Writing Workshops Paris July 2026
One of our most popular writing retreats is back for 2026 with two sessions to choose from!
Session I: July 14-19, 2026
+National Book Award finalist Karen E. Bender (Fiction Workshop)
+New Yorker Magazine fiction contributor Ramona Ausubel (Generative Writing for All Genres)
+Best American Essays contributor & memoirist Robert Anthony Siegel (Nonfiction Workshop)
Session II: July 21-26, 2026
+Electric Literature editor & novelist Kelly Luce (Fiction Workshop)
+Paterson Poetry Prize winner and Best American Poetry contributor Joan Kwon Glass (Poetry Workshop)
+New Yorker Magazine contributor & memoirist Elissa Bassist (Nonfiction Workshop)
Writing Workshops Paris brings together Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry writers for an intensive week of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth discussions on the craft and business of writing. Choose from two exceptional weeks, each led by distinguished faculty and taking place in the heart of Literary Paris, rich with history and inspiration. Our program is inclusive, intentionally small, and designed for writers ready to deepen their craft.
Each genre workshop will have no more than 10 participants. Writers in the fiction, nonfiction, and poetry workshops 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, deepen their 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 July, we think there is no better place to do this than in the heart of Paris, France.
Applications for our July 2026 Workshops Open Soon
Choose Your Workshop Dates:
Session I: July 14-19, 2026
Session II: July 21-26, 2026
Though our admissions process is competitive and the quality of writing high, all interested writers are encouraged to apply.
Session I Workshop Faculty - July 14 - 19, 2026
Fiction Workshop Instructor Karen E. Bender is the author of three collections: Refund, which was a Finalist for the National Book Award, shortlisted for the Frank O'Connor International Story Prize, and Longlisted for the Story prize; The New Order, which was Longlisted for the Story prize; and The Words of Dr. L, published in May 2025. Her novels are Like Normal People and A Town of Empty Rooms. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Ploughshares, Zoetrope, The Yale Review, The Harvard Review, Story, Guernica, and others. It has been reprinted in Best American Short Stories and Best American Mystery Stories and won three Pushcart prizes. Karen can't wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!
Nonfiction Workshop Instructor Robert Anthony Siegel is the author of a memoir, Criminals, and two novels, All Will Be Revealed and All the Money in the World. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian Magazine, The Paris Review, The Drift, The Oxford American, and Ploughshares, and has been anthologized in Best American Essays 2023, O. Henry Stories 2014, and Pushcart Prize XXXVI. He has been a Fulbright Scholar in Taiwan, a Mombukagakusho Fellow in Japan, a Writing Fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, and a Paul Engle Fellow at the Iowa Writers Workshop. He holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop. Robert can't wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!
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. Ramona can't wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer (her third summer with us!)!
Session II Workshop Faculty - July 21 - 26, 2026
Poetry Workshop Instructor Joan Kwon Glass is a diasporic Korean poet, author of DAUGHTER OF THREE GONE KINGDOMS– winner of the Perugia Press Poetry Prize, the Paterson Poetry Prize, the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Poetry & an IPPY Gold Medal & a finalist for the Balcones Poetry Prize & the Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize. Her book, NIGHT SWIM, won the Diode Book Prize. Joan’s poems have been featured on NPR, Best American Poetry, Poem of the Week, The Slowdown, Poetry Daily & in Poetry, Passages North, Terrain, Poetry Northwest, Tahoma Literary Review, Prairie Schooner & elsewhere. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Harbor Review & has been a poetry editor for West Trestle Review & Rogue Agent. Joan is a 2025 SWWIM Writer in Residence & has been a visiting writer at colleges such as Amherst College, The New School, Smith College & Wesleyan University. She lives in Milford, CT. Joan can't wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!
Nonfiction Workshop Instructor Elissa Bassist is the author of the memoir Hysterical, a semifinalist for The Thurber Prize for American Humor. She’s worked in media and publishing since 2007, as an editor, a managing editor, a TV and film writer’s assistant, a producer, a performer, a speaker, and a barista. Her humor and sad essays have appeared in over 30 publications and anthologies, and she’s taught for over 20 writing programs. Her next book is Inside Jokes, a humor writing craft book, co-written with Caitlin Kunkel and forthcoming from Grand Central Publishing in 2026. Elissa lives in Brooklyn and is probably her therapist’s favorite. Elissa can't wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!
