Testimonials

How to describe the Paris Writing Workshop? Put simply, it is one of my most cherished experiences. In the course of just one week I learned so much and gained a new enthusiasm for and sense of excitement about writing that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

To have taken a course focused on such a specialized genre with an excellent instructor like Rolf set in a place as incredible and inspiring as Paris was truly a gift. Our week was so rich, so engaging that I woke up each day feeling energized and excited. Not only is Rolf a master of craft and true travel philosopher, he is also a great teacher. His lessons were engaging, interesting, and fun. The writing exercises we did in different spots around the city were fresh and challenging. The bonus was that the class itself was made up of people with a diversity of interests, ages, and backgrounds. We supported and learned from one another and quickly bonded, forming a community.

The course was transformative as it has changed the way I approach my writing and how I read the work of others. I left feeling invigorated and inspired, grateful to have had such an experience.

— Erin Henk (Travel Memoir ’22), humanitarian aid worker, Beirut

The Paris Writing Workshop was pure bliss. As someone who considers themselves to be a very green travel writer (most of my writings had been confined to short essays written in my journal) I could not have chosen a better setting to bring my writing to the next level. The Paris Writing Workshop not only gave me a real sense of what being a travel writer means to me but it connected me with a group of passionate travel writers, with whom I still keep in contact with almost weekly!

Any apprehension about sitting in a classroom for a week with other aspiring travel writers was instantly dissolved upon the start of the first class. Rolf’s genuine desire for everyone to succeed, his easy going but challenging teaching style, and his incredible breadth of knowledge on the craft of travel writing made the classroom a constantly engaging and deeply inspirational learning environment. Every day I found myself becoming less self-conscious about my writing and more eager to get words out on the page.  Each class brought a new challenge, a new perspective on how to approach writing, and a fresh source of inspiration. Each time I left the classroom, I found myself alight with new ideas and feeling a sense of excitement that I could hardly contain.

The confidence and momentum I still feel, months later, confirms to me the lasting impact the class will assuredly have on anyone who wants to engage deeper with the craft of writing.

— Ryan Wahl (Travel Memoir ‘22), Bartender, Fort Wayne, IN

Imagine an amazingly talented and enthusiastic faculty of professional writers imparting years of accumulated craft and wisdom. Add hours spent writing in quiet spaces or busy cafés, parties at parks on the Seine, exploring Parisian cuisine, music, dancing, fireworks, daily laughter, occasional tears of joy or sorrow and surprising insights that spring from writing, writing and more writing. And share the wonder and excitement of it all with a multinational, varied-age, differently experienced group of interesting, engaged and supportive writing students — all with stories to tell. Enduring friendships blossom. It feels like you’ve landed in one of the best Paris adventures your life will ever serve up.

— Renee Ozburn, (Paris Writing Workshop ’16 and ’17), attorney, Michigan

My experience with the Paris Writing Workshop began in 2016. That summer I took a sabbatical from my newswire editing job to join the fantastic one-month workshop, covering both fiction and non-fiction, with an energetic community of writers hailing from far and wide: an entrepreneur from Ghana, an attorney from Michigan, a tour guide from Cancun. We all bonded over a keen desire to tell stories and deepen our craft in arguably the most literary city on earth. Friendships were made, insights gleaned, soirées thrown, and wandering Paris’ cobblestone streets for a month was a dream.

I left energized, with creative writing projects firmly crystalized in my mind, and returned to Tokyo. Soon after, however, I had the quality problem of a first-edition Japan guidebook project on my plate, which morphed into two, and the next few years were a blur. During that period, I often felt like I didn’t have time or energy to dive into more creative projects. Driven by an urge to challenge that notion and a full six years after my first stint scribbling in Paris, I joined Rolf’s Travel Memoir Workshop II. And then, something unexpected happened. Alongside a jovial cohort with an itinerant bent, after a mere week of focus I felt more dialed-in than ever before to start working on a series of travel essays I’d long envisioned ‘for later’.

Between Rolf’s consistently brilliant instruction and a healthy dose of perceptive feedback shared freely by all classmates to generous guest talks by an author, an agent, a book editor and more, the conditions, content and time-frame were just right. Throw in more camaraderie, soirées beside the Seine, contemplative nighttime strolls and even drinks behind the windmill of the Moulin Rouge, and I don’t think there’s much more that can be added to a week in Paris. Simply put, it was a magical, edifying experience that I would highly recommend to any writer who wants to sharpen their focus and move forward with their creative dreams.

— Jon DeHart (Paris Writing Workshop ’16, Travel Memoir ’22), journalist and guidebook writer, Tokyo

Spending time in Paris as a writer and as a student of the Paris Writing Workshop changed my life forever. I sharpened and perfected my skills as a writer, and every day was enlightening.

