International Writers Workshops
Neraki
POETRY, FICTION, NONFICTION, PLAYWRITING
in Katigiorgis, Pelion, Greece
June 5-14, 2026
Application Deadline: February 15
(late applications considered as space allows)
Who you'll work with . . .
Shlomo Moskovitz writes for television and theatre in Israel and Europe, and since 2003, he has mentored writers via Revadim, his own creative academy. In 2021 his play Blood on Hands premiered at The State Theater in Salzburg, and The Ten Commandments was chosen by Theater Der Zeit as one of the 10 best plays presented in Germany in 2016.
Read more . . .
Several earlier plays were produced at Israel’s National Theater and at the Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv. In addition, Shlomo has written many television scripts. He has also composed the librettos for two operas and translated over 30 plays between English and Hebrew. Many of his students have gone on to have their work produced for television, film, and theater, and have published poetry and fiction.
Paula Closson Buck is the author of a short story collection, The Dalai Lama’s Smile (Acre Books 2025); a novel, Summer on the Cold War Planet (Fomite 2015); and three books of poems, most recently You Cannot Shoot a Poem (LSU 2018). She taught Creative Writing at Bucknell University for many years.
Read more . . .
Paula’s poetry and fiction have been recognized with grants and awards from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Nimrod International, the Fulbright Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts. At Bucknell, she directed the Seminar for Younger Poets and edited the literary journal West Branch. She now divides her time between Pennsylvania and Katigiorgis.
Jim Buck has published fiction and nonfiction in many periodicals as well as teaching fiction, poetry, and literary journalism in the U.S. and abroad, most recently at Bucknell University. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to teach in Cyprus in 2014.
Read more . . .
He has also published English translations of Greek poetry and fiction. He lives half of each year in Katigiorgis.
Tune in to the wavelength of Neraki . . .
Where the pine forest meets the sea, you will find not only the time and space to dedicate to your writing, but also a supportive environment of workshops and craft sessions led by seasoned professional writer/teachers.
The unique energy of Neraki comes in part from the “little spring” for which it is named. Found amid the rock formations at the beach, it suggests the mysterious sources of our best creative work.
The program . . .
The program balances full-group craft and generative sessions with smaller-group workshops and unstructured time for writing, in hopes you will experience a sea change in your writing life as you interact with the extraordinary environment and your fellow writers.
Each participant will also have the opportunity to meet individually with a faculty mentor. Writers at all stages are welcome to apply. Our experience tells us that a mix of neophytes and more seasoned writers can be inspiring and supportive for everyone.
Where you'll stay . . .
Workshop participants are housed in pleasant and comfortable seaside rooms owned by a local family in the village of Katigiorgis, a fifteen-minute walk from the house and studio. Each room has a kitchenette and a balcony with a sea view. For writing, there are two small tables: one on the balcony and one inside. Rooms will be prepared as singles unless otherwise requested. Let us know if you would like to bring along a family-member or a friend.
Eating together . . .
Meals are prepared in-house, beginning with a hearty breakfast and ending with a delicious dinner made from fresh, local ingredients. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets can be accommodated.
Participants also have access to a full kitchen adjacent to the studio, which is stocked with lunch supplies. Meals are included in the cost of the seminar, as is one group dinner at a local taverna.
Wellness extras . . .
Neraki offers many opportunities for you to complement your writing journey with physical activity. For swimming, there are two beautiful coves within a 10-15-minute walk from the rooms, in addition to the lovely harbor beach directly below them. An experienced instructor offers yoga/pilates/tai chi movement classes in the studio. Hiking paths invite you to explore the orchards and forest of the Pelion on foot, and dark skies at night are great for stargazing.
