Tumbleweeding
About the Tumbleweed programme
Throughout his life, George Whitman, the founder of Shakespeare and Company, travelled the world as a self-proclaimed Tumbleweed – blowing from place to place, sheltered by the grace of the strangers he met. With this in mind, he opened Shakespeare and Company in 1951, living by the motto ‘Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise’. Ever since, the bookshop has opened its doors to aspiring writers who’ve asked for a bed.
Our current Tumbleweed programme proudly continues this tradition, offering a unique opportunity to unpublished writers to stay at a bookshop in the heart of Paris, and to contribute to the city’s rich and extensive literary culture.
What does it mean to be a Tumbleweed today?
Successful applicants will have use of a studio (with private bathroom) within the bookshop building, filled with books should you be in need of literary inspiration. While you are free to fill your days in the studio as you choose, we hope this space will be conducive to many productive hours working on your writing project and reading. Typically, successful applicants will stay a minimum of one week and a maximum of one month with us.
While you’re here, we will ask you to help set up and support our weekly events. Before you leave, we ask all Tumbleweeds to leave a one-page autobiography for our archives. This autobiography should be typed and include your address, profession and a photo of yourself.
The Tumbleweed programme is designed to give nascent writers the time, space and privacy to develop their craft. Therefore, we ask that you do not publicise your residency on social media (before, during, or after your stay) or pitch articles about your time here. Similarly, as you have privileged access to Shakespeare and Company, guests and visitors are not permitted during your stay as a Tumbleweed.
What we offer:
A room with a view for living, working and writing, with a semi-equipped kitchen and private bathroom (for one person only; we cannot accommodate writing partners, family members, pets etc.)
Bed linen and towels
What we don’t offer:
Travel expenses or a living stipend
Visa sponsorship, or other help with visiting/residency papers
Laundry or concierge services
Paid work
Bookselling internships / guidance on starting your own bookshop
Reviews and feedback on written work / connections to publishing networks (agents, editors etc.)
For this reason, while we endeavour to respond to all applications, we cannot always do so. Nor can we answer emails asking about the status of an individual application, outside of our ongoing review process. We kindly ask hopeful tumbleweeds to be patient therefore, and to assume your application has not been successful if you have not heard from us before the end of your preferred dates.
How to apply
If you are interested in participating in our Tumbleweed programme, please complete this application form HERE
Please note that due to significant interest in the Tumbleweed programme, we are currently only accepting applications for May 2026 and beyond.
Suitable applicants will be contacted by email to arrange a short video interview, and if successful they will then be offered a residency period at the bookshop.