Writing Writing Workshops Paris
July 20-25, 2027
One of our most popular writing retreats returns for one week in the heart of literary Paris. Our 2027 faculty includes:
-New York Times bestselling novelist and two-time Mary Higgins Clark Award winner Carol Goodman (Fiction Workshop)
-Literary scout and founder of KF Literary Scouting Kelly Farber (Fiction Workshop)
-Back-to-back New York Times bestselling author Isaac Fitzgerald (Nonfiction Workshop)
Since 2018, Writing Workshops Paris has brought together fiction and nonfiction writers for an intensive week of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and candid conversations about the craft and business of writing. For 2027, we’re running a single week with two fiction cohorts and one nonfiction cohort, based a short walk from the Jardin du Luxembourg and the bookshops of the Left Bank.
Our program is small by design. Each workshop has no more than 10 writers. Before we arrive, you’ll submit two pieces: one is workshopped by your cohort and instructor; the other is the focus of your one-on-one conference.
We take your writing seriously, and we place the highest importance on teaching craft so you can produce meaningful, memorable work that finds readers beyond the workshop. Our mission is to bring your writing out of the wilderness and into community. For one week every July, we think there’s no better place to do that than Paris.


Applications for our July 2027 Workshops Are Now Open. Cohorts are capped at 10 writers each and fill on a rolling basis — early applications are strongly encouraged.
Workshop Dates:
July 20-25, 2027
Though our admissions process is competitive and the quality of writing high, all interested writers are encouraged to apply.
2027 Workshop Faculty

Fiction Workshop Instructor Carol Goodman is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-six novels, including The Lake of Dead Languages; The Seduction of Water, which won the 2003 Hammett Prize; The Widow’s House, which won the 2018 Mary Higgins Clark Award; and The Night Visitors, which won the 2020 Mary Higgins Clark Award. For over twenty years, she has taught creative writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz, and she offers private classes, book coaching, and editorial services to writers of fiction and memoir. She brings her long experience in reading, writing, and teaching to a supportive, constructive workshop for writers at every level and stage of the writing process. Carol can’t wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!

Nonfiction Workshop Instructor Isaac Fitzgerald is the author of back-to-back instant New York Times bestsellers Dirtbag, Massachusetts, and American Rambler. He is also the author of the bestselling children’s book How to Be a Pirate and the co-author of Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them and Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos. He has won a New England Book Award, the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Book of the Year Award, and an IACP Award. He is a frequent guest on The Today Show, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, GQ, The Guardian, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, and many other publications. He lives with his wife, Kelly Farber, and their two dogs on the North Fork of Long Island. Isaac can’t wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!

Fiction Workshop Instructor Kelly Farber is one of the leading literary scouts working today. She founded KF Literary Scouting in 2013 after several years at literary agencies and scouting firms. The company now serves 32 clients across publishing, film and television, and audio, including Apple TV+, Hachette, Audible, and Fifth Season, with readers in the US, UK, and Italy covering every genre and many languages. Kelly has built her career where great stories meet sound business, and she works closely with the New York editors and agents who make domestic deals and sign new writers. She speaks and runs workshops at universities around New York. She lives on Long Island with her husband, the writer Isaac Fitzgerald, and their two dogs. Kelly can’t wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!









Lodging at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche
Immerse yourself in comfort and inspiration for 6 days and 5 nights (July 20-25) 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


Weekly Schedule
for Sessions I & II
Arrival Day: Tuesday, July 20
3:00 PM: Hotel check-in begins.
5:00 PM: Sunset meet & greet picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens.
Workshop Days: Wednesday-Saturday, July 21-24
Mornings and early afternoons: A two-hour workshop with your cohort each day, plus your one-on-one conference with your instructor. Workshop times rotate, so every cohort gets a turn in the morning slot.
Afternoons: Lunch and free time. Optional seminar from 3:20 to 4:20 PM, led by faculty.
Evenings: Optional activity and dinner, led by Mike Franz.
Afternoon Seminars
Wednesday: Seminar with Isaac Fitzgerald
Thursday: Seminar with Carol Goodman
Friday: Seminar with Kelly Farber
Saturday: Publishing Roundtable and Q&A with Kelly Farber, Isaac Fitzgerald, and Carol Goodman
Departure Day: Sunday, July 25
12:00 PM: Final check-out at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche.
Optional Evening Activities
Arrival Day: Sunset meet & greet picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens
Wednesday: Latin Quarter Walking Tour
Thursday: Dinner and an Evening Boat Ride on the Bateaux Mouche
Friday: Evening Bike Tour & Group Dinner
Saturday: Reading on the Banks of the Seine with a Champagne Toast
**Details subject to change. We'll send the final schedule a few weeks before the trip.


