The Experience | The Setting | What’s Included | Instructors | Pricing | FAQ | Apply
Unbound Writer Paris
May 3 - 6, 2027
A Boutique Paris Literary Experience for Mystery & Thriller Writers
Four immersive days of storytelling, conversation, and creative connection in the heart of Paris.
Learn alongside bestselling thriller authors:
CARTER WILSON
ALEX FINLAY
CLEMÉNCE MICHALLON
Featuring Special Guest Riley Sager, Author of Numerous Multi-Million-Copy Bestsellers
Reader Engagement & Visibility with Renowned Marketer and Influencer Abby Dunn (CrimebytheBook)
“The retreat inspired me in ways I didn’t expect—the focus on being a writer and finishing the book was what I needed.”
—Shaun McKinnon, Unbound Writer retreat student
The Experience
A small group of mystery and thriller writers. Four days in Paris. Conversations about storytelling inside a vaulted former convent in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
The Unbound Writer Paris Retreat is an intimate literary experience built around direct access, honest conversation, and meaningful creative connection. Through immersive half-day sessions, attendees will explore storytelling, publishing, visibility, and the realities of building a lasting writing career alongside bestselling authors and industry professionals.
Each day includes a blend of instruction, discussion, dedicated writing time, manuscript feedback, and conversations with fellow attendees, instructors, and guest speakers. Sessions are intentionally interactive, emphasizing engagement and collaboration rather than traditional lecture-style programming.
Beyond the sessions themselves, attendees will gather for an opening-night cocktail reception, a literary walking tour through Paris, and informal conversation throughout the week.
Designed for writers at every stage of the journey, the retreat brings together a small group of commercially minded storytellers who take the craft of writing, the business of writing, and the writing life seriously.
Attendance is intentionally limited to preserve the personal and highly interactive nature of the experience.
Manuscript Workshops
Writers who wish to do so will have the opportunity to submit a limited number of pages in advance for consideration in our manuscript workshop sessions. Selected excerpts will be discussed in a collaborative group setting, with feedback and craft discussion led by retreat instructors.
These sessions are designed to benefit everyone in the room. Rather than focusing solely on an individual manuscript, workshop discussions will explore larger storytelling topics such as tension, pacing, characterization, dialogue, suspense, and reader engagement. At the same time, the workshop will aim to elevate the pages, particularly those opening pages of a manuscript that are so crucial to securing an agent or editor.
Four immersive half-day sessions designed around craft, creativity, and the writing life
Clear, targeted writing instruction on pacing, style, editing, structure, & more
Insights from a leading marketer/influencer on standing out in these highly competitive times in publishing
Real-world insights directly from bestselling novelists and seasoned agents
The Setting
The retreat will be held at Salons d’Arthur in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, one of Paris’s most historic and literary neighborhoods. Tucked inside a former Benedictine convent in the 7th arrondissement, the space feels removed from the noise of the city while still surrounded by the cafés, bookstores, winding streets, and late-night energy that have inspired writers for generations.
Inside, vaulted ceilings, stone architecture, warm light, and centuries-old details create an atmosphere that feels intimate, cinematic, and distinctly Parisian. Rather than a traditional conference setting, the retreat is designed to feel immersive and personal, with conversations unfolding naturally throughout the day between attendees, instructors, and guest speakers.
The schedule intentionally leaves space to experience the city itself. Writing in cafés. Evening walks through Saint-Germain. Conversations over wine after sessions end. Paris becomes part of the creative rhythm of the retreat rather than simply the backdrop.
What’s Included
Four immersive half-day retreat sessions with bestselling mystery and thriller authors
Direct access to instructors throughout the retreat experience
Discussions focused on suspense, storytelling, publishing, visibility, and sustaining a writing career
Dedicated writing and reflection time built into each day
A guest discussion with New York Times bestseller and leader in the thriller world, Riley Sager
Insights from a literary agent
Strategies on standing out in a crowded market from leading marketer/influenced Abby Dunn (@CrimebytheBook)
Opening-night cocktail reception with attendees and instructors (plus-ones are welcome for an additional cost)
Literary walking tour through Paris
Small-group atmosphere intentionally limited in size to encourage meaningful interaction and conversation
Retreat materials and curated recommendations for exploring Paris throughout the week
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Please note that lodging, airfare, meals outside of the cocktail reception, and transportation are not included. Attendees are encouraged to experience Paris in the way that feels most meaningful to them throughout the week.
