done and thought of for me. All you have to do is show up. A truly magical and rejuvenating experience where you get to create, travel, and hangout with like-minded people. I will never be able to travel to Hawaii and do the touristy thing because I've been spoiled by Writing Workshops. And Diana Spechler made me feel like I have a seasoned writer on my side for life. I gained so much knowledge about the writing and publishing process on this trip. I also learned from Brandon Hobson and would recommend taking a course or at a retreat with either of them. I received an invaluable one-on-one with Diana. She had thorough feedback regarding my writing and also about publishing. Diana's time did not feel rushed and she tailored a plan for me based on my unique writing style and my desires as a writer. Diana is like the friend who succeeded and is willing to share all her secrets. I found the afternoon seminars extremely valuable. There were a lot of questions asked by other writers that I found helpful. If you're thinking about applying, you should!" -Corrie C.

"Writing Workshops Hawaii was an incredible experience. Everyone was so supportive and the energy from not only the retreat itself but the people as well, was an amazing opportunity and experience, one that you can’t recreate. Brandon Hobson has a very calm and genuine way of helping you better your writing. The support of the entire group was really great and appreciated. I liked that the retreat is secluded. It’s very relaxing and has an authentic feel to it. The staff was amazing. It’s a once in a lifetime experience." -Samantha B.

Program Staff

Executive Director Blake Kimzey worked as a bicycle tour guide in Paris in his 20s. He is the founder of WritingWorkshops.com and has an MFA from UC Irvine. Blake sits on the Board of the Elizabeth George Foundation and his fiction has been broadcast on NPR and published by Tin House, McSweeney’s, VICE, Longform, Redivider, Short Fiction, Smokelong Quarterly, Hobart, The Los Angeles Review, The Masters Review, and The Best Small Fictions. Blake’s collection of short tales, Families Among Us, was published by Black Lawrence Press.

Operations Director Mike Franz was General Manager and Tour Guide at Fat Tire Bike Tours, Paris, for seven years. His tours were featured on Rick Steves-Paris, The Independent-UK, and the television show 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Mike taught government, economics, and public speaking for ten years at Headwaters High School in Austin, Texas, where he won teacher-of-the-year award after his first year of teaching.


Application & General FAQ

What is your COVID policy?

It is the responsibility of attendees of Writing Workshops Paris to have the appropriate documentation required and to meet any COVID vaccination requirements implemented by the country of France.

If the country of France forbids entry to their country for the dates of June 11th - 18th, 2024, Writing Workshops will offer a full refund for program fees. Writing Workshops will not reimburse for any airline tickets or additional trip-related expenses incurred. If the Paris writing workshop takes place on the dates planned, no program fees will be reimbursed, regardless of attendance.

What will my application include? 

  • Brief bio informing us of your involvement in the writing and literary community, as well as any prior or forthcoming publications (500 words max).
  • Purpose statement explaining why you would like to participate in Writing Workshops Paris. You can also discuss current manuscripts or writing projects that you might choose to workshop. (500 words max.)
  • Writing sample excerpt. This does not have to be published work, though that is acceptable, nor does it have to be a piece you plan to workshop. Complete works under the word count are not required; excerpts are acceptable. (writing sample should be no more than 3000 words max.)
  • Early applications are encouraged.

How much does it cost?

Tuition is $3,495.00. If your application is accepted, full tuition is due within 14 days. Upon acceptance, you will have the option to pay your tuition in full or opt for a payment plan by selecting Affirm at checkout.

What is your refund policy for the workshop in Paris?

Given the intimate nature of our destination workshops and our own, non-refundable deposit schedule as organizers, our refund policy is as follows: 

90+ days before your trip, tuition payment minus a $900 deposit is fully refundable.  

60+ days before your trip: 50% of your tuition is refundable.  

30+ days before your: 25% of your tuition is refundable.  

Less than 30 days before your trip: no refunds can be offered.

 

What does tuition include? 

  • Lodging in your own room at Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche for 6 days, 5 nights
  • A welcome drink and hors d’oeuvres picnic with faculty and staff
  • 4-day writing workshops in small groups of no more than 10, led by program faculty
  • Critical feedback on writing submissions
  • Daily craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars 
  • One-on-one conference with faculty
  • A literary walking tour of Paris (Wednesday), an evening concert at Saint Chapelle (Thursday), and a night bike tour of the city (Friday).
  • Please Note: meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are not included in the price of tuition.

Are Payment Plans Available?

Yes. Accepted writers will have the option to pay their tuition in full or opt for a payment plan divided into equal monthly payments by selecting Affirm (for U.S. & Canadian residents) at checkout.

Are Scholarships Available?

Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to offer scholarships for this workshop. However, we do have payment plans available. 

 

Where is the hotel and workshop venue?

Immerse yourself in both comfort and inspiration for 6 days, 5 nights at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche.The 4-star hotel sits in the heart of literary Paris, near booksellers and publishing houses, and is a short walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg. Free Wi-Fi included.

What will you do with my email?

We respect your privacy. We won't sell or rent your email to other organizations.

I have a question not answered here.

Please contact us and we’ll reply promptly.

Optional Two-Day Add-On FAQ


Can I bring someone else along on the add-on trip?

Yes, the add-on is open to friends/partners of anyone attending the Writing Workshop.

If I bring a second person along on the add-on trip and we share a room, can we get a discount?

Yes, please let us know if you are interested in doing this and we can provide price and room details.

Can I bring my entire family along on the add-on trip?

Yes. Please let us know if you are interested in doing this and we can provide price and room details.

How much does the Optional 2-Day Versailles and Monet's Gardens Trip Extension Cost for the dates of June 16- 18, 2024? ?

The cost of the 2-day add-on is an additional $1,495,which includes lodging for two nights at Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche, aswell as transportation and entry to Versailles and Monet's Garden at Giverny.

 

Can I attend the add-on even if I don't attend the Writing Workshop?

No, the add-on is only open to attendees of the Writing Workshop and their guests.

What will you do with my email?

We respect yourprivacy. We will only use your email to send you  information aboutWriting Workshops. We won't sell or rent your  email toother organizations.

I have a question not answered here.

Please contact us and we’ll reply promptly. You can also Chat with us (lower left of your screen).