The 2021 Iceland Writers Retreat will be online. Please click here for all the details of the virtual event.
This page contains information on how our usual Iceland Writers Retreat operates each April.
THE EVENT
Workshops & Panels
Over the course of the retreat, each participant is enrolled in a total of five two-hour small-group writing workshops (max. 15 participants) led by internationally acclaimed authors, a Q&A panel with all faculty, and numerous readings and social functions.
Each of our Featured Authors teaches two different workshops, and you have plenty of time to interact with faculty, including those with whom you do not have any workshops.
Workshops were amazing. Down-to-earth discussions in a small group atmosphere.”
– Sam, Canada, 2015 participant
FEATURED AUTHORS
Possible 2022 Faculty
These authors were initially booked to lead workshops at the 2020 event, which was cancelled due to the pandemic. We have invited them all to join us instead in 2022 and will confirm here once the date approaches.
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Bestselling author of "The Nest"
Dan Kois
Editor at Slate
David Chariandy
Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize winner
Elnathan John
Betty Trask Award Winner
Gretchen Rubin
New York Times bestselling author
Heather Harpham
Writer, teacher and theatre artist
Kamila Shamsie
Women's Prize for Fiction winner
Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir
Award-winning writer
Patrick Gale
Sunday Times best-selling author
Will Ferguson
Giller Prize WinnerPAST FACULTY
Adam Gopnik
New Yorker staff writer
Adania Shibli
Award winning author and teacher
Adelle Waldman
Bestselling author
Alison Pick
Man Booker Prize nominee
Andrew Evans
Author, travel writer, and TV host
Andrew Westoll
Charles Taylor Prize winner
Andri Snær Magnason
Icelandic Literary Prize winner
Ann Hood
NYT bestselling author
Barbara Kingsolver
Orange Prize for Fiction winner
Bret Anthony Johnston
Head of Creative Dept, Harvard University
Carsten Jensen
Olof Palme Prize winner
Chigozie Obioma
Man Booker Prize finalist
Chris Cleave
New York Times bestselling author
Claudia Casper
Author, IWR Alumna
Craig Davidson
Scotiabank Giller Prize nominee
David Lebovitz
Chef, Author
Elina Hirvonen
Author, journalist, and filmmaker
Elizabeth Renzetti
Bestselling author and journalist
Esi Edugyan
Giller Prize Winner
Geraldine Brooks
Pulitzer Prize winner
Gerður Kristný
Icelandic Literature Award winner
Gwendoline Riley
Bailey's Women's Prize for Fiction nominee (2017)
Hallgrímur Helgason
Icelandic Literary Prize winner
Iain Reid
Award winning author
Ivan Coyote
Hilary Weston Roger's Trust prize nominee
James Scudamore
Man Booker Prize nominee
John Vaillant
Governor General’s Award winner
Joseph Boyden
Giller Prize winner
Kate Williams
Historian, novelist, and broadcaster
Lauren Groff
National Book Award finalist
Lina Meruane
Chilean writer and scholar
Lina Wolff
August Prize winner
Linn Ullmann
Critically acclaimed Norwegian author
Louis de Bernières
Commonwealth Writers' Prize winner
Madeleine Thien
Man Booker Prize nominee
Marcello Di Cintio
Award-winning travel writer
Mark Kurlansky
Journalist and bestselling author
Meg Wolitzer
Bestselling Author
Miriam Toews
Governor General’s Award winner
Nadifa Mohamed
Somerset Maugham Prize winner
Neel Mukherjee
Man Booker Prize nominee
Pamela Paul
The New York Times Book Review editor
Paul Murray
Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse winner
Paul Yoon
Harvard University lecturer
Paula McLain
Author of The Paris Wife & more
Priya Basil
Commonwealth Writers' Prize nominee
Ragnar Helgi Ólafsson
Icelandic Literary Prize nominee
Randy Boyagoda
University of Toronto English professor
Rory Maclean
Bestselling travel writer
Ruth Reichl
Bestselling food writer and editor
Sara Wheeler
Internationally bestselling travel writer
Sarah Moss
Creative Writing Prof and award-winning author
Sjón
Nordic Council Literary Prize winner
Susan Orlean
New Yorker staff writer
Susan Shreve
Guggenheim Award winner
Taiye Selasi
Granta “Best Young British Novelist”
Terry Fallis
Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour winner
Tessa Hadley
Windham Campbell prize winner
Vilborg Davíðsdóttir
Author, Ethnologist, Journalist
Vincent Lam
Giller Prize winnerTOUR OPTIONS
Explore Iceland
IWR participants take part in an exclusive full-day outing into the Icelandic countryside, in addition to a literary walking tour of Reykjavík (the latter is for all participants). IRR participants attend two unique all-day tours. All the day tours are led by and feature contemporary Icelandic writers, and include a stop and reading at Gljúfrasteinn, the former home of Nobel Prize winning author Halldór Laxness.
Literary-themed Golden Circle Tour
A unique variation on Iceland’s most popular excursion that includes stops at Geyser geothermal fields, Gullfoss waterfall, and the UNESCO-listed Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir), as well as a visit to Iceland’s ancient seat of learning, Skálholt. All IWR and IRR can take this tour.
