
Applications for our July 2023 Paris workshops are open!
2023 Workshop Dates:
With two sessions to choose from, Writing Workshops Paris 2023 brings together fiction, nonfiction, and poetry 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.
Applicants can apply for Session I or Session II and indicate their preference. We will try to accept writers into their first choice. Applicants can also choose to be considered for either session. Accepted writers may only attend one session, either Session I or Session II.
Each workshop will have no more than 10 participants. 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.
Note: It is the responsibility of attendees of Writing Workshops Paris to have the appropriate documentation required and to meet any COVID vaccination requirements implemented by the country of France.
Session I: July 2nd - 7th, 2023
Faculty Includes:
Fiction Instructor Marie-Helene Bertino
Nonfiction Instructor Chloe Caldwell
Poetry Instructor Ted Dodson
Session II: July 9th - 14th, 2023
Faculty Includes:
Fiction Instructor Ramona Ausubel
Nonfiction Instructor Chloe Caldwell
What will my application include?
- Brief bio informing us of your involvement in the writing and literary community and 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, poetry, 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: 3000 words max; Poetry: 3-5 poems max).
We look forward to reading your work!
Sincerely,
Blake Kimzey, WritingWorkshops.com
Follow us on Instagram.
For full details, please visit our 2023 Paris Webpage. Apply Now!

One of our most popular writing retreats is back for 2023!
Our Finding Your Voice Retreat brings together poetry, 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 inclusive, intentionally small, and will take place on the shores of Lake Huron on an island set between Michigan’s Lower and Upper Peninsulas with breathtaking views and the peace of a locale free of motor traffic and metropolitan noise.
This intimate writing retreat is open to all 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 this fall, we think there is no better place to do this than on the sunrise side of a peaceful Midwest island that has been an historic landmark since the 19th century, at our writers retreat.
Retreat Dates:
September 11th - 15th, 2023
What will my application include?
- Brief bio informing us of your involvement in the writing and literary community and any prior or forthcoming publications. (250 words max)
- Purpose statement explaining why you would like to participate in Writing Workshops Mackinac Island. You can also discuss current manuscripts or writing projects that you might choose to workshop. (500 words max.)
- Writing sample excerpt in poetry, 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 at the retreat. Complete works under the word count are not required; excerpts are acceptable. (Fiction/nonfiction: 2500 words max, poetry: up to 3 poems).
We look forward to reading your work!
Sincerely,
Blake Kimzey, WritingWorkshops.com
Follow us on Instagram. For full details, please visit our 2023 Program Webpage. Apply Now!

One of our most popular writing retreats is back for 2023!
This impactful retreat, led by Nancy Sharp, is geared toward people of all backgrounds who care deeply about sharing what matters most—family and personal lore, deeply held values, life lessons, and the intent and stories behind the causes they care about—as a way to live with greater intention and meaning now and in the future. Nancy is an award-winning author, trainer, and storytelling coach. So many of us talk about wanting to pass along our most important life experiences but most of us never get around to putting them on paper.
Set amid 75 acres of formal and informal gardens and 8,000 acres of Blue Ridge Mountains, the Biltmore House in historic Asheville, NC, was commissioned by George Vanderbilt in 1889 and is known as America’s Largest Home®. This spectacular venue is the ideal setting to step away from everyday distractions and reflect upon your very own life letter.
The Life Letters Retreat is open to individuals as well as couples. You’ll map your life’s narrative and be expertly led to write a personalized document that you can be proud of. No matter your writing experience, you’ll walk away with craft techniques about storytelling that will strengthen your voice on the page. You might even forge a path to publication.
Note that the life letter, which can also be called an ethical will or legacy letter, is not about facing mortality. It is about living with greater awareness and purpose, which is why sharing it with family and communities is cause for celebration. Benefits include greater understanding and acceptance of one’s self, greater alignment with one’s values, and a deep sense of purpose. Many individuals also cite stronger family relationships across the generations. The life letter will become an enduring, tangible part of your legacy, and something that can be amended over the years.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tell the stories, history, and experiences that have shaped your life’s journey. It’s a gift to you, your loved ones, and your community.
Testimonials:
"Nancy Sharp does life-changing work." - William Silvers, M.D.
"I've wanted to write a legacy document for my family for many years. With Nancy's guidance, I finally did it." - Evi Makovsky
"Through Nancy’s expert guidance and individual coaching, participants experienced the act of transmitting values to the next generation in meaningful and intentional ways. There is no doubt that this work will enhance philanthropy both to the Rose Community Foundation, as well as in our greater Denver community." - Judy Altenberg, Rose Community Foundation
"Nancy is masterful at her craft, meeting people where they are at in life, helping them overcome resistance and barriers, and bringing out their deepest thoughts and sentiments." - Eric Sonderman
You can see the full 2023 Life Letters Retreat description here. Apply Now!

Workshop Dates: June 19th - 24th, 2023
Applications for our June 2023 Iceland workshops are open!
Writing Workshops Iceland 2023 brings together fiction and nonfiction writers for an intensive week frequently appears of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth discussions on the craft and business of writing led by Isaac Fitzgerald (nonfiction) and Amber Sparks (fiction). Our program is inclusive, intentionally small, and takes place in the heart of Literary Iceland, rich with history and inspiration.
Each workshop will have no more than 10 participants. All writers will submit two completed pieces of writing. Your cohort and instructor will workshop one submission, 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 are led by program staff or faculty.
Our workshops are open to writers who want to strengthen their voice, develop a greater understanding of their 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 we think there is no better place to do this than in Iceland during the Summer Solstice in June every year.
Note: It is the responsibility of attendees of Writing Workshops Iceland to have the appropriate documentation required and to meet any COVID vaccination requirements implemented by the country of Iceland.
Fiction Instructor Amber Sparks is the author of four collections of short fiction, including And I Do Not Forgive You: Revenges and other Stories and The Unfinished World, and her fiction and essays have appeared in American Short Fiction, the Paris Review, Tin House, Granta, The Cut and elsewhere. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, daughter, and two cats.
Nonfiction Instructor Isaac Fitzgerald is the New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts (winner of a New England Book Award). He appears frequently on The Today Show and is also the author of the bestselling children’s book How to Be a Pirate as well as the co-author of Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them and Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos (winner of an IACP Award). His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, The Guardian, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, and numerous other publications. He lives in Brooklyn and is currently working on his next book, American Dionysus, forthcoming from Knopf.
What will my application include?
- Brief bio informing us of your involvement in the writing and literary community and any prior or forthcoming publications. (250 words max)
- Purpose statement explaining why you would like to participate in Writing Workshops Iceland. 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: 3000 words max)
We look forward to reading your work!
Sincerely,
Blake Kimzey, WritingWorkshops.com
Follow us on Instagram.
For full details, please visit our Iceland 2023 Webpage. Apply Now!