Black Forest Writing Seminars Summer Session 2013 meets July 23 though August 6. The program is situated in the picturesque, historic town of Freiburg, Germany, near the borders of Switzerland and France. This year’s offerings, featuring authors Adrianne Kalfopoulou, Sieglinde Lemke, Kirk Nesset, Deborah Reed, and Tom Smith, include courses in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and literature. All courses are conducted in English.

Operated by the University of Freiburg, and by Germany’s top-ranking English department, the program attracts students of all kinds and all ages, European as well as Australian, African, Asian, Canadian and American. It’s a unique, rich, vital matrix for learning writing, offering much in the way of history, culture and nature — including a two-day writing retreat in the Black Forest and culminating in a reading by students and faculty.

Participants are typically lodged in off-campus apartments, but may also make their own arrangements regarding housing, if they wish to do so. Participants can also opt to take courses for credit, with approval in advance from their home universities.

Apply early -- the courses tend to fill quickly!