Meet Your Instructors
Three bestselling authors. Three distinct creative perspectives.
Writing careers are built over years of uncertainty, persistence, reinvention, and creative risk. Between them, Carter Wilson, Alex Finlay, and Clémence Michallon have experienced the evolving realities of publishing from multiple angles, including breakthrough success, career momentum, visibility, rejection, longevity, and the challenge of continuing to create meaningful work over time.
The retreat is intentionally designed around direct access and honest conversation, giving attendees the opportunity to engage closely with working authors who understand both the creative and professional realities of the writing life.
CARTER WILSON
Carter Wilson is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of multiple psychological thrillers, including Tell Me What You Did, a Barnes & Noble national monthly pick. Known for emotionally intense suspense and psychologically layered storytelling, Carter’s work explores fear, identity, obsession, and survival.
He is also the founder of Unbound Writer, where he teaches workshops focused on storytelling, visibility, public speaking, and sustaining a long-term creative career.
Visit
CarterWilson.com →
ALEX FINLAY
Alex Finlay is the bestselling author of acclaimed thrillers, including the 2024 bestseller, If Something Happens to Me, the 2025 bestseller, Parents Weekend, and the 2026 instant national bestseller, The Anniversary. His novels are known for high-stakes suspense, relentless pacing, and emotionally driven twists.
His books have been translated into more than twenty-eight languages, regularly appear on best-of-the-year lists, and most have been optioned or in development for film and television adaptation. He is on the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation.
Visit AlexFinlayBooks.com→
CLEMÉNCE MICHALLON
Clémence Michallon is the internationally bestselling author of The Quiet Tenant and Our Last Resort. Her work blends psychological suspense with literary depth, emotional realism, and sharply observed character dynamics.
Born and raised in France, Clémence was previously a journalist at The Independent and now writes full time between New York and Paris.
Visit ClemenceMichallon.com→
JOINING US AS GUEST SPEAKERS
RILEY SAGER
Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, most recently With a Vengeance, Middle of the Night and The Only One Left.
His novels have been published in 40 countries, with more than 5 million copies sold worldwide.
Visit RileySagerBooks.com →
ABBY DUNN
Abby Dunn is the creator of Crime by the Book, a crime fiction review website and digital community of over 200,000 mystery, thriller, and crime readers. By day, she works as an associate director of publicity and marketing director at Sourcebooks/ Poisoned Pen Press.
Visit
@crimebythebook →
LITERARY AGENT
A literary agent specializing in mystery, thriller, and suspense fiction will join the retreat for a candid industry conversation focused on publishing, career development, and the realities of today’s commercial fiction landscape. Additional details will be announced closer to the retreat.
Pricing & Registration
The Unbound Writer Paris Retreat is intentionally designed as a boutique experience with a limited number of attendees in order to preserve meaningful interaction, direct access to instructors, and a collaborative creative atmosphere throughout the week.
Because of the intentionally limited group size, availability is expected to be limited. As such, while writing samples are not required, registration includes a brief application and Q&A process designed to help us build a thoughtful, collaborative group experience for all attendees.
Early Registration
June 15 – November 15, 2026
$1,895
Standard Registration
Beginning November 16, 2026
$2,195
Unbound Writer Scholarship
We believe meaningful creative opportunities should be accessible whenever possible. To support that goal, we will offer one full-tuition scholarship to attend the Unbound Writer Paris Retreat.
The scholarship covers retreat tuition only and does not include travel, lodging, meals, or other expenses associated with attending the retreat.
Scholarship applicants will be asked to submit a brief personal statement and a writing sample as part of the application process. If you are interested in being considered for the scholarship, simply select the appropriate option on the retreat application. Additional scholarship details and submission requirements will be provided directly to interested applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A $500 deposit is required to reserve your place in the retreat. Because attendance is intentionally limited and space is expected to fill well in advance, registrations cannot be held without a deposit.
