Writers' Workshop in Europe
Why Choose This Program
Step Into Your Story
Have fun immersing yourself in Paris, Edinburgh, and London though the eyes of a writer and storyteller.
Strike a Balance
Benefit from CIEE’s global support and cultural expertise while meeting new friends and building your own writer community.
Develop Writing Skills
Launch your future today! Master storytelling techniques, refine your creative process, and produce a reflective literary piece.
The Destination
Steeped in literary history and brimming with contemporary creativity, Paris, Edinburgh, and London offer the perfect setting for young writers to immerse themselves in the magic of storytelling.
Paris
In Paris, master the mechanics of "Story and Plot," experimenting with techniques like mind-mapping and the snowflake method. Walk the same streets that inspired Hemingway and Baldwin, finding inspiration in the shimmering reflections of the Seine at dusk, the whisper of pages turning in riverside bookstalls, and the echoes of poets who walked these same streets. Engage in reflective writing and bring your ideas to life through an in situ drawing class, capturing the movement and spirit of Paris with both words and art.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a city of winding stone stairways, towering spires, and echoing legends - perfect for refining "Character and Voice." Let the city’s brooding atmosphere shape your storytelling as you craft protagonists haunted by gothic alleys and windswept moors. Learn the nuances of tone and dialect, capturing the rhythm of speech from local storytellers. Stand where Robert Lois Stevenson and Robert Burns once stood, finding your own literary voice before stepping into a professional recording studio to perform and record an original piece.
London
London is a city of stories stacked like bricks, built on centuries of literary ambition. Wander through bookshops where Woolf’s words still linger and down alleys that echo with Dickensian grit. Explore the power of "Place and Space" - where setting becomes a character in and of itself. Feel the pulse of the West End, where drama unfolds in real-time, and shape your own narratives across genres. Learn techniques of mood setting, symbolism, and blending fact with fiction. As your journey ends, you and your peers will take the stage at an open mic session, celebrating the stories you've created on this incredible journey.
Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Experiences
Walking Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Step into a Parisian postcard as you explore charming Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the legendary literary and artistic hangout of 20th-century Paris. Snap a selfie in front of the mosaics at Les Deux Magots, where Hemingway once scribbled away, then laugh over espresso at Café de Flore while you and your friends imagine trading jokes with Fitzgerald. Wander funky bookshops on Rue Jacob, collecting literary treasures to take home. In Luxembourg Gardens, lounge like a poet and dream big - because today, you’re in Paris.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival (Fall Program Only)
A crisp autumn night, flickering candlelight, and the hum of anticipation - you and your friends settle in for a night of spellbinding tales. Master storytellers take the stage, their voices rising and falling with myths, fables, and ballads passed down from generations. Rooted in Scotland’s ceilidh tradition, this festival is about more than entertainment - it’s about connection. As laughter and gasps ripple through the room, you realize how alive storytelling can be and how alive it makes you and everyone around you feel.
Play at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
The wooden beams of the Globe Theatre tower above, the open-air stage buzzing with energy. There are no microphones, no artificial lighting - just pure talent, projection, and the thrill of live performance, just as it was in Elizabethan London. You and your friends squeeze into the pit, standing shoulder to shoulder like the rowdy crowds of Shakespeare’s time. The actors captivate you with their expressive gestures and booming voices, commanding the space with skill. As the play unfolds, you laugh, gasp, and feel every moment. By the final bow, you’re energized by a story that has spanned centuries, igniting your own desire to leave a lasting mark through words.
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Eligibility
- Program is open to recent high school graduates (no more that 1 year post-graduation) who:
- Are at least 18 years old at the time of their departure
- Are in good academic standing
- Demonstrate - through the application and interview process - flexibility and maturity.
- No previous language experience required.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$50
Priority deadline discount
Apply to a fall semester or academic year program by June 1 and automatically get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by October 1 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from the final balance.
Insurance
The program fee includes iNext travel insurance. Additional information about insurance can be found on the FAQ page.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Spring Blocks I, II, III 2026 | Start Date TBD* | End Date TBD* | ||
| Program Fall Blocks I, II, III 2025 | Start Date TBD* | End Date TBD* |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
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