My fellow PWW students became second family. We shared our successes, triumphs and even our dreaded writers’ blocks. The bond and sense of community we formed was special. To this day we continue to trust and share our work with each other, even after leaving Paris.

I left the summer creative writing program inspired to continue to become the best writer I can be. My heart is full of love and gratitude for the PWW, and the city of Paris, for rebooting my love and passion for one of the greatest joys in life — writing.

— Kelly Rudnicki (Paris Writing Workshop ’14), freelance writer, and former news journalist/producer.

As a professional photographer, I am out traveling the world, living stories, photographing all the interesting things I see, and telling stories in images, but I’ve never felt confident writing about my subjects and experiences. The Travel Memoir class I took with Rolf in Paris in August 2022 was my second workshop with him. Both classes I’ve taken have been incredibly inspiring and useful. They have pushed me to write and to reflect on how I interact with the world.

Rolf is incredibly generous in sharing his tricks of the trade and encouraging his students to pursue their own writing paths. The workshop day in class was my favorite—not only because my work was discussed (which was tough but helpful) but because I got to read and discuss my talented classmates’ work as well. Paris couldn’t be a more perfect city for a writing workshop, as just walking to class every day felt special, on top of all the great outings we had. But no matter where it was, I would happily take another workshop with Rolf!

— Jasmin Shah (San Miguel de Allende ’19, Travel Memoir ’22), Photographer, Chicago

As a retired journalist, I started traveling and writing a blog several years ago with the idea to write a book. While daunting, even for someone who’s been writing all their life, I found that my decision to attend Rolf Potts’ travel memoir writing workshop was of immeasurable value.

In just one week, I gained new confidence in my skills along with fresh knowledge and insights on travel writing that only Rolf Potts can impart. The workshop also brings in other top-notch travel writers, authors, editors and agents to discuss all aspects of the writing and publishing business.

And, of course, you do all this against the backdrop of Paris, one of the most beautiful, historic and culturally rich cities in the world.

Along with all the learning and development of your writing skills, there is ample time for exploring the world-class bars, restaurants and all the nooks and crannies of the city with Rolf, his expert staff, and your new-found friends, your fellow writers.

Whether you’re currently writing a book and need help navigating that process, or you just want to sharpen your skills to stay ahead of the highly competitive world of travel writing, I really believe this is the kind of summer activity that can change your world like it did mine.

— David Hunter Bishop (Travel Memoir ’22), retired journalist, Hawaii

I came to the Paris Writing Workshop with one expectation: to be inspired to write again. It sounded perfect: one month of writing in the world’s most literary city. What I discovered was a group of intellectuals, teachers, designers, university students, and professionals who were seeking other like-minded individuals. I met amazing people from different backgrounds who were here to grow as writers. I also met four inspiring teachers who challenged my thinking and helped me understand that writing really is a craft.

I learned that writing should be practiced every day and what better place to begin than the streets of Paris. My observations and thoughts turned into stories and poems. Each person in the program brought their own perspective and their unique style of writing to both the workshops and the classroom sessions. The feedback and support that rotated in each workshop and class ensured that I came out of this month with one realization…I could write!

— Rania Jaber (Paris Writing Workshop ’12), classroom teacher and MA in Anthropology, Beirut

I hesitated enrolling in this course because I was currently on my vagabond journey and knew for the same price I could stay on the road for a few extra months. It was a hard decision to make, but class seemed like an opportunity to invest in skills that would help enrich my future travels. One week to deepen the experience of every trip I take after. The course did that and so much more. My storytelling, traveler’s eye, writing, everything was upgraded. The week was electric. Every morning excitement woke me before my alarm. I made friends, memories, things you can’t put a price on. We all stay in touch too. Send each other our writing to get feedback. Class is still in session! This was one of the best weeks of my vagabonding journey.”

— Zane Jarecke (Travel Memoir ’22), waiter, Joliet, Montana

Rolf’s week-long class was not only extremely helpful and educational but it was also truly inspiring and fun. Rolf’s wealth of knowledge and experience in the travel writing field was invaluable. Through various exercises, prompts and lessons, I learned more than I thought possible in one week. Paris was a great setting for the class with writing activities taking place in historic parks and beautiful museums. The guest speakers also added a lot to the program spanning across all aspects of storytelling and book publishing. Meeting and working with the other students was great in and out of the classroom and the individual one-on-one time with Rolf was very helpful. He clearly cares deeply about his students and somehow found a way to fit so much into one week without making it feel rushed. I highly recommend this incredible class!

— Justine Miller (Paris Writing Workshop ’14, Travel Memoir ’22), journalist, New York City