Additional payment details and installment options will be provided upon registration.
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The initial $500 deposit is non-refundable.
Cancellations made on or before January 15, 2027, will receive a refund of any payments made beyond the deposit amount. Due to the limited size of the retreat and advance venue commitments, refunds after January 15, 2027, cannot be guaranteed.
If the retreat has a waitlist and a cancelled space can be filled, additional refunds may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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The retreat will take place in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area of Paris’s 7th arrondissement, one of the city’s most walkable and atmospheric neighborhoods. The area is filled with independent hotels, historic streets, cafés, bookstores, and restaurants, making it an ideal home base throughout the retreat week.
Rather than partnering with a single hotel, attendees are encouraged to choose accommodations that best fit their personal travel style and budget. Over the coming months, we will provide a curated list of recommended hotels and nearby neighborhoods ranging from boutique stays to more budget-conscious options, all within convenient distance of the retreat venue.
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No. The retreat is open to writers at all stages of their careers, including unpublished authors. The common thread is a serious commitment to storytelling and a desire for meaningful creative and professional conversation.
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Yes. The retreat is intentionally designed around accessibility and interaction rather than large-scale conference separation between attendees and instructors. Conversations, discussions, and informal interactions throughout the week are a central part of the experience. Access to guest speakers will be more limited due to their shorter time at the retreat.
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Each day includes dedicated writing and reflection time, but the retreat is designed less as a silent writing residency and more as an immersive creative and instructional experience. Many attendees will also use their open hours throughout Paris for independent writing and exploration.
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Yes. The retreat will include manuscript workshop sessions in which attendees may submit a limited number of pages in advance for consideration. Selected excerpts will be discussed in a collaborative group setting, with feedback and craft discussion led by retreat instructors.
Because workshop discussions focus on larger storytelling topics such as pacing, tension, characterization, dialogue, and reader engagement, the sessions are designed to provide value to everyone in the room, whether or not they have submitted pages.
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No. Manuscript submission is entirely optional.
Many attendees may choose to participate in workshop sessions by submitting pages, while others may attend primarily for the instruction, discussions, publishing insights, community, and overall retreat experience. Writers at all stages of their journey are welcome.
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Topics throughout the retreat may include suspense, emotional tension, character psychology, pacing, twists, publishing, visibility, creative longevity, and the realities of sustaining a writing career. Sessions are designed to be conversational, practical, and highly interactive.
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Yes, although the application is intentionally simple and informal. The goal is not to evaluate writing ability or require writing samples, but rather to help us get to know attendees, understand where they are in their writing journey, and learn what they hope to gain from the retreat experience.
Because the retreat is intentionally small and highly interactive, the application process also helps us build a thoughtful and collaborative group atmosphere throughout the week.
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No formal transportation will be provided. The retreat venue and literary activities are located within highly walkable areas of Paris and are easily accessible by foot, taxi, or public transportation.
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Yes. Once registration reaches capacity, a waitlist will be opened in the event additional spots become available.
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Yes. While retreat sessions and official events are limited to registered attendees, many participants may choose to travel to Paris with a partner, friend, or spouse and coordinate independent sightseeing and meals outside retreat hours.
Plus-ones are able to attend the cocktail party and literary tour for an additional fee, to be collected at registration.
Spend Four Days Inside the Writing Life
The Unbound Writer Paris Retreat was created for writers who want more than information. It was built around honest conversation, creative momentum, meaningful connection, and direct access to working authors who understand the realities of building a long-term writing career.
For four days, attendees will gather in the heart of Paris for immersive discussions on storytelling, publishing, visibility, suspense, creative longevity, and the emotional realities of sustaining meaningful work over time. The atmosphere is intentionally intimate, collaborative, and highly interactive, creating space for conversations that rarely happen in traditional conference settings.
Attendance is intentionally limited to approximately twenty writers in order to preserve the personal and immersive nature of the experience.
May 3–6, 2027
Paris, France
Applications are now open.
No writing samples required unless applying for the scholarship. Applications include a brief questionnaire designed to help us build a thoughtful and collaborative retreat experience.