Writing Workshops Dublin 2024
Writing Workshops Dublin with Amber Sparks, Ethan Joella, and Elissa Bassist brings together fiction and nonfiction writers 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 intentionally small and will take place in the heart of literary Dublin.
Each fiction and nonfiction workshop will have no more than 10 participants each. All writers will submit two completed pieces of writing. One submission will be workshopped by your cohort and instructor and a second piece will be submitted for your one-on-one meeting with your workshop leader. 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 April we think there is no better place for our workshop retreat than on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. Scroll down for more details!


Fáilte! Applications for our April 2024 Dublin workshops are now open and will close on December 10th, 2023.
2024 Workshop Dates:
April 28 - May 3, 2024
Though our admissions process is competitive and the quality of writing high, all interested writers are encouraged to apply.
Dublin Workshop Faculty:

Fiction Instructor Amber Sparks is the author of an upcoming novel, Happy People Don’t Live Here, an upcoming short story collection, Did Parents In the Middle Ages Love Their Children? (both from Liveright/W.W. Norton), and four collections of short fiction, including And I Do Not Forgive You: Revenges and other Stories and The Unfinished World. Her fiction and essays have appeared in American Short Fiction, the Paris Review, Slate, Tin House, Granta, The Cut and elsewhere. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, daughter, and two cats. Learn more about Amber here.

Fiction Instructor Ethan Joella is the author of A Little Hope, which was a Read with Jenna Bonus Selection on the TODAY show, A Quiet Life, and The Same Bright Stars (all from Scribner books). He lives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with his wife and two daughters and teaches English and psychology at the University of Delaware.Learn more about Ethan here.

Learn more about Elissa here.




Lodging at Iveagh Garden Hotel
Immerse yourself in both comfort and inspiration for 6 days, 5 nights at Iveagh Garden Hotel. This 4-star hotel is an urban oasis just steps from Grafton Street and Iveagh Gardens. Opened in February 2018, it is one of the lowest carbon footprints of any Irish Hotel and is Europe's first fully sustainable hotel. Located in the heart of this vibrant city, the Iveagh Garden Hotel is one of the best Dublin hotels near all major attractions. Your own room and breakfast are included in your workshop tuition.
Class Size
Each fiction and nonfiction workshops will have no more than 10 participants each. All writers will submit two completed pieces of writing. One submission will be workshopped by your cohort and instructor and a second piece will be submitted for your one-on-one meeting with your workshop leader. Daily craft talks are open to all participants and led by program staff or faculty.



Workshop Schedule Overview
Sunday, April 28th, 2024
3:00PM: Hotel check-in begins.
5:00PM: Meet & Greet Happy Hour
6:30PM: Dinner
Monday, April 29th - Thursday, May 2nd, 2024
Mornings: Breakfast served. Workshops and one-on-one instructor meetings.
Afternoons/Evenings: Optional craft seminar, led by faculty or staff. Optional mid-afternoon activity followed by dinner.
Friday, May 3rd, 2024
8:00AM-9:00AM: Goodbye breakfast.
11:00AM: Final check-out at Iveagh Garden Hotel
Optional Afternoon Activities will be included throughout the week. Full schedule detailed below.
Note: Optional 2-Day Southwest Ireland Add-On dates are May 3rd - 5th, 2024.

Workshop Schedule Detail, April 28 - May 3, 2024





Workshop Tuition
Workshop Tuition for the dates of April 28 - May 3, 2024, is $3,395 and includes the following:
- Lodging in your own room at Iveagh Garden Hotel for 6 days, 5 nights
- Daily free Breakfast
- 4-day writing workshops in small groups of no more than 10 writers
- Critical feedback on two writing submissions
- Several craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
- One-on-one conference with faculty
- Optional afternoon activities
- The time of your life
- Please Note: lunch and dinner are not included in the price of tuition.
- Payment Plans: 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.
- FAQ at the bottom of this page.

2-Day Southwest Ireland Add-On, May 3 - 5, 2024






Saturday promises a delightful beginning with a scrumptious breakfast at the hotel, setting the tone for an enchanting full-day exploration of The Ring of Kerry. Our journey will be led by local guides giving an insider's perspective, revealing the beauty of the countryside in a way only a native can.
Our first stop is Killorglin, famed for the unique Puck Fair—a 400-year-old pagan-rooted festival where a crowned mountain goat oversees three days of revelry. Continuing along Dingle Bay, we reach Caherciveen, home to the historic Cahergal Ring Fort and Ballycarbery Castle. A scenic ferry ride transports us to Valentia Island, once a pivotal communication hub. Explore the quaint fishing village of Portmagee for lunch, then ascend Kerry Cliffs and drive the Skellig Ring, famous for Star Wars scenes at Skellig Rock. Visit the Skelligs Chocolate Factory, McCarthy's Castle, and Charlie Chaplin's cherished Waterville. Admire Atlantic and Kenmare Bay views, explore Derrynane Harbour, Sneem village, Molls Gap, and the Lakes of Killarney before returning to the Dunloe Hotel & Spa for dinner.
2-Day Southwest Ireland Add-On Activities, May 3 - 5, 2024
Friday, May 3rd, 2024
-Breakfast starts at the hotel at 7:00 a.m.
-Depart from the hotel at 8:30 a.m.
-Arrive at Dunloe Hotel & Gardens at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Lunch
-Explore the 64-acre grounds of Dunloe, including Dunloe Castle, Dunloe Gardens, and optional activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, swimming, and spa treatments.
-Dinner in the nearby town of Killarney.
-Breakfast starts at the hotel at 7:00 a.m.
-Depart from the hotel at 8:45 a.m. for a full-day tour of The Ring of Kerry.
-Our morning will include visits to: Killorglin, Dingle Bay, Caherciveen, Cahergal Ring Fort, Ballycarbery Castle and Valentia Island.
-Lunch in the fishing village of Portmagee.
-After lunch we will visit Kerry Cliffs, the Skellig Rock, Skelligs Chocolate Factory, McCarthy's Castle, and Waterville. On the ride home we will see Atlantic and Kenmare Bay views, Derrynane Harbour, Sneem village, Molls Gap, and the Lakes of Killarney.
-We will return to Dunloe Hotel & Gardens for dinner at the hotel.
-Breakfast starts at the hotel at 7:00 a.m.
-Depart from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. heading back to Dublin.
-Drop off either at the airport or back in Central Dublin. -We don’t recommend any flights that depart before 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Testimonials For Our Dublin Retreats
"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.
"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.
"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.
Program Staff


Application & General FAQ
What is the application deadline?
Applications for our April 2024 Dublin Workshops are open and early applications are encouraged.
What is your COVID policy?
It is the responsibility of attendees of Writing Workshops Dublin 2024 to have the appropriate documentation required and to meet any COVID vaccination requirements implemented by the country of Ireland.
If Ireland or the United States government forbids entry Ireland for the dates of April 28 - May 5, 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 Dublin 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. (250 words max)
- Purpose statement explaining why you would like to participate in Writing Workshops Dublin. You can also discuss current manuscripts or writing projects that you might choose to workshop. (500 words max.)
- Writing sample excerpt in fiction or nonfiction. 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. (Fiction/nonfiction: 2500 words max).
- Applications are open. Click here to apply now.
When will I know if I've been accepted to the workshop?
We cap our workshop participation at 10 writers in each genre cohort (fiction and nonfiction) for the week. Our goal is to provide an intimate, rigorous workshop environment so that participants can come to Dublin and find meaningful connections and excellent feedback on their work. We will accept applicants on a rolling basis until each cohort is full and then begin waitlists. 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?
Workshop Tuition for the dates of April 28 - May 3, 2024, is $3,395. The cost of the 2-Day Southwest Ireland Add-On Activities from May 3 - 5, 2024, is an additional $1,495.
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) or Lay-Buy (for applicants inside or outside of North America) 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.
What does workshop tuition include for the dates of April 28 - May 3, 2024?
- Lodging in your own room at Iveagh Garden Hotel for 6 days, 5 nights
- Free Breakfast
- 4-day writing workshops in small groups of no more than 10 writers, led by workshop faculty.
- Critical feedback on two writing submissions
- Several craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
- One-on-one conference with faculty
- Optional afternoon activities
- The time of your life
- Please Note: lunch and dinner are not included in the price of tuition.
- Note: 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.
What is your refund policy for the workshop in Dublin?
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.
Where is the hotel and workshop venue?
Immerse yourself in both comfort and inspiration for 6 days, 5 nights at Iveagh Garden Hotel. This 4-star hotel is an urban oasis just steps from Grafton Street and Iveagh Gardens. Opened in February 2018, it is one of the lowest carbon footprints of any Irish Hotel and is Europe's first fully sustainable hotel. Located in the heart of this vibrant city, the Iveagh Garden Hotel is one of the best Dublin hotels near all major attractions. Your own room and breakfast are included in your workshop tuition.
How late can I apply?
We will accept applications until the workshop is full.
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 Dublin Trip Extension Cost for the dates of May 3 - 5, 2024? ?
**The cost of the 2-day add-on is an additional $1,495,which includes lodging for two nights at Dunloe Hotel & Gardens, aswell as transportation to the hotel and back to the airport at the endof the trip. Breakfast at Dunloe Hotel & Gardens is included in theprice of the trip extension. However, the cost of lunch and dinner arenot included.
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 respectyour privacy. We will only use your email to send you informationabout Writing Workshops. We won't sell or rent your email to otherorganizations.
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).