HALLIE EPHRON: I'm thrilled to report that I'll be teaching a 5-day master class on writing a mystery/suspense novel in (drum roll...) PARIS (31 May - 5 June 2026).
When the invitation to teach a master class at the 2026 WICE Paris Writers Workshop arrived, I pinched myself.
I present at a lot of writing confeence, but it's not often that I get to teach a really intensive, down in the nitty-gritties, week-long master class on writing with a group SMALL enough (max 12). With plenty of time for me to get to know the writers in the room and for them to get to know each other.
And Paris? Zoot alors!!
Then I scurried about making sure it was real... because, well, you know, sadly you've got to double and triple check everything that arrives via the Internet these days.
Turns out the Paris Writers Workshop, founded in 1989, is the oldest writers workshop in Europe. It's run by WICE ( Where Internationals Connect in English) which was started by a group of American expats back in 1978.
Earlier this week I caught up with Lorie Lichtlen, this year's workshop co-director. Thirty years ago, she came to Paris as a journalist and she's still there. More recently Lorie made her living writing for big businesses like Euro Disney.
Lorie has been coming to the Paris Writers Workshop since 2014, and fondly recalls the year she got to learn from Carol Shields (that same year that Shields won the Pulitzer).
She credits WICE for nurturing the creative nonfiction writer in her, and for introducing her to a community of writers.
She was delighted to talk about this year's faculty - six of us - and their first time offering a master class on writing mystery and suspense.
To say I'm looking forward to this would be an understatement! Because I *love love love* Paris. And my happy place is teaching.
The workshop will be held at the Paris College of Art, near the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées.
I'm hoping that some of the aspiring writers among our Red readers will be up for joining me in Paris. (No you do not need to speak French.)
And today's question: Do you have memories of Paris, or is it on your travel wish list?
REGISTER WICE Paris Writers Workshop - 31 May - 5 June 2026
https://wice-paris.org/paris-writers-workshop
Early bird registration until 2 March
PROGRAM
https://www.wice-paris.org/pww2026_program
PHOTO of the Arc de Triomphe By Kainet - Flickr: Arc de Triomphe HDR, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30352419
How wonderful, Hallie . . . this sounds amazing --- and in Paris! [No, I've never been there; of course it's on my travel wish list] . . . .
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Hallie! A writing workshop in Paris sounds like a dream. I’ve been to Paris and I remember having my first Kir Royal drink there. I just learned that there are more bikes in Paris now. We visited the Louvre and the musee d’Orsay.
ReplyDeleteHallie, that is going to be fantastic! Your lucky students... I've been to Paris several times - once on Bastille Day - but not for many years.
ReplyDeleteHallie,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll have a great time both on the trip itself and teaching the class.
However, Paris and/or France in general is not on my mythical list of travel destinations. It's just never held any draw for me. Probably something to do with the fact I was abysmal in French class in high school.
Hallie, that sounds absolutely fabulous. You are going to have a great time and what an experience for the ages! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI was in Paris 50+ years ago. I was traveling through Europe with my school's art teacher and you can imagine how much she wanted to see. Unfortunately, I had eaten something at the train station when we left Switzerland that made me really sick. I think that by the day we left Paris, I could finally eat an omelet. We did go sightseeing and to the Louvres, but it wasn't fun like it should have been. I've not gone back.
How wonderful. And how lucky the attendees!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Paris twice and loved it both times and would love to go again, but on holiday, to see the art, although I have and refer often to your book, Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel.
I agree with Elizabeth -- how lucky your students will be!
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Paris. I studied French in high school and college and was dying to go back then. I didn't keep using the language, though, so I retain only a small portion of what I once knew. Over time, other places have eclipsed Paris in terms of desire to visit, but I do still hope to make it there at some point.
Sounds great for you, Hallie. Is it an all expenses paid gig?
ReplyDeleteMy experience with Paris is the airport enroute from Minneapolis to Naples, Italy. Not my favorite.
congrats! Yes, I will be in Paris later this year. Always fun, always new and different things to visit.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Hallie! I love, love, love Paris and I plan to make another visit soon. My favorite thing was visiting the Louvre and Notre Dame.
ReplyDeleteBonjour Madame!
ReplyDeleteOh Hallie, I am so proud of you! Julie and I both think you’re a star teacher, and those 12 people are beyond lucky to have you for a week.
I am also jealous. Paris is my favorite city in the universe. And you’ll be there when the weather is perfect, sun shining and everything blooming. Please tell us more about the course, where you’ll be staying, and what is the one thing you’d like to do there that you’ve not done before. How’s your French? I discovered early on that if I attempted French, I’d get a response in English. This is because they are proud of their language and don’t like hearing it mispronounced and garbled!
We always have stayed in the 7th, close to a Metro stop and our favorite restaurant, le Florimond. If you get there, tell Laurent hello from Madames Mason and Weidman.
Do you think you might have room in your carryon for me?
A bientot
Such exciting news! Zoot alors indeed! Wish I could be in your class.
ReplyDeleteI did some of the touristy Paris things with my family when I was 15 and loved it (despite being sick--we had a doctor come to our hotel, but that's a different story). When I was 21 and we were traveling in Europe after our overseas study in the UK, we planned to stay at a youth hostel outside Paris, but got into Paris too late to get to the hostel before it closed. We (4 students) were sitting on the floor in the Gare du Nord trying to figure out what to do, when a couple of young African-heritage men came over and talked to us. They knew a cheap hotel and walked us there and then met us for breakfast the next day. I haven't been back to Paris, although I spent some delightful days in Antibes more recently.
Do enjoy Paris and your class – of that I am jealous of the lucky participants. The closest that I have been to France is the French pavilion in Expo ’67, and it was quite boring – I was probably too young (16) and even then, noticed that they tried to put too much ‘stuff’ in it, meaning that you did not enjoy the highlights. I would, however, love to go on a French country tour with Rick Stein – cafes, market stalls, and shopping for fish on the wharf.
ReplyDeleteHallie, so exciting! Enjoy teaching in Paris…Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteCongrats Hallie!! What a wonderful opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Paris a few times mostly with our daughter who speaks French so it was a lot of fun. Plus she had been living and studying in Paris the whole summer so she knew all the great cafes and restaurants. Such an exciting city and so much to see and do. I've also traveled to the Dordongne (sp) area and then throughout the Bordeaux wine areas, visited the Lascaux (ancient prehistoric cave paintings), the south of France and the Mediterranean coast area. So much to see. Another trip I'd like to go to the Brittany area of Northern France.