Fiction Workshop Instructor Kelly Luce is the author of Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail (A Strange Object), winner of Foreword Review’s Editor’s Choice Prize for Fiction, and the novel Pull Me Under (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux), a Book of the Month Club selection and one of Elle’s Best Books of the Year. Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, Chicago Tribune, The Sun, Salon, O, the Oprah Magazine, The Southern Review, and other publications; her digital short story "Between the Lines" went viral in 2022. She is the editor of Electric Literature’s Commuter and was a 2016-17 fellow at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. In 2023, she was awarded the Wachtmeister Prize from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Kelly can't wait to meet and work with you in Paris this summer!
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
Weekly Schedule
for Sessions I & II
Arrival Day
3:00PM: Hotel check-in begins.
5:00PM: Sunset meet & greet picnic in Luxembourg Gardens.
Workshop Days
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.
Departure Day
12:00PM: Final check-out at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche.
Optional Evening Activities
Arrival Day: Sunset meet & greet picnic in Luxembourg Gardens.
Day 1: Latin Quarter Walking Tour & Dinner
Day 2: Evening Boat Ride on the Bateaux Mouche
Day 3: Night Bike Tour & Dinner in Tuileries Garden
Day 4: Reading on the Banks of the Seine River with Champagne Toast & Farewell Dinner
**Details subject to change. The final version will be sent out a few weeks before the trip.
Example Session I Schedule Detail
Example Session II Schedule Detail
Included Optional Evening Activities
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 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 craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
- One-on-one conference with faculty
- A literary walking tour in the Latin Quarter, an evening boat ride on the Bateaux Mouche, and a night bike tour of the city.
- 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 would like to bring your partner or a guest along for the trip (and share a room), the cost is $895 for the Paris Workshop and $695 for the Add-On (for a total of $1,590 for your partner to join you on both legs of the trip). The guest fee for the Add-On is $695 regardless of whether you choose the 2-night or 3-night option.
2-Day Versailles & Monet's Garden Add-On, July 19 & 20, 2026
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.
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 2026. 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.
Application & General FAQ
What is the application deadline?
Applications for our July 2025 Paris Workshops are now open and will close on January 15th, 2026. Due to volume, early applications are encouraged.
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 5000 words max.)
- Early applications are encouraged.
When will I know if I've been accepted to the workshop?
We cap our workshop participation at 10 writers in each genre cohort for the week. Our goal is to provide an intimate, rigorous workshop environment so that participants can come to Paris and find meaningful connections and excellent feedback on their work. Due to the volume of applications and competitive acceptance, writers are encouraged to apply early. We employ a reading committee of professional writers and editors, and applicants will be notified after the application window closes.
How much does it cost?
Tuition is $3,495. 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.
Can I bring my partner or a guest?
If you would like to bring your partner or a guest along for the trip (and share a room), the cost is $895 for the Paris Workshop and $695 for the Add-On (for a total of $1,590 for your partner to join you on both legs of the trip). The guest fee for the Add-On is $695 regardless of whether you choose the 2-night or 3-night option.
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 in the Latin Quarter, an evening boat ride on the Bateaux Mouche, and a night bike tour of the city.
- 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 you would like to bring your partner or a guest along for the trip (and share a room), the cost is $895 for the Paris Workshop and $695 for the Add-On (for a total of $1,590 for your partner to join you on both legs of the trip). The guest fee for the Add-On is $695 regardless of whether you choose the 2-night or 3-night option.
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?
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 your privacy. We will only use your email to send you information about Writing Workshops. 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. You can also Chat with us (lower left of your screen).
Terms & Conditions
Terms and Conditions
WritingWorkshops.com 2026 Writing Workshop in Paris,France (July 2026)
Safe, Respectful & Inclusive Environment
WritingWorkshops.comis committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for allparticipants at the 2026 Writing Workshop in Paris, France. Inappropriatebehavior—whether written, verbal, or physical—is strictly prohibited. Such behaviormay include (but is not limited to) abuse, threats, derogatory ordiscriminatory language, gestures, or actions; any form of harassment, racism,sexism; or any other targeted conduct that violates local, national, orinternational laws or that causes harm to another participant. This applies tointeractions before, during, and after the workshop, whether in-person inParis, at associated events, through the WritingWorkshops.com website or socialmedia channels, during any online component, or by any other method ofcommunication. WritingWorkshops.com reserves the right to take appropriateaction—up to and including revoking admission without refund—against anyindividual(s) or group(s) that violate this Code of Conduct.
