by Writing Workshops Staff
An hour ago
Paris makes you want to write. Perhaps it's the cafés where Hemingway scribbled in his notebooks, or the bookshops that have sheltered generations of literary dreamers. Perhaps it's the way light falls across the Seine at dusk, or the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter where ideas seem to emerge fully formed from the ancient stones. Whatever the source, Paris has always called to emerging and established writers.
This July, Writing Workshops Paris returns for two extraordinary sessions, each offering fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writers the chance to study with distinguished faculty in small, intensive workshops. If you've been searching for the spark to ignite your writing life, or the community to sustain it, this is your invitation.
Two Sessions, Six Days of Transformation
We're offering two distinct sessions in July 2026, each with its own exceptional faculty. Session I runs July 14-19 and features National Book Award finalist Karen E. Bender leading the fiction workshop, New Yorker contributor Ramona Ausubel guiding a generative writing workshop open to all genres, and Best American Essays contributor Robert Anthony Siegel teaching nonfiction. Session II takes place July 21-26 with Electric Literature editor Kelly Luce in fiction, Paterson Poetry Prize winner Joan Kwon Glass in poetry, and New Yorker contributor Elissa Bassist in nonfiction.
Each genre workshop is capped at just ten participants—intimate enough for meaningful feedback, substantial enough for the kind of generative energy that only emerges when passionate writers gather in a room together. You'll submit two pieces of writing before the trip: one for group workshop and one for your private one-on-one conference with your instructor. Daily craft talks round out the mornings, leaving afternoons free for writing, wandering, and the kind of reflection that only Paris can inspire.
From Student to Instructor: Ethan Joella's Journey
Sometimes the best testament to a program's impact is the trajectory of its alumni. Ethan Joella came to Writing Workshops Paris in 2019 as a student, working with instructors Brandon Hobson and Diana Spechler during an intensive week that would prove pivotal to his career. Today, Ethan teaches English and psychology at the University of Delaware and is the author of four novels with Scribner: A Little Hope, which was a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection on the Today Show; A Quiet Life; The Same Bright Stars; and The Top of the World, forthcoming in June 2026.
"The workshop exceeded my expectations. The nonfiction workshop 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 and gratifying."
— Ethan Joella, Paris Workshop Alumnus (2019)
Ethan's journey came full circle when he returned to Paris in 2022—not as a student but as our fiction workshop leader. He went on to lead our Dublin Workshop in 2024. His story embodies exactly what we hope for every writer who joins us: not just improvement in craft, but a fundamental shift in what feels possible. You can read more about Ethan's journey from student to instructor on our blog.
Your Guides Know Paris Inside and Out
What sets our destination retreats apart isn't just the caliber of our faculty—it's the care with which every detail is curated by people who genuinely love these places. Your on-site trip leaders for the week will be WritingWorkshops.com founder Blake Kimzey and longtime friend Mike Franz, whose connection to Paris runs deep.
"Mike and I first met in Paris in 2004, when we were both working as bicycle tour guides in the city—he later served as the director of Fat Tire Bike Tours Europe for 7 years, and I founded WritingWorkshops.com in 2016. We've been leading destination retreats together since 2018, and between us, we've guided thousands of travelers through Paris and know the city inside and out. We can't wait to meet you and show you our favorite city!"
— Blake Kimzey, Founder of WritingWorkshops.com
This isn't a generic tour company bolting a writing component onto a vacation package. This is a retreat designed by writers who fell in love with a city and have spent two decades learning its secrets—where to find the best croissant after a morning workshop, which bench in the Luxembourg Gardens catches the afternoon light just right, how to navigate the metro like a local.
Lodging in the Heart of Literary Paris
You'll stay at the four-star Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche for six days and five nights, situated in the heart of literary Paris near booksellers, publishing houses, and a short walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg. Your room is your own—a private space to process the day's workshops, to write while the city hums outside your window, to rest before the evening's adventures.
Speaking of evenings: our optional activities weave together the best of Paris. A walking tour through the Latin Quarter traces nearly two millennia of history and literary giants. An evening boat ride on the Bateaux Mouche lets the city wash over you as you float through its heart. A night bike tour hits the landmarks your friends will ask about—the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Napoleon's Tomb—on California Beach Cruisers that make the whole thing feel like a dream. The week culminates with a reading on the banks of the Seine, champagne toast, and farewell dinner with new friends who understand what it means to arrange words on a page.
