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Writer Opportunities

Discover writing tips and exercises from Arvon tutors, writing opportunities from the literary community and funded programmes designed to help your writing grow.

ARVON NEWS

Arvon in London Primary Schools

19 Feb 2026 / Schools and Groups

At Arvon, we believe anyone can be a writer. Since our founding in 1968, supporting the creativity of schoolchildren has been…

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Julie Hesmondhalgh Narrates Winning Winter Tale

11 Feb 2026 / News

Julie Hesmondhalgh narrates winning winter story for Northern Broadsides and Arvon 
Northern Broadsides and Arvon are thrilled to release a brand-new…

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What’s New at Arvon in 2026

29 Jan 2026 / News

In response to your feedback, this year we’re offering new course types, new themes, and bringing new writers to the programme,…

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Temporary closure of The Clockhouse, Autumn 2026

21 Jan 2026 / News

2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of The Clockhouse as a dedicated Writers’ Retreat. In this time, our four…

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Advanced Writing Programme

Arvon’s Advanced Writing Programme offers 15 writers two years of sustained engagement and the opportunity to work towards completion of a project, whether in poetry, non-fiction or fiction.

Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies

A new talent development programme for emerging writers. The residencies will support 12 writers working in fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and playwriting, giving them the opportunity to bring a project to completion over the course of the self-guided 18-month programme.

Arvon Low Income Grants

Grants are for writers who are unable to afford our full course fees and are not awarded on the basis of writing ability but on your desire to write. Individuals can apply for any amount, right up to the full course fee.

PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES

Northern Writers' Awards: Arvon Award

This award offers a prose writer the opportunity to attend a fully funded Arvon course, supporting both children’s and adult writers to develop their work.

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Little Chick Emerging Writers Scheme

A television drama development programme for early-career writers, cumulating in a residential retreat with Arvon and the creation of a TV pilot episode.

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Search for a Storyteller Competition

Publishing company David Fickling Books and Arvon are looking for writers of all genres, all styles and all voices, aimed at readers between 8-18 years old.

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PARTNER EVENTS

RWