HOME OF CREATIVE WRITING COURSES AND RETREATS 2020 About Arvon 5 Courses & Retreats Welcome 6 Starting to Write 30 The Arvon week 8 Fiction 37 Short courses 10 Poetry 63 Choosing a course 12 Non-Fiction 80 Writing house 14 facilities Writing for Children/YA 92 Writing houses 18–23 Playwriting/TV/ Course fees 24 Film/Radio 98 How to book 26 Other 109 Grants 26–27 Retreats 115 Concessions 28 Course Index 140 –143 More about 142–153 Arvon Terms and 154–161 conditions ARVON Something magical happens at an Arvon writing house. You arrive, perhaps feeling a little shy, uncertain and hopeful. You leave, amazed at the progress you’ve made, encouraged by “These are a sense of fellowship, the buzz of inspiration life-enhancing weeks. and the determination to keep writing. I’ve witnessed the most astonishing evolution Arvon has been inspiring generations of writers for over 50 years as the UK’s home of creative writing. We in students’ writing have three writing houses, in Devon, Shropshire and and confidence over Yorkshire. Our residential courses and retreats, led by highly acclaimed writers, span poetry to theatre, the period of just song to screenplay, fact to fiction, starting to finishing – 4 5 a handful of days, and we offer grants to help with course fees. and as a tutor it’s Each year, over 40 of our courses are with vulnerable a privilege to see groups and schools, from young people who have experienced bullying to adults recovering from an people grow and addiction. We also work closely with teachers to support flourish during their professional development. the course.” We offer a home for the imagination, where anyone, regardless of writing experience, can step away from —Poet Laureate Simon Armitage their normal routine, immerse themselves in the creative process, be inspired by experienced writers and release their imaginative potential. WELCOME TO ARVON’S 2020 COURSE PROGRAMME Andrew Kidd, Arvon’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director As Arvon’s new Chief Executive and Artistic Director, While nothing can replicate the power of an Arvon I am delighted to introduce our 2020 programme. residential course, we are always looking for ways to Whether you’re just starting out on your writing journey enable more people to experience Arvon. Last year we or you’re somewhere further down the road, Arvon launched Arvon 1–1: online tutorials in which you can offers an unparalleled range of opportunities for get personal, one-to-one feedback from an Arvon developing your craft. tutor (see p.121). We plan to significantly expand the 1–1 offering in 2020. In this brochure, there are over 70 courses and retreats 6 to choose from. As ever, fiction, poetry and writing for Finally, if you’d like unmediated time to work on your 7 the stage and screen are well represented, as are our writing, the splendid Clockhouse retreat at The Hurst celebrated Starting to Write weeks. And for those who offers expansive space for up to four writers to follow need a little push getting to the next stage we offer their own schedules. You can book a place at the work-in-progress, finishing a collection and preparing Clockhouse for as many weeks as you like. for publication courses. We also remain committed to breaking new ground, engaging with practically every The particular blend of encouragement, creativity, form of creative expression the written word can take. connection, rigour and play that constitutes the ‘Arvon From Hybrid Writing to Life Writing with Coaching, from magic’ can neither be bottled nor wholly explained. Essays to a Digital Detox retreat, you are sure to find the It truly is something you need to experience for right course for you. yourself, and we look forward to welcoming you soon to the home of creative writing. If spring is too long to wait, our Winter Season in January, February and March offers the chance to kickstart your creativity without delay. You can find these courses on our website. And for those pressed for time, there are Short Course options throughout the year. THE ARVON WEEK On five-day courses you’ll be with a group of up to 15 other writers, working with two tutors, from Monday to Saturday. Most Arvon courses follow this structure (although short courses, retreats and tutored retreats are a little different): • Each morning the tutors • On Tuesday evening lead workshops to help the tutors read from you explore ideas, forms their own work. and techniques. • On Wednesday evening • Afternoons are your the guest speaker joins time for writing and the group. 