Summer Creative Writing Program in France

Creative Writing Course at the French House Party, Carcassonne:
Recommended in the book “The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life”, the French House Party in the Carcassonne area of south-west France offers residential, all-inclusive experience holidays, including a tutored summer Creative Writing Retreat for writers and creative writing hobbyists. Located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region, Carcassonne is 50 miles from Toulouse which has an international airport. The economy airline Ryanair also flies directly to Carcassonne from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, and other European airports.

Reading as well as writing, talking, thinking and offering feedback – the focus will be to limber up, stretch and write with renewed vigour and joy.

• Anne Caldwell is a highly experienced tutor and workshop facilitator of all writing genres. Based in Yorkshire, UK, Anne is an Open University lecturer, a Royal Literary Fellow at the University of Huddersfield and has a doctorate in Creative Writing. She also lectures in Creative Writing with the Open University, is an editor and an accredited coach.

• Anne has published four collections of poetry and a book of creative non-fiction. Her first anthology of poems won a UK award and she has been shortlisted in the National Poetry Competition.

• Anne specialises in poetry, life-writing and short fiction. This course promises the exploration of new techniques, mainly in prose, but also addressing poetry. Daily workshops will expand the imagination using writing games and exercises that rely on play, memory and a sense of adventure. One-to-one tutorials are also included. 

"Inspiration and Space to Write"

Whether you’re new to writing or have been writing for some time, published or unpublished, this 6-day all-inclusive residential course offers the chance to write, play, experiment and share your work. Our tutor will provide one-to-one sessions for discussion and aid in answering the individual needs of each participant.

You will not be expected to write in any particular style or genre, except for that chosen by yourself - fact or fiction, prose or poetry. 

- A large (A4) loose-leafed notebook
- A pocket-sized notebook
- Plenty of pens and pencils
- A favourite book (could be a novel, collection of short stories or poems)
- A sense of adventure


What is included?
• Accommodation in twin/double bedroom with en suite facilities.
• All tuition and all course materials.
• All meals with wine at lunch and dinner, including those taken at our selection of excellent restaurants.
• Chauffeured transfers from and to Carcassonne (free of charge) or Toulouse airport. (a charge is made for this longer trip).
• Exclusive use of our pool, tennis court and boules pitch.
• Bicycles for your use.
• Welcome fizz and information get-together.
• Private wine-tasting outing to vineyard (optional)
• An outing to the stunning medieval city of Carcassonne: the famous walled city is a World Heritage Site (optional)
• Chauffeured transport provided on all scheduled trips.

• Situated amid sunflower fields in a peaceful rural area on the outskirts of Carcassonne, the 300- year-old stone barn has been uniquely converted in Art Deco style, with large, open living spaces within the house.

• We enjoy fantastic views of the Pyrenees, which can still be white-capped, even in May.

• There are gardens with plenty of quiet corners for private reflection and several terraces, a pool with a bbq area for al fresco dining, an all-weather tennis court, covered table-tennis area, petanque (boules) arena as well as an indoor games room with pool-table and a classic 1950s juke box (sadly, this is no longer functional, until we can find a juke box technician in France! But it still looks cool).

• Guests may borrow the bicycles at the house for, perhaps, a leisurely ride along the banks of the nearby Canal du Midi.

• The 8 individually-designed, ensuite bedrooms are double, twin or triple-sized. All have AC units, hairdryers and bathrobes for your use. Two ground-floor rooms are suitable for guests with mobility limitations.

• The house has a broadband connection.

•   "I had never been on a writing course before and did not know what to expect. I was a little anxious...but it was a brilliant few days. I was met at the airport and immediately put at ease. The house was comfortable, the food and wine excellent; the company entertaining and pleasant and I left feeling happier about my writing and feeling generally cosseted and cared for. I would recommend it absolutely without reservation."
- Ann M.

* "Learning new skills is one thing, but learning new skills while meeting new people, eating the finest of foods and drinking some delicious local wines  in the stunning setting of French House Party is a memory which will last me long into the future.  Residential courses can leave you feeling a little jaded, but there is NO fear of that here.  Awakening to a view where acres of sunflowers are nodding their large yellow heads in a gentle South of France breeze really sets the note for all to follow. The course was perfectly tailored for all abilities, and run in a professional but convivial manner." 
- Brendan H.

•  "Thank you for the support, Anne. I've really enjoyed the course and I'm pleased with the results. I've also found the feedback very helpful."
- Open University student, 2022

•  "As I said hello to my fellow classmates over a glass of Champagne as the sun set on the Languedoc, I knew I was in for a treat...Beautiful countryside, lovely people, amazing food and, above all, a really gifted tutor.’
- Maria, Manchester Evening News

The French House Party is named Top Retreat in the National Geographic book by American travel writer Pam Grout: "The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life". 

We provide superior all-inclusive experience holidays, assuring the very best of personal attention to people whose expectations are high. Without exception, our clients praise our great accommodation, fantastic food and wine, the excellence of our tutors and our exacting attention to detail.

At our stylish, 300-year-old Carcassonne farmhouse, set in the stunning rural environment of South West France, we offer some scheduled short-break tutored holidays which you can join as an individual, and others which can be tailor-made for your group during your own selected dates.

Groups with no tutor requirements - or who are accompanied by their own instructor - can, with our help, create a bespoke break in the calm knowledge that it will run smoothly - we can arrange everything you need, from buses to banquets.