TRAVEL, FOOD & WINE WRITING CLASSES

June 15 - June 20, 2008, in St. Emilion, France

THE COURSE - Travel writing, Food writing and Wine writing are some of the most appealing genres of nonfiction, calling on all of an author's skills—dramatic scenes, character sketches, concrete detail, point of view, scene by scene construction—to compose compelling, engaging travel narratives. This six-day intensive travel writing class will introduce you to essential techniques of travel, food and wine writing and give you expert, insider advice about how to submit and publish finished travel stories. In addition to learning these skills, you’ll dine at outstanding restaurants, visit some of the world’s best wineries, and explore fascinating historic sights. You’ll enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes tours unavailable to the general public. Best of all, you’ll receive up-to-date story ideas from local industry experts that you can turn into finished travel, food and wine stories by the end of the course and submit to newspapers and magazines for publication.

The six-day travel, food and wine writing class will take place in St. Emilion, one of the most beautiful medieval hill towns in France, and the epicenter of the nation's new food and wine scene, as discussed in William Echikson’s recent book, Noble Rot. The cost for the travel writing class will be $2600. (Single supplement, $400 per person) Plane fare, transit to and from St. Emilion and some meals extra (see itinerary below).

 

Online Travel Writing Classes

INTRODUCTION TO TRAVEL WRITING CLASS - The romance of travel writing is easy to understand. Who wouldn’t like to go on an all-expense paid trip to a Hawaiian resort? How about traveling the Whiskey Trail through the American South, visiting the best micro distilleries? Or what about a food and wine tour of Argentina? These are all trips I have turned down recently, mostly from lack of time. Would you like to go in my place? Sign up for the travel writing class you’ll learn the techniques of travel writing which can lead to getting invited on these trips.

Travel writing is one of the most exciting genres of nonfiction, calling on all of an author's skills—dramatic scenes, character sketches, concrete detail, point of view, scene by scene construction. Through readings, written assignments and individual critiques, students in the travel writing course will gain a practical grasp of these techniques. Class will discuss where to market work. Six assignments including a 1,500- to 2,500-word travel story and its revision. $500.

 

2008 Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class in St. Emilion, France

THE PLACE - Located 20 miles northeast of Bordeaux, the lovely hill town of St. Emilion overlooks the Dordogne Valley as well as some of the most famous vineyards in France, including Chateau Ausone, Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau Angelus and Chateau Valandraud. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, St. Emilion is an open-air museum with historic buildings and a remarkable Romanesque church rising above the town square. It is a town built on the human scale, perfect for relaxing strolls, window shopping, and late evening suppers.

The town’s tranquil atmosphere belies its reputation as France’s cutting edge center of food and wine. It serves as the unofficial headquarters of the garagiste movement in France, which has challenged the reputation and the methods of the finest Bordeaux chateaux. Jean-Luc Thunevin, the owner of Chateau Valandraud and a leading promoter of garage wines, makes his home here, as do a number of the outstanding boutique wineries he represents, including Gracia, La Croix de Labrie, and others featured in William Echikson’s recent book, Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution.

St. Emilion’s world class wine and cuisine scene will serve as one of the central subjects of our travel writing class. We will have the opportunity to meet and interview some of the principle figures in the food and wine industry of St. Emilion and Bordeaux. In addition, this travel, food and wine writing class will provide the chance to visit the surrounding countryside which offers hiking, biking, and a network of small, historic villages. It’s a dream locale for the aspiring travel writer and anyone who loves wine, food, beautiful scenery and historic architecture.

 

Travel, Food and Wine Writing Course - Tentative Schedule

This course will give you an intensive introduction to the craft and practice of travel writing, allow you to experience the richness of the local wine and cuisine scene, and still have time to explore this amazing place. Tentative itinerary:

SUNDAY - 8 p.m. - Welcoming dinner on the terrace at Amelia Canta Restaurant in the heart of historic St. Emilion.

MONDAY – 9 a.m. to noon - Introduction to the travel writing course, discussion of travel writing, genres of travel writing (article, essay, profile, etc.), story ideas. Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Tour St. Emilion, including historic chapel, tomb of St. Emilion. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner at L'Envers du Decors. (Breakfast and dinner provided).

TUESDAY – 9 a.m. to noon - Lecture and discussion of scenes, scene by scene construction, and interviewing.- Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Visit Chateau Valandraud, Gracia, La Croix de Labrie (Breakfast provided.)

WEDNESDAY – 10:00 a.m. Visit Chateau Magnol for wine tasting and lunch at Barton & Guestier, the largest wine distributor in France. - 3:00 p.m. Visit Chateau La Mission Haut Brion and Chateau Haut Brion. - 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tour Pauillac - 8 p.m. Meet M. Barbier, owner and chef of Le Lion d’Or, one of the best restaurants in the Medoc. Tour kitchen and dine on the restaurant terrace in the midst of the vineyards. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.)

THURSDAY – 9 a.m. Lead and nut graphs -10 a.m. Begin writing story. 11 a.m. Visit Château Clos Fourtet in St. Emilion. - Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch. - 2 p.m. - Optional walk through surrounding countryside.  (Breakfast provided.)

FRIDAY – 9 a.m. to noon – Write, workshop stories - Noon to 2 p.m. – Lunch – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Discuss publication, writing query letters, course evaluation. - 7 p.m. - Class celebration at Le Logis de la Cadene. (Breakfast and dinner provided.)

