Join a fabulous memoir writing workshop in France guided by an accomplished author and instructor. Enjoy gourmet cuisine and pampering in a stone gîte or Belle Epoque manor in a sunny village known as “Paradise in the French Pyrenees.” This is the perfect spot for honing your writing skills, teasing out that book in you or taking a pause from the world to reflect.
Memoir writing workshop in France
“Memoir writing is about gaining clarity. Where have you been? Where are you going? How can you clear the path so that your next step will bring you what you desire and deserve in life?”
This is how Judith Reitman-Texier describes her Memoir Writing Workshop. An award-winning journalist and author of three acclaimed, non-fiction books, and founder of Creative France Workshops, Judith says that writing a memoir is a lot like investigative journalism. The aim of both is “getting to the truth. In memoir writing it is about getting to your personal truth.”
Her workshops accomplish this with prompts and sensory exercises that stimulate the imagination and produce remarkably powerful results. Some participants have called the process ‘magical.’ And, says Judith, “It is, in fact. It’s about discovering the magic of who you are.”
Everyone has a story, Judith says. “The moment you take your first breath, your story begins. In memoir writing, you will rediscover this story and find the words to tell it.” Whether you are planning to publish or want to produce a written legacy, or whether writing is part of your healing journey, this workshop will give you the encouragement, confidence and practical tools to help you find your authentic voice. It is, Judith says, “a process that can be life-changing.”
An inspiring location for writers
Vernet-les-Bains in the Pyrénées-Orientales, Occitanie, is the perfect backdrop for self-discovery. This charming village framed by the lower French Pyrénées is known for its healing sulfurous waters and pure mountain air. Writers including Rudyard Kipling and Hans Christian Andersen, and painters like Raoul Dufy have found inspiration here. Take walks, soak in thermal baths, wander the flower-filled markets of this luminous, 12th century village that boasts over 300 days of sunshine. Everything you do in this magical place supports your well-being.
A few miles away is the famed Abbaye St Martin de Canigou. With its spectacular views, this working monastery invites reflective walks along its cloisters and paths of its scented herb gardens. If you are drawn to the sea, the Mediterranean beaches are an hour away.
Memoir writing course
The day begins with a sumptuous breakfast at the Belle Epoque manor, followed by two to three hours of writing. Workshops cater to a range of abilities. After a garden buffet lunch of regional delicacies, you’ll have several options: a one-on-one session with Judith, a local excursion, or wine and pastry “degustations” (samplings). By 6:30 it’s time for an aperitif at the manor—except for one evening on the terrace of le Chateau de Reill, a breath-taking 5-star Relais & Chateau castle.
Dinner follows at one of Vernet’s terraced restaurants that feature local organic fare. The village turns off its streetlights at 11 o’clock. Yes, it is a different world, quite apart from what most of us know, where life has a quieter rhythm.
You may spend your mornings writing or choose to mix and match by slipping in a cooking or painting workshop. Judith is eager to tailor your experience so that you have one of the best weeks of your life.
At the end of the workshop, you will have gained the foundation for continuing your writing. You will be given a reading list that will support your efforts as well as access to a Facebook group of participants so you can share your stories and stay in touch. You can continue making progress during online, individual coaching sessions with Judith. She can help guide you along your writing journey or onto the path to publication.
Creative France Workshops host small group creative workshops which include meals, accommodation and excursions. The workshops cater for a range of abilities from beginner to intermediate and you can found out more and book at: creativefranceworkshops.com