Health & Safety Guidelines
Allattendees are expected to follow relevant public health guidelines, includingthose related to COVID-19 or other pandemic-level communicable illnesses. Thismay include social distancing, frequent hand washing, and refraining fromattending sessions if feeling unwell. Should you observe or experience aviolation of these guidelines or any other part of this Code of Conduct, pleasecontact WritingWorkshops.com immediately.
Reporting toWritingWorkshops.com does not replace notifying local law enforcement of suspectedlegal violations.
In case of an emergency, dialthe local emergency number immediately (in France: 112 for emergencies, 17 forpolice).
For non-emergencies, local lawenforcement contact information will be provided in workshop materials.
Photo, Video & Audio Recording Release
Byparticipating in the WritingWorkshops.com 2026 Writing Workshop in Paris,France, you waive all rights to any claims for payment or royalties inconnection with the use, exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising, orother publication of any photos, videos, or audio recordings taken of youduring the workshop. You also waive any right to inspect or approve thesematerials. By registering, you acknowledge that you have been fully informed ofyour consent, waiver of liability, and release.
Assumption of Risk & Waiver of Liability
Bypaying your tuition and attending the 2026 Writing Workshop in Paris, France,you acknowledge that you are participating voluntarily and assume all risksassociated with the workshop, including, but not limited to, injuries,illnesses, damages, theft, or loss of life. WritingWorkshops.com, itsorganizers, affiliates, and agents ("Organizers") are not responsiblefor any injuries, death, or damages—physical or emotional—that may occur duringor as a result of your participation. You hereby release, waive, and dischargethe Organizers from any and all claims, demands, liabilities, or causes ofaction arising from or relating to your participation. By paying your tuition,you explicitly agree to these terms.
Travel Documentation & Requirements
Attendeesare responsible for ensuring they possess the appropriate documentationrequired for travel to France, including a valid passport and any necessaryvisas. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays under 90 days, butrequirements vary by nationality. Should France or the European Union implementCOVID vaccination or other health requirements, attendees must complyaccordingly. Please verify current entry requirements with the French Embassyor Consulate before travel.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
ForceMajeure / Government Restrictions:
IfFrance or the European Union forbids entry during the scheduled July 2026workshop dates, or if the workshop venue in Paris closes for those dates and nocomparable location in Paris can be secured, WritingWorkshops.com will offer afull refund of the workshop program fees. WritingWorkshops.com will notreimburse any airline tickets or additional trip-related expenses incurred byparticipants.
WorkshopProceeding as Scheduled:
Ifthe 2026 Writing Workshop in Paris, France proceeds on the scheduled dates inJuly 2026, program fees will be refunded according to the following schedule:
90+ days before the workshop:tuition payment minus a $900 deposit is fully refundable
60+ days before the workshop:50% of tuition is refundable
30+ days before the workshop:25% of tuition is refundable
Less than 30 days before theworkshop: no refunds can be offered
Regardlessof attendance, no refunds will be provided once the workshop has commenced.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
TheseTerms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with thelaws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.Any and all disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or relating tothese Terms and Conditions, your registration, or your participation in the2026 Writing Workshop in Paris, France shall be resolved exclusively in the stateor federal courts located in the State of Texas. By registering for thisworkshop, you expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction of the courts ofthe State of Texas and waive any objection to venue in Texas courts.
Agreement to Terms
Byregistering for and participating in the WritingWorkshops.com 2026 WritingWorkshop in Paris, France, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, andagree to abide by these Terms and Conditions. Your registration and payment oftuition constitute a binding agreement to uphold this Code of Conduct and allassociated policies.
Forquestions or additional information, please contact WritingWorkshops.com. Weappreciate your cooperation and look forward to creating a welcoming,inspiring, and productive workshop for everyone.