Lightning on the Page
A Writing Retreat with Christine Sneed

May 18 - 24, 2025
Bordeaux, France

Each morning our group of 8 writers will meet for three hours of writing, workshop, and discussion, both of craft-related and practical aspects of the writing life.  

We’ll aim for the flexible goal of creating three to five short, new vibrant works—either stand-alone or part of the same longer work—by the end of our week together.

Each student will meet with Christine for an individual one-hour session.

All genres—fiction, nonfiction/memoir, poetry, and one-acts/scripts—and all levels of experience are welcome.

About Christine Sneed

Christine Sneed is the author of the novels Please Be Advised: A Novel in Memos, Little Known Facts, and Paris, He Said, and the story collections Portraits of a Few of the People I’ve Made Cry and The Virginity of Famous Men. She is also the editor of the short fiction anthology, Love in the Time of Time’s Up. Her seventh book, Direct Sunlight, a short story collection, was published in June 2023.

She has received the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction, the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation, the Chicago Writers’ Association Book of the Year Award twice, the Society of Midland Authors’ Award, an O. Henry Prize, and Ploughshares’ Zacharis Award. She has also been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Chicago Review of Books‘ Fiction Award. She lives in Pasadena, CA with her partner Adam Tinkham and teaches for the graduate writing program at Northwestern University in the School of Professional Studies and for Stanford University Continuing Studies. Christine is a member of both the Authors Guild and the Writers Guild of America.

www.christinesneed.com

Reflect on your writing in every corner of this beautiful estate.

Each morning, after a casual breakfast, we will learn and write together for three inspiring hours, indoors or out.  Afternoons are dedicated to your writing and optional activities.

To maximize your writing time, breakfast and lunch will be delicious but low-key. Our private chef will also prepare gorgeous sit-down dinners each evening.

We offer a guided stroll through the château’s vineyard and a private tasting of its wine. On Wednesday, we will tour the Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We can also visit the colorful farmer’s market on the Allée des Soupirs—the Alley of Sighs.

Accommodations

The are ten peaceful bedrooms each with a private full bathroom.

The château has a natural-temperature swimming pool, pool table, foosball, and several reading rooms.

Amenities include: shampoo, soap, hair dryer, washer & dryer, iron & board, coffee maker, and wifi.

Christine Sneed's
Writing Retreat includes:

  • 15 hours writing workshop
  • 1-hour private critique session
  • 6 nights in an ensuite private room
  • freshly prepared French meals
  • scheduled dining out & activities
  • transport to and from the villa
  • local concierge services
  • alcohol is not included
 
The cost:
$6,150

“What a lovely experience from start to finish.  Everything was so well done for us with such consideration for each of us.
The view from my room was spectacular!”

– Mercilee Jenkins