Call for Submissions: La Muse Retreat

[NB: Below is the text of La Muse's recent Call for Submissions. See bottom of note for contact information].

WHAT? A writers' & artists' retreat run by writers with the mission of providing writers, artists, artisans, and scholars with an inspiring escape from their busy schedules, with time and space in which to focus on the work they love.

WHERE? In the Languedoc region of the South of France, in a tiny village perched in the craggy mountains 25 km north of the walled medieval town of Carcassonne. La Muse is a medieval stone manor house with 6 rooms and 2 cottages.

WHO? Scholars on sabbatical, graduate students immersed in their dissertations, novelists, painters, visual artists, photographers, artisans, poets, skilled crafters of nonfiction, composers, writers of all ages and nationalities, from Ireland to Japan. People who do serious work, in need of a quiet environment designed to foster and inspire. Some of the many universities already affiliated with La Muse: St. Patrick’s University, Ireland, University of Iowa, University College Dublin, University of Wisconsin-Madison...

WHEN? Any season. Whenever you're ready to do your work. Attendees are encouraged to come for three-week retreat periods. Openings currently available for this fall and winter.

WHY? Great things happen when you take your work off the back burner and give yourself a block of time for it. In a society that doesn't give much support or reward to scholarly and artistic work, La Muse does. La Muse is priced to be affordable--even for grad students.

For one person, room rates range from 700 to 950 Euros ($1000 to $1,290); for a couple, 850 to 1350 Euro ($ 1,215 to $1,930).


In their words...

"A perfect environment for writing….After four productive weeks I had written two chapters of my thesis, over 30,000 words. I also found I had a real sense of focus and renewed clarity of thought about my project."

— Liza Filby, GRADBritain 8 (Summer 2009).

"La Muse is such a relaxing and inspiring place. I came here to finish my novel and ended up writing a play, and enjoying it hugely. Vive La Muse!"

— Kate Rhodes, Bristol, England, July 2009.

"Such a wonderful and relaxing month. It's been great to be able to write in such a lovely place--the combination of good food, plenty of wine, interesting conversations, inspiring walks and views, has provided an extremely positive setting for a very productive time."

— Melanie Simms, England, May 2008.

"It was just what I wanted it to be--a peaceful, secluded space to write, and write I did, a large slice of the novel, and three new stories."

— Stephanie Buckle, Canberra, Australia, May 2007.

"I've had a wonderful time! From heartbreak to breakthrough! Though I didn't finish my projects, I've gotten an excellent start."

— Michelle Lovegrove-Thomson, Canada, Nov. 2007.

"I came, I sat, I wrote."

— John Clanchy, Canberra, Australia, May 2007.

"I've had changes of direction, prolific moments, time to reflect and space to sink my teeth into writing again--leaving with a new sense of direction and invigorated by this beautiful valley."

— Tim Moss, London, Aug. 2005.

"Being here has been an inspiration, a cure, a respite, but most importantly a beginning."

— Alexandra Farkas, New York City, 2003.

"To spend the month at this divine place was one of my best decisions ever."

— Alice O'Neill, New York City, 2003.

Visit us at www.lamuseinn.com, or email getaway@lamuseinn.com.

Get Inspired.