What's Included
Tuition covers your private room at Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche for six days and five nights, a welcome picnic with faculty and staff in Luxembourg Gardens, four days of small-group workshops with program faculty, critical feedback on your writing submissions, daily craft seminars, a one-on-one conference with your instructor, the literary walking tour, evening boat ride, and night bike tour. Meals are not included, giving you the freedom to explore Paris's legendary food scene on your own terms—though many evening activities end with group dinners for those who want the company.
Extend Your Stay: Versailles and Monet's Garden
For those who can't quite bring themselves to leave, we offer a two-day add-on tour to Versailles and Monet's Garden at Giverny, led by Mike Franz, who has guided tours to these sites since 2003. You'll wander the expansive gardens of Versailles, picnic by the Grand Canal, and explore the chateau where history unfolded. The following day brings you to Giverny, where Monet painted for 43 years—including the water lily pond that inspired over 250 of his paintings.
Faculty Who Shape Careers
Our instructors aren't just accomplished writers—they're dedicated teachers who have shaped countless careers. National Book Award finalist Karen E. Bender brings decades of experience publishing in The New Yorker, Granta, and Ploughshares. Ramona Ausubel, returning for her third summer with us, is a PEN/USA Fiction Award recipient whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and Tin House. Robert Anthony Siegel's work has been anthologized in Best American Essays and Pushcart Prize. Joan Kwon Glass won the Paterson Poetry Prize and has been featured on NPR and in Best American Poetry. Elissa Bassist authored the memoir Hysterical, a semifinalist for The Thurber Prize for American Humor. Kelly Luce, editor of Electric Literature's Commuter, was a fellow at Harvard's Radcliffe Institute.
These are writers who have done the work, who understand the challenges, and who are genuinely invested in helping you find your voice.
What Former Participants Say
Our alumni return home transformed—not just as writers, but as people who have found their community. Here's what past participants have shared:
"Writing Workshops Paris was an unforgettable, dare I say, 'life-changing' experience for me. I was astounded by the quality of instruction, the expertise of the staff, and the talent of my fellow participants. I learned so much during the workshop and made memories that will influence my writing for years to come."
— Emily N.
"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.
"I would do Writing Workshops Paris all over again if I could. It's a beautiful, almost-a-week long experience spent honing your craft, learning new skills, connecting with writers from around the world, and exploring Paris, a city with such incredible literary history. The experience has energized me about my writing and left me inspired."
— Amanda D.
The Application Process
Our admissions process is competitive but inclusive—all interested writers are encouraged to apply. Your application will include a brief bio (500 words max) detailing your involvement in the writing and literary community, a purpose statement (500 words max) explaining why you'd like to participate, and a writing sample excerpt of up to 5,000 words. This doesn't need to be published work, nor does it need to be the piece you plan to workshop.
Applications close soon. Due to volume, early applications are encouraged. Accepted writers will have the option to pay tuition in full or choose a payment plan through Affirm.
Ready to write your next chapter in Paris? Applications for July 2026 are now open.
Apply for Writing Workshops Paris →This Is Your Moment
Every writer reaches a point where they need more than solitary effort—they need community, expert guidance, and an environment that makes the work feel urgent and possible. Paris has provided that environment for generations of writers, from the Lost Generation to today. Our mission at WritingWorkshops.com is to bring writers out of the wilderness and into community, and we believe there's no better place to do that than in the city where so many literary dreams have taken flight.
Whether you're working on your first novel, polishing a collection of essays, or finding your voice in poetry, Writing Workshops Paris offers the intensive feedback, accomplished faculty, and inspiring setting to help you take the next step. The friendships you'll forge—with fellow writers who understand the peculiar challenges and joys of this life—may prove just as valuable as the craft instruction.
We hope to see you in July. Paris is waiting.
WritingWorkshops.com is an independent, artist-run creative writing school and the official education partner of Electric Literature. Since 2016, we've helped writers strengthen their voice, develop a greater understanding of craft, and forge a path to publication.