8 9 one-to-one tutorials to consider your writing in • On Friday evening depth. You’ll have two everyone gets together tutorials (at least 20 to share and celebrate minutes long), one with their work. each tutor. • The week comes to • On Monday you arrive a close on Saturday between 4.30pm and morning, after breakfast. 6pm, settle in, enjoy Have a tissue handy – dinner and attend the you may shed a farewell tutors’ introduction to tear or two! the week. SHORT RESIDENTIAL GIFT VOUCHERS WRITING COURSES We have captured all the essential elements that make the Arvon week unique and distilled them into a short course. These courses are ideal for writers who are keen to come to Arvon but ARVON can’t manage a full week. GIFT VOUCHER We offer two types of short courses – three-day (Friday to Sunday) and four-day (Monday to Thursday), which include most aspects of an Arvon week. You will be one of 14 writers, each with a single room. There will be two tutors running the course. Significant departures from our classic Arvon week include no cooking and no mid-course guest. 10 Cost: from £530 for three-day courses / from £560 for four-day 11 courses. See courses 10, 12, 15, 31, 44, 47, 50 and 74. FOUR-DAY COURSE THREE-DAY COURSE Monday to Thursday Friday to Sunday Four-day courses run The long weekend from Monday lunchtime course begins on with a departure after Friday lunchtime with breakfast on Thursday. a departure after lunch on Sunday. Do you have a friend with a flair for The course includes ten fiction? Or a relative who is harbouring hours of workshop-based The three days include a desire to pen poetry? An Arvon Gift group tuition; each six hours of workshop- Voucher is an inspirational present. student gets two one-to- based tuition; each one tutorials and there student gets two one-to- Arvon Gift Vouchers can be made up to is a celebratory reading one tutorials and there any amount – perfect for a friendly nudge night on Wednesday. is a short reading to end or a grand gesture. Find out more at the course. www.arvon.org/gift-voucher or call 020 7324 2554. CHOOSING A COURSE Most of our courses are for all levels of experience. Tutored Retreats However, we offer the following courses and These are like our Work-in-Progress courses above, retreats for beginner or experienced writers: but without morning workshops. Instead you will have four tutorials, two with each tutor, as opposed to two on regular courses. Tutored Retreats are suitable for Starting to Write experienced writers, not beginners. We have Tutored If you have a burning desire to write but no idea where Retreats in several different genres. to begin, or perhaps you are returning to writing after a long time away, or maybe you have writing experience Centre Retreats in one field but are keen to explore a new genre – then Retreats offer you the time and space to write with a a Starting to Write course would be ideal. Starting to group of up to 15 other writers. There are no workshops Write courses are designed to build your confidence and no tutorials. We also offer a range of retreats with within a supportive environment, providing you with activities, including walking and Pilates. the tools to inspire and develop your writing. We offer 12 13 Starting to Write courses in specific genres, and more Writers Retreat at The Clockhouse general Starting to Write courses that include fiction and Choose between four or six days in your own apartment poetry writing. at The Clockhouse, tucked away in the peaceful grounds of The Hurst. Write, plan, walk, think, dream, edit, Work-in-Progress in solitude, away from it all with no distractions. The These are for writers who already have significant Clockhouse has four apartments in total. Writers Retreats experience and would like to receive project-specific are untutored. See p.122 for more information. feedback as well as the space and time to write. We have Work-in-Progress courses in several different If you’re unsure which course is right for you, genres. These courses include workshops and one-to- feel free to call our team on 020 7324 2554 to one tutorials. discuss possibilities. WRITING HOUSE FACILITIES Accommodation Everything in an Arvon writing house has been set up to help you write and to help you feel at home for the week. The accommodation is deliberately simple, comfortable and clean. The Arvon staff will be your hosts, ensuring a relaxed, friendly and informal atmosphere. Each writing house has a living room, a well-stocked library and many other quiet spaces, as well as an inspirational landscape to explore beyond the house. See pages 18–23 for details of bedrooms and bathrooms at each writing house. You do not need a computer on our courses, but you 14 are welcome to bring your own laptop.