Literary Borgarfjörður
This trip travels west to the Borgarfjörður region, setting of the famous Egil’s Saga, as well as numerous other Icelandic sagas. We’ll circle the picturesque Hvalfjörður “Whale” fjord and visit the cultural centre Reykholt, where chieftain and writer Snorri Sturluson lived in the 13th century. Natural wonders on this tour include Europe’s largest hot spring, Deildartunguhver, and the waterfalls Barnafoss (“Children’s Falls”) and Hraunfossar (“Lava Falls”).
Geology, Ecology, and Literary Inspiration
This trip begins near geological wonders in the Reykjanes peninsula, including the spectacular Lake Kleifarvatn (made famous in Arnaldur Indriðason’s novel The Draining Lake) and the Krýsuvík geothermal area. We’ll also have a reading at the Strandakirkja Church, a visit to the Sólheimar Eco Village, and a stop at the Laugarvatn Fontana Spa to sample some delicious rye bread baked in the hot geothermal ground.
Reykjavik Literary Walking Tour
During the retreat, all participants are also invited to join a literary walking tour of Reykjavik, organized by the UNESCO City of Literature.
TIME TO WRITE
Focus on Writing
Once you’ve been inspired by Iceland and by the writing workshops, why not spend some additional, quieter time in Reykjavík to work on your writing and enjoy the continued company of some of your fellow writers? We’ve dedicated blocks of time for writers to focus on writing. Participants can choose to stay in the quiet hotel or wander over to a café in town.
Relax, Read, & Write Optional Extension
This optional, two-day extension gives you free time during the days to take additional tours, walk through town, shop for souvenirs, or write in a local café. The group will then gather in the evenings for dinner together. At the second dinner we’ll have an open mic night where you’ll have an opportunity (if you wish) to share some of your own work with your fellow IWR participants.
The extension was a great idea, good mix between time off and gathering.”
– Martine, Netherlands, 2015 & 2018 participant
EXCLUSIVE RECEPTIONS
Music, Food, & More
Late night offerings include a chance to hit the streets of Reykjavik to see live music, listen to readings by local writers, and dine at some of Reykjavik’s best eateries. And you’ll be well fed: IWR enrolment includes breakfast (for those who have booked accommodation at the hotel), three lunches and one dinner, plus coffee during breaks and cocktail receptions.
The one-on-one contact with the faculty during meals and at the extracurricular activities made this a completely different conference experience.”
–Megan, Iceland, 2014 & 2017 participant
I love the internationality of the participants. I met people from so many different countries and it was wonderful hearing about their experiences.”
–Muddy, USA, 2017 participant
BRING A GUEST
Spouse & Partner Program
If you are two people who wish to share a room and take part in the IWR / IRR or a combination of the two, you’ll be able to book a double room as part of registration.
If you’d like to bring a guest with you who will not take part in IWR workshops or IRR lectures, tours, and panels, that’s fine too. A “non-participating partner” can attend the welcome drink and dinner, all receptions, literary walking tour of Reykjavík, pub night, and one all-day tour in the Icelandic countryside. We can also advise on how they wish to book additional tours while you are busy in the workshop sessions and panels. Full details are available on the registration page.
My partner felt very welcome and accommodated.”
–Renate, Ottawa, Canada, 2014 participant
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 event in the Covid-19 pandemic, we regret that we will not be able to offer Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Awards in 2021; the 2020 award recipients will be able to attend our 2021 virtual event and we endeavour to send them in person in 2022. We are unsure yet if we will be able to offer additional grants for 2022, but will post any updates here as soon as we find out.
We offer a special IWR Alumni Award granted based on merit and financial need. This program is open to all, and funded entirely by our great alumni.
In previous years we have run a writing contest to win a spot at the Retreat (excluding flights). Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest information on how to apply. (This will also not be offered for 2021, but we may be able to offer for 2022.)
Also, check out arts bodies in your home country. Many of our participants have attended thanks to support from arts councils in countries like Switzerland, Australia and Singapore.
The IWR was not only a world-class writing retreat. It was … a chance to cut to the heart of my writing and immerse myself in five glorious days of literary splendor.”
–Megan Ross, 2016 Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award recipient
Á Íslensku
Ritlistarnámskeiðið Iceland Writers Retreat verður haldið í sjöunda sinn dagana 28. apríl – 2. maí, 2021. Á þessari alþjóðlegu ráðstefnu og vinnustofu gefst rithöfundum og fólki sem hefur bók í bígerð kostur á að taka þátt í námskeiðum og vinnustofum sem þaulreyndir höfundar og ritstjórar sjá um. Námskeiðið verður á ensku.
Auk námskeiða og vinnustofa fá ráðstefnugestir að kynnast hinum ríka bókmenntaarfi Íslendinga. Þeir munu hitta íslenska höfunda, halda á söguslóðir og njóta sérskipulagðra ferða að náttúruperlum landsins.
Iceland Writers Retreat er ætlað að höfða til erlendra gesta sem vilja æfa sig í skrifum og kynnast um leið sögu, menningu og náttúrufegurð Íslands. Heimafólk getur líka skráð sig á námskeiðið.
Ég held að IWR sé mikill hvalreki fyrir íslenska bókmenningu. Leiðbeinendur á heimsmælikvarða ásamt þáttakendum færa heim fjölbreytt og góð áhrif.”
–Andri Snær Magnason