 

GETTING THERE:

Arrive in Paris on Saturday, or earlier if you want to take in the city. For decent, affordable accommodations, see the hotels Rick Steve’s recommends in his guidebook, France, 2007. I’ve stayed in several of the ones he recommends in the Rue Cler area of Paris (Grand Hotel L’Eveque, Hotel du Champ de Mars, Hotel de la Paix, Hotel de l’Alma). All are clean, friendly and reasonably inexpensive for Paris (around $100 per person per night). Rick doesn't have an especially discerning palate, but his advice on hotels is spot-on, and his information about living and traveling in France is invaluable. Definitely buy his or a similar book; they will be great resources for traveling in France.

I’d advise against splurging on a meal in Paris unless you really know what you’re doing. Many of the restaurants are VERY pricey and not that impressive, especially given the weak dollar. However, there are many reasonably priced restaurants in the Rue Cler area where many of his recommended hotels are located.

On Sunday, take a morning TGV for Bordeaux. Several times are available. The TGV usually leaves from Gare de Montparnasse. Make sure to purchase TGV tickets in advance. Go to http://www.travelocity.com to do this easily online.  It will cost approximately $200 per person to travel from Paris to Bordeaux roundtrip and takes about 3 hours each way.

From Bordeaux, you have several options for getting to St. Emilion, which is about 20 miles to the east. You can rent a car at the train station, take a taxi, or bus. You also can take a train to Libourne and then a taxi to St. Emilion. The simplest way is to take a taxi to St. Emilion. Taxi service in Bordeaux is open 24 hours a day; call 05 56 99 28 41. If you’re traveling with a fellow student, you can split the cost of the fare. The tourist office in St. Emilion (05 57 55 28 28, www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com) can provide further details. They speak good English and are very helpful about arranging travel plans. Email is a very efficient way of contacting them.

Once in St. Emilion, you will be staying at the historic Auberge de la Commanderie, a delightful stone hotel in the heart of the old town. The proprietors speak good English and are very helpful and charming.

 

THE INSTRUCTOR - My love affair with France began during a junior year abroad program in Nantes, France, where I discovered the pleasures of oysters with a bottle of Muscadet, impromptu meals of bread, red wine and Camembert, and the occasional splurge on a leg of lamb with a fine bottle of Bordeaux. In completing my studies in French at Amherst College, I saturated myself in the country’s language, literature and history. I have visited France many times since then, traveling all over the country to savor its food, wine and culture.

This in-depth knowledge of the country and language quickly led to writing about it. Today, I contribute to travel, food and wine stories as well as write about other subjects for Newsweek, Gourmet, Condé Nast Traveler, Saveur, Food and Wine, The Wine Spectator, Outside, National Geographic Adventure, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Commonweal, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Westways, Sierra, and other publications. I’ve written the following books, On Sacred Ground: The Spirit of Place in Pacific Northwest Literature (2003), At the Field's End: Interviews with 22 Pacific Northwest Writers (1998), Contemporary Ecofiction, (1996), Beyond Risk: Conversations with Climbers (1993).

In addition to working as a freelance travel writer, I moonlight as a winemaker, making a Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah under the Les Copains label. At one time I contemplated a career as a winemaker, but shelved the idea because I enjoyed teaching too much. After completing my MFA in fiction writing and PhD in Literature at the University of Washington, I went on to create the university’s year-long program in Narrative Nonfiction in 1993, one of the first such programs in the country. After teaching in that program for a number of years, I founded www.thewritersworkshop.net, an online and on-campus writing program based in Seattle, Washington. This program allows me to indulge my passion for teaching small, personalized travel writing classes as well as introduce students to the incredibly rich history and culture of St. Emilion, one of the jewels of this beautiful country.

Nicholas O'Connell, founder of The Writer's Workshop

ACCOMMODATIONS – Double-occupancy rooms at the Auberge de la Commanderie or Logis des Remparts. Single rooms available with a supplement.

TO ENROLL - Please send me a non-refundable deposit of $800 to 201 Newell St., Seattle, WA 98109, USA. Enrollment is limited to 10. Spouses, partners or friends can attend the events and meals but not the class for $1700, with a $700 deposit. For more information, contact me at nick@Thewritersworkshop.net or 206-284-7121. Please sign up early; the class likely will fill quickly.

 

 

WHAT FORMER STUDENTS SAY

 

I wanted to say thanks for an amazing trip! It keeps hitting me now just how special everything was, particularly meeting the winemakers…wow! Thanks so much for making the trip so memorable.

- Anne Banas is the Executive Editor of Smarter Travel

The Travel, Food and Wine Writing Class was so much fun that I find myself smiling whenever I think of it.  The small class size is ideal for a seminar and even better for the excursions to the wineries and restaurants.  Nick is extremely knowledge in all areas included in the seminar and is a marvelous host with a great sense of humor.  It is obvious why the small “garage” wineries and the venerable estates alike warmly welcome Nick and his entourage. While not a fan of group travel in general, this travel writing class could not have been better.  I highly recommend it to aspiring travel writers, Francophiles, and anyone who wants to enrich their appreciation of wine and food. 

- Kate Jackson is a writer from Missoula, Montana.

I can’t thank you enough for our week in Saint-Émilion. Rosemary and I had so much fun. I learned so much about travel, writing, food, wine and good teaching. I am so grateful.

 - Andy Hall is a freelance writer from Seattle, Washington.

I'm still smiling over our excellent St. Emilion adventure! Take care and thanks!

 - Kristin DeCook is a freelance writer from Chicago.

Thank you for such a wonderful week - you are a master!

 - Lauren Hirt is a freelance writer from Seattle, Washington.

 

RECOMMENDED READING

 

Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution, by William Echikson.

From Paris to the Moon, by Adam Gopnik

A Year in Provence, by Peter Mayle.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.

The Art of Eating by M.F.K. Fisher.

 

   

	"Downtown" St. Emilion with Chateau Ausone in distance.