Join Allison K Williams and Dinty Moore as they return to Atelier Clos Mirabel in August 2026 to lead a Writers’ Workshop for for Memoirists, Novelists and Essayists in the French Pyrénées.
About this course:
Allison K Williams is the author of Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro From Blank Page to Book. She has edited and coached writers to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, Spencer Hill, and St. Martin’s Press as well as hybrid and independent presses. She’s guided essayists and humorists to publication in media including the New Yorker, Time, the Guardian, the New York Times, McSweeney’s, Refinery29, Hippocampus, the Belladonna and TED Talks. As Social Media Editor for Brevity, she inspires thousands of writers with weekly blogs on craft and the writing life.
Dinty Moore consults regularly with authors and publishers on book proposals and revisions, many going on to publish with Big Five houses and university presses. A well-known and popular workshop leader, he has led workshops in Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, and throughout the United States.
This week focuses on identifying both your best and most problematic habits on the page. In daily craft lessons in sentence shape and rhythm, heart story, dramatic structure, powerful paragraphs, “quick fixes” and more, you’ll explore how language choices and sequence of action can snap “good enough” prose into gripping and dynamic moments. Unlike the traditional workshop, you’ll be using the tools in your own writing as we go. Discoveries made in live-editing, and techniques taught in craft lessons, will be immediately applied to your work.
In live-editing, instructors and participants work together to apply techniques of line-editing, sentence craft and scene construction to see where your prose is focused, energetic, and reader-centered and where it can be improved through purposeful revision. Each participant will receive individual editing attention, and we will all benefit from examining the varied work of other participants. Throughout live-editing time, you’ll apply specific techniques to your own work-in-progress.
Creative Writing Retreat – Programme Outline
Please note that the schedule that follows is tentative; the curriculum for this class is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs and wishes of the participants.
Saturday
4.00 – Check-in time from 4pm onwards.
Guests arrive, settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
6.00 – Welcome drinks and dinner, with discussion of goals for the week to come
Sunday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Craft Talk: Solving Your Story with Dramatic Structure
11.00 – 12.30 Live-Editing
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.30 – 4.30 Office hours for scheduled one-on-one meetings; free time to write individually or with the instructor and like-minded course participants
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Monday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Craft Talk: Creating Powerful Characters (whether real or fictional!)
11.00 – 12.30 Live-Editing
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel & Publishing Paths Talk
2.30 – 4..30 Office hours for scheduled one-on-one meetings; free time to write individually or with the instructor and like-minded course participants
6.00 – Tasting of local wines, followed by 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Tuesday
8.00 – 9.00 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
9.00 – Depart for a half day in the mountains (gentle or intermediate hike) or simply relaxing in inspiring landscape : lunch in a local village restaurant and generative writing en plein air – bring your notebook – Transport provided.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House
Please note this programme may be subject to change depending on the weather.
Please ensure you bring sensible walking shoes, layers, waterproof jacket, water bottle, sunscreen and a hat.
Wednesday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Craft Talk: Stronger Scenes with Conflict and Tension
11.00 – 12.30 Live-Editing
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel & Finding Your Readers Talk
2.30 – 4.30 Office hours for scheduled one-on-one meetings; free time to write individually or with the instructor and like-minded course participants
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Thursday – Open Inspiration Day (Lunch is not provided)
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
Free time to explore Pau or beyond. The Clos Mirabel team is available to provide suggestions and organize transport.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Friday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Craft Talk: The Fine Art of Layering: Revelations, Withholding, and the Power of Detail
11.00 – 12.30 Live-Editing
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
2.30 – 4.30 Scheduled one-on-one meetings; free time to write individually or with the instructor and like-minded course participants
6.00 – Reading Night: share your work over aperitifs and 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet Breakfast and departure (Check-out 11am)
Non-Writing Guests: we are more than happy to welcome non-writing guests, accompanying partners, family or friends. There are plenty of activities to experience around Clos Mirabel, that will make your holiday unforgettable Click here for more information.
The Creative Studio offers a spacious open plan layout of 75 m2. It is available at all times during your stay. Click here for more information.
