Arvon runs an annual programme of creative writing courses and retreats for schools, groups and individuals. Our courses, tutored by leading authors, are held at three beautiful rural writers’ houses and include a powerful mix of workshops and individual tutorials, with time and space to write, free from distractions of everyday life. Arvon courses are in a wide range of genres and we have different styles of courses. Grants are available to help with course fees.
Jan 14-19
Totleigh Barton
Starting to Write
Finding the key to your writing
Jan 28-Feb 2
The Hurst
Poetry
New year, new writing
Feb 4-9
Lumb Bank
Fiction
New horizons, fresh perspectives
Feb 25-Mar 2
Totleigh Barton
Poetry
The poetry workout
Mar 11-16
The Hurst
Fiction
Re-energising your creativity
Apr 8-13
The Hurst
Fiction
,Children & YA
Enthralling the young adult reader
Apr 15-20
Lumb Bank
Fiction
Unlearning rules, building instinct
Apr 22-27
The Hurst
Fiction
Technique and tenacity: a good first draft and beyond
“My work has improved a lot. I am actually proud to call it my work.”
— Writing the Game, Student
Exercises
Fiction
Whenever you write a scene it’s a good idea to rewrite it – perhaps in note form – using a different…
Tips
Poetry
Each line must carry at least one unit of sense either in the line itself or across several lines.
To make…
Tips
Non-Fiction & Life Writing
Objects have immense power to help us to tell stories.
I have found that an entire storyline can be found in…
Exercises
Film & TV
PART ONE: Documentary or Research Exercise for Screenwriters
Using a still camera and or a tape recorder (or video recorder), follow…
Tips
Writing for Children & YA
After the giddy rush of a first draft, how you edit and refine your work is of equal, if not more…
Exercises
All
,Writing for Children & YA
Start with a scenario – this might be a random picture, a very short scene from a novel, a few lines…
Tips
Fiction
Before you begin to write your story ask yourself what is it about, what do you want it to say, what…
Exercises
Fiction
Think about your favourite novel or short story, or if not your favourite, then the novel or short story you are…
11 Dec 2018 / #Arvon50
What do marketing analysts, postgraduate history scholars, Information Technology librarians, and recently retired teachers have in common? Answer – they don’t…
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04 Dec 2018 / #Arvon50
I went on my first Arvon course twenty five years ago. For the whole week I was plagued by an evil…
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29 Nov 2018 / #Arvon50
‘I’m not sure I’m cut out for this’ I said, my case packed and my taxi due. Having been trying my…
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27 Nov 2018 / #Arvon50
Arvon has played a major part in my writing career as a creative writing tutor, I was asked to tutor a…
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Do you believe that everyone should have the opportunity to unlock their creative potential?
We believe that everyone deserves the freedom to imagine, write and explore ideas regardless of their age or financial background.
We offer residential weeks for schools, young people and adult groups.
Our weeks for schools and groups follow the same pattern as our adult course programme – led by two professional writers, with tutorials, group workshops, and time and space to write.
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