
Bienvenue! Applications for the September 2022 workshops are NOW open!
Workshop dates: September 18–23, 2022
Applications will close May 1st, 2022
**Applications are Required**
*Early Applications are encouraged as spots are limited.
Do not pay for the workshop until you receive a formal acceptance notification via email.
Click HERE to Apply by May 1st, 2022.
Any questions about this workshop? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.
Writing Workshops Paris September 2022 brings together fiction and nonfiction writers for an intensive four days of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth discussions on the craft and business of writing. Our program is inclusive, intentionally small, and takes place in the middle of Literary Paris, rich with history and inspiration.
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 summer we think there is no better place to do this than in the heart of Paris, France.
Note: All Writing Workshops Paris attendees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID. It is the responsibility of attendees of Writing Workshops Paris to make sure they are vaccinated and have the appropriate documentation required to enter the country of France.
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
Each fiction and nonfiction workshop will have no more than 10 participants each, led by the genre faculty instructor. Daily craft talks are open to all participants and led by program staff or faculty. Ahead of our arrival in Paris, each student will submit two manuscripts up to 5,000 words each. 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 Paris.
Schedule
Sunday, September 18, 2022
2:00PM: Hotel check-in begins.
5:00PM: Sunset meet & greet picnic in Luxembourg Gardens.
Monday, September 19 - Thursday, September 22, 2022
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.
Friday, September 23, 2022
9:00AM-10:30AM: Goodbye at the Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche.
12:00PM: Final check-out.
Optional Evening Activities
Monday: Latin Quarter Walking Tour & Dinner
Tuesday: Night Bike Tour & Dinner in Tuileries Garden
Wednesday: Evening Boat Tour & Dinner
Thursday: Island Walk with Champagne & Farewell Dinner
Tuition
Tuition is $3,250.00 and includes the following:
- Lodging at Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche for 6 days, 5 nights
- A welcome cocktail 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 two writing submissions
- Several craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
- One-on-one conference with faculty
- A literary walking tour of Paris and other informal evening activities
- The time of your life
- Expanded FAQ at the bottom of this page.
Workshop Faculty
Click HERE to Apply by May 1st, 2022.
Paris Testimonials
Program Staff
Executive Director Blake Kimzey worked as a bicycle tour guide in Paris in his 20s. He is the founder of WritingWorkshops.com and has an MFA from UC Irvine. Blake sits on the Board of the Elizabeth George Foundation and his fiction has been broadcast on NPR and published byTin House, McSweeney’s, VICE, Longform, Redivider, Short Fiction, Smokelong Quarterly, Hobart, The Los Angeles Review, The Masters Review, and The Best Small Fictions. Blake’s collection of short tales, Families Among Us, was published by Black Lawrence Press.
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 2022 Paris Workshops ARE NOW OPEN and will close on May 1st, 2022. Early applications are encouraged. Click here to apply now.
What is your COVID policy?
All Writing Workshops Paris attendees are required to be fully vaccinated. It is the responsibility of attendees of Writing Workshops Paris to make sure they are vaccinated and have the appropriate documentation required to enter the country of France.
If the country of France forbids entry to their country, or if Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche closes, for the dates of September 18–23, 2022, 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 Paris 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 (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 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 for our September 2022 Paris Workshops ARE NOW OPEN and will close on May 27th, 2022. Early applications are encouraged. Click here to apply now.
When will I know if I've been accepted to the workshop?
We anticipate notifying applicants of their status no later than May 10th, 2022. We cap our workshop participation at 10 writers in each genre cohort (fiction, nonfiction) 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. 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?
Tuition is $3,250.00. If your application is accepted, full tuition for those accepted is due by May 23rd. Upon acceptance, you will have the option to pay your tuition in full or opt for a payment plan by selecting Affirm at checkout. Once tuition is paid, there are no refunds. We have this refund policy because the balance of our French hotel deposit and all group expenses are due prior to our arrival in France.
What does tuition include?
- Lodging at Hôtel Trianon Rive Gauche for 6 days, 5 nights
- A welcome cocktail party with faculty
- 4-day writing workshops in small groups of no more than 10, led by program faculty
- Critical feedback on two writing submissions
- Daily craft of writing and/or business of writing seminars
- One-on-one conference with faculty
- A literary walking tour of Paris and other informal evening activities.
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.
How late can I apply?
We will accept applications through May 27th, 2022.
I have a question not answered here.
Please contact us and we’ll reply promptly.