Example Schedule Detail

Included Optional Evening Activities
Tuition
Tuition is $3,595 and includes the following:
- Lodging in your own room at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche for 6 days, 5 nights (July 20-25)
- A welcome drink 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 writing submissions
- Daily afternoon seminars on the craft and business of writing, closing with a publishing roundtable with all three faculty
- A one-on-one conference with your instructor
- A literary walking tour of the Latin Quarter, an evening boat ride on the Bateaux Mouche, an evening bike tour of the city, and a closing reading on the Seine
- Please Note: meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are not included in the price of tuition.
- Can I bring my partner or a guest? If you’d like to bring a partner or guest along and share your room, the cost is $695 for the Paris Workshop and $895 for the Add-On ($1,590 for your guest to join you on both legs of the trip).

2-Day Versailles & Monet's Garden Add-On, July 25 & 26, 2027









Testimonials For Our Paris Retreats


"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.
"I am a published novelist, critic and journalist and taking a nonfiction workshop was really out of my comfort zone. I knew I'd learn something and become a better writer because of it, but I honestly didn't think I'd do anything with creative nonfiction beyond this week. Thanks to Chloe and my wonderful, encouraging cohort, I have changed my mind and am going to pursue creative nonfiction alongside my other writing endeavors. And of course, Paris is a positively dreamy place to write, walk, eat, drink and get inspired!" -Lauren W.
"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 in Paris was so amazing! Getting to spend all week working on essays and then by evening exploring the city on foot or bicycle?! Iconic! Loved getting to meet fellow writers, work with established literary stars, and the reading on the Seine was the perfect farewell! Highly recommend to anyone who is looking to write and explore Paris!" -Emily V.
"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.
"Writing Workshops Paris was the ultimate vehicle for me to realize my dream of finally seeing Paris, while re-igniting my passion for writing and connecting me with such a wonderful new writing community!" -Dhana M.
"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.
"Chloe, I want to thank you again for such a wonderful workshop. I really appreciated the time and skillset you brought as a facilitator and am very grateful for your feedback on my work, as well as recommended resources.." -Brenna K.
"The Paris workshop was inspirational. The setting was liberating as a writer, and leadership was always in good humor, organized and helpful. The feedback has given me a good direction for my work." -Janice H.
"An unforgettable time at the Paris Writing Workshop. Wonderful facilitators, knowledgable instructors. The information was so helpful to my writing. Plus, there was the unexpected joy of bonding with fellow writers. Blake and Mike did an outstanding job. My only complaint was it was too short!" -Leslie R.
Program Staff

Blake Kimzey is the Founder & Executive Director of WritingWorkshops.com. His collection of short tales, Families Among Us (Black Lawrence Press), received advanced praise from Roxane Gay, Ramona Ausubel, & Matt Bell. His work has been adapted for broadcast on NPR and published by Tin House, McSweeney's, Short Fiction, Longform, VICE, and over 70 other literary journals. Blake is a graduate of the MFA Program at UC Irvine and received a generous Emerging Writer Grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation. He also co-wrote, with Kyle Minor, a dramatic WWII movie about the war-time actions of Polish underground hero Jan Karski, set for production in 2027. A movie adaptation of his short story “A Family Among Us," originally published by Roxane Gay, is currently in development. Blake has been awarded fellowships from The Community of Writers and the Vermont Studio Center and a generous grant from Americans for the Arts Foundation. He has taught in the Creative Writing Programs at SMU, UT-Dallas and UC-Irvine.

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.
