Join Cary Tennis, Saturday May 16 to Saturday May 23, 2026, at the Atelier Clos Mirabel in Southwestern France, near the town of Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, for a week of enlightening exploration that will supercharge your story.
About this course:
True story: In May 2019 I attended a writers conference in Florence, Italy, where I submitted some prose fiction to the noted writer and editor Ms. Beena Kamlani. I told her that even though I had been a professional writer for many years, even though I had written and published a book for writers called Finishing School, I was having trouble finishing my own novel. She suggested I read the book The Anatomy of Story by Mr. John Truby.
So I promptly ordered the book. It promptly arrived. I promptly didn’t read it. I had a million reasons. Truth is, I was scared. I didn’t know what to do but I didn’t really want to find out. If I found out then I would have to work on my novel some more. I didn’t want to work on it anymore. I was tired. I just wanted to be done. I wanted magic to happen.
So I did nothing. Unsurprisingly, nothing happened. Nothing got better. My novel continued to not hold together. Every time I “worked on it,” it got worse. Finally I got fed up and said, OK, I’ll read Truby’s stupid little book.
Almost immediately, I saw for the first time what my story really was about, and why some of my most cherished scenes were just interesting distractions—amusing, lyrical perhaps, but irrelevant. It was hard to accept but liberating. I saw the main character’s real weakness, her real need, what her moral dilemma was, and how her antagonist was both her mirror and her adversary.
I would have paid a million dollars for such an insight if I had a million dollars but it only cost me the price of the book. So, with what I’ve learned recently, and what I already know from a lifetime of writing for a living and using the Amherst Writers and Artists workshop method to help other writers, I invite you to: First Lines, Last Words: An AWA Workshop about Beginnings and Endings.
If all goes well, you will leave this workshop knowing:
- Which story among many you alone need to write
- Which character is an ally and which is the antagonist
- How to make crucial story decisions early so it doesn’t fall apart later
- That plotting is not mechanical but grows organically
- How to know which character needs to be your main character
- How a character’s weakness, need and desire motivate meaningful action
- That designing the story ahead of time is not cheating
- How to have fun and enjoy life by writing endings early; and
- How prompts can be used to generate needed specific text; that is, free-writing can be directed at a target.
That’s promising a lot for one short week. It won’t all come together immediately. It’s the start of a practice that should continue for our lifetimes. So after the workshop, I will continue our story conference online with whoever wishes to continue. We’re in this together.
After a lifetime of writing journalism for a living and fiction on the side, after more than fifteen years leading Amherst Writers and Artists workshops and making innumerable first drafts, great lines, hilarious premises, and publishing a few books but no novels, I really think this is a way forward for writers like you and me.
I’ll say more over the coming months in my Substack and on my own website. Let me know if you’re interested and have any questions. Contact the Atelier for information about accommodations. They’ll take good care of you.
Ciao
CT
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 May 16
4:00 – onward: Check-in time. Guests arrive, settle in and explore Clos Mirabel
6:00 Welcome drinks and dinner, with discussion of the week to come.
Sunday May 17
8:30 – 9:30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10:00 – 10:30 Introduction, question and answer
10:30 – 11:15 Lightning Premise Brainstorming Game
11:15 – 11:30 Fifteen-minute Break
11:30 – 1:00 First Paragraphs readings
1:00 – 2:30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3:00 – 4:30 More first paragraph readings
4:30 – 4:45 Fifteen-minute Break
4:45 – 6:00 A little about the John Truby method
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Monday May 18
8:30 – 9:30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10: 00 – 11:00 What text do you need? (Write it from a prompt)
11:00 – 11:15 Fifteen-minute Break
11:15 – 1:00 Who is your main character? Is it you?
1:00 – 2:30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3:00 – 5:00 Discussion: How and why to know which story is your story?
5:00 – 6:00 Writing to Prompt: My story is …
6:00 – Tasting local wines
7:00 – Four-course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Tuesday May 19
8:30 – 9:30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10:00 – 11:00 Discussion: What do you need?
11:00 – 1:00 Individual conferences and/or private writing time
1:00 – 2:30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3:00 – 5:00 Revised text and story decisions: Discussion
5:00 – 6:00 Writing to prompt.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Wednesday May 20 – Free Day
8:30 – 9:30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
9:30 – 6:00 Free Day: Morning and Afternoon: 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
Thursday May 21
8:30 – 9:30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10:00 – 11:00 Prompt: Write an ending
11:00 – 1:00 TBA (Possible—If memoir: who is the antagonist?)
1:00 – 2:30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3:00 – 5:00 TBA or Discussing revised text and/or private revision time
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Friday May 22
8:30 – 9:30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10:00 – 11:00 TBA
11:00 – 1:00 TBA
1:00 – 2:30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3:00 – 5:00 TBA or Discussing revised text and/or private revision time
6.00 – Readings and Music Night: share your work over aperitifs and four-course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday May 23
8:30 Buffet Breakfast and departure
11:00 Check out
Non-painting guests: we are more than happy to welcomenon-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.
