Creative Retreats

Paris' ability to inspire in unparalleled regardless of the medium in which you want to create. Whether it's writing, painting, or even redesigning your life, spending time in Paris to do the work will fuel you with the collective energy of all the artists past and present who have preceded you.

We will be holding regular creative retreats during the year, and invite you to follow us on Instagram to get early notice as soon as they open. Have a creative topic you're interested in that isn't listed below? Use the contact form to let us know!

Mastering Romantic Prose: A Paris Writing Experience

Hone your craft, spark your creativity, and write love stories that shine—all in the heart of Paris.

Are you a romance novelist looking to reignite your inspiration, sharpen your craft, or simply flex your storytelling muscles in a supportive and inspiring setting? Join us in Paris for a writing experience unlike any other.

Long a haven for American expat authors, Paris’s rich literary tradition will be our backdrop—but not in the way you’d expect. There will be no solitary hours locked away in a garret. Instead, we’ll immerse ourselves in the city’s magnificent beauty, incredible food, chic fashion, and endless people-watching, using it all as creative fuel to refine our craft and bring our stories to life.

Over the course of 4 beautiful days in Paris, you will visit 8 unique Parisian locations to gather inspiration, get lessons in romance writing craft, conduct writing exercises, and engage in discussion with a supportive group of fellow writers. You will leave with a brand new toolbox of writing skills, endless amounts of ideas, concrete recommendations on how to take your novel to the next level, and a lifelong group of like-minded friends who can support you in journey.

Retreat Details - October 6 - 10, 2025

Who is it for?

Romance writers seeking to hone their storytelling craft in an inspirational setting that combines Parisian prompts, technique instruction, writing exercises, and group discussions. Final course curriculum will be customize to accommodate attendee needs.
Ideal for writers who have completed at least one draft of a romance novel to those who have independently published one novel. - Haven't completed your first draft, but still always dreamed of writing a romance novel and want the Parisian experience? Apply anyway! Writing with more experience writers will rapidly improve your skills.
Romance Genre Focus - This is for writers utilizing the standard industry romance genre with an HEA (happily ever after) ending. Target age book audience is 25+ (not Young Adult (YA) or New Adult) all the way through those writing silver fox romances for a more mature audience. There will discussion of writing intimate M-F open door scenes, with the level of spice depending on the participant's preferences.

NOTE: In order to enhance the creative experience and enable us to write in more Parisian settings, many of our writing exercises will be done with a notebook and pen rather than a computer. Many places here won't allow laptops and tablets, and we want you to get the most inspirational Parisian experience possible.

What is included?

Four (4) full days of writing inspiration, instruction, and discussion sessions start, Monday, October 6, 2025 through mid-day, Friday October 10, 2025
Five (5) nights at a boutique Parisian hotel.
Welcome lunch, daily breakfasts, and three (3) dinners and closing champagne celebration
Admission to all attractions
Opportunities to workshop current ideas and novel projects

Topics Covered

The focus of the instruction is oriented around creating a novel that is impossible to put down by making every element work harder to support the story - from scene descriptions to dialog.

Specific topics will be selected based on participant need but may include:

Finding inspiration in real life
Crafting irresistible male and female leads
Capturing unique character voices
Creating a compelling plot and supporting backstories
Identifying engaging inciting incidents
Developing meaningful intimacy

Finding Our Inspiration

We will visit iconic Parisian locations that tie into the day's instructional topic. In most cases, these will not be the typical tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower due to crowding and lack of opportunity to sit and soak in the experience. Sample locations, include:

Hotel de la Marine
Boutique Museum such as the Jacqmart Andre, Musée de Liberation, etc.
Fashion house or exhibit such as Musée Dior
Historic Parisian Cafés and restaurants
Notre Dame des Victoires, Saint Sulpice or other grand French church
Jardin de Palais Royale or Jardin de Luxembourg

Interested in the Retreat? Apply here.

Completing the application does not require a financial commitment, as you won't be registered until you receive the registration information and payment link.