Writing Workshops Portland September 2026
Portland is built for writers.
This is the city of Powell's Books, of Ursula K. Le Guin, of a coffee culture so serious it became its own art form. The Pacific Northwest has always been a place where people come to think more slowly, look more carefully, and write more honestly, and for one week in September 2026, we're bringing our most intimate retreat program to Portland.
Led by Antonio Ruiz-Camacho, Minda Honey, and Sanibel Lazar, Writing Workshops Portland brings together fiction and nonfiction writers for an intensive week of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth conversations about the craft and business of writing.
Our program is intentionally small: two fiction cohorts and one nonfiction cohort, each capped at 10 writers, led by three of the most distinctive voices working in American literature today.
How the Week Works
Every writer in the program submits two completed pieces of writing before arrival. The first is workshopped by your cohort and instructor. The second goes into your private one-on-one conference with your workshop leader — time set aside just for you and your work.
Daily craft talks are open to all participants. Optional afternoon seminars go deep on specific elements of craft and the writing life. Evenings belong to the group: dinners, a coffee tasting in the morning, a wine tasting in the evening, and a final reading on the last night.
This is not a large conference. There are no panels of strangers, no name tags on lanyards. There are 30 writers and three extraordinary teachers, spending a week together in one of America's great literary cities.
Applications for our September 2026 Workshops Are Open!
Workshop Dates:
September 16–21, 2026
Tuition is $2,995 (includes 5 nights lodging at Hotel Lucia)
Though our admissions process is competitive and the quality of writing high, all interested writers are encouraged to apply.
Workshop Faculty
Antonio Ruiz-Camacho — Fiction: National Magazine Award finalist. Jesse H. Jones Award winner for Best Book of Fiction. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford. Dobie Paisano Fellow at UT Austin. Antonio's debut story collection Barefoot Dogs was named a Best Book by Kirkus Reviews, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Texas Observer, and PRI's The World. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Salon, and Texas Monthly. He holds an MFA from The New Writers Project at UT Austin. You will leave his workshop a different writer than you arrived.
Minda Honey — Nonfiction: Minda Honey's essays on politics and relationships have appeared in Harper's Bazaar, The Washington Post, The Guardian, the Oxford American, and Longreads. Her debut memoir, The Heartbreak Years (Little A, 2023), is a portrait of a woman figuring out who she is and who she wants to be — intimate, hilarious, and deeply honest. Her work appears in anthologies including Burn It Down: Women Writing About Anger and A Measure of Belonging: 21 Writers of Color on the New American South. She is the kind of teacher who makes you braver on the page.
Sanibel Lazar — Fiction: Sanibel Lazar turned a self-published debut into a USA Today bestseller through sheer creative force and an audience she built on her own terms. Her second novel, Does This Make Me Look Rich?, is forthcoming from Union Square in 2027. Her essays and criticism appear in New York magazine, ELLE, Air Mail, and Literary Hub. She is the creator of Sad Rich Girls (via Bindery) and one of the most original voices on the intersection of money, identity, and desire in American writing today.
Lodging at Hotel Lucia
Home base for the week is Hotel Lucia, a downtown Portland landmark known for its extensive photography collection, its creative energy, and its location in the beating heart of the city. Bookstores, coffee shops, galleries, and great restaurants are steps from the front door. Your own private room is included in your tuition. Check in on Wednesday, September 16. Check out Monday, September 21.
Class Size
Weekly Schedule
Wednesday, September 16
4:00 p.m. — Check-in at Hotel Lucia
5:30 p.m. — Meet-and-greet happy hour
Thursday, September 17 – Sunday, September 20
8:45 a.m.–2:45 p.m. — Workshops and one-on-one conferences with your instructor
3:00–4:00 p.m. — Optional afternoon seminars
Evenings — Optional group dinners, wine tasting, and a final group reading
Monday, September 21
12:00 p.m. — Check-out
**Details subject to change. The final version will be sent out a few weeks before the trip.
Why Portland. Why Now.
There's something about a literary city that loosens the writing. You walk past a bookstore and feel the permission to take your work seriously. You sit in a coffee shop and hear the particular silence of people thinking. Portland has that quality — a creative atmosphere that seeps into everything, that makes the work feel more possible.
Since 2018, we've taken writers to Paris, Dublin, Tuscany, Hawaii, and beyond. Every retreat we've run has produced writers who left with finished work, new friendships, and a clearer sense of where they're going. Portland will be no different.
Applications for Writing Workshops Portland open now. Space is limited.
Example Schedule Detail
Included Optional Evening Activities
Tuition
Tuition is $2,995 USD and includes the following:
- Lodging in your own room at the Hotel Lucia for 6 days, 5 nights
- 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
- Third Wave Coffee Tour and Wine Tasting at The Portland Wine Bar.
- 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 Portland Workshop.
Testimonials For Our 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 September 2026 Portland Workshops are now open and will close on May 1st. 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 Portland. 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 Portland 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 $2,995 USD. If your application is accepted, full tuition is due within 10 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 Portland Workshop.
What is your refund policy for the workshop in Portland?
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 Hotel Lucia for 5 nights
- 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
- Third Wave Coffee Tour and Wine Tasting at The Portland Wine Bar
- Please Note: meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are not included in the price of tuition.
Manuscript Submissions
Ahead of our arrival in Portland, students will submit manuscripts according to their genre:
Fiction and Nonfiction Writers will submit two separate pieces of up to 5,000 words each (10,000 words total). 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 Portland.
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.
Instructor Substitution Policy
In the event of an instructor's emergency, sickness, or unavailability, Writing Workshops reserves the right to provide a substitute instructor of equivalent caliber to teach the course. If a substitute is provided, the course will proceed as scheduled, and standard refund policies apply.
Where is the hotel and workshop venue?
Immerse yourself in both comfort and inspiration for 6 days, 5 nights at the Hotel Lucia. The 4-star hotel sits in the heart of literary Portland.
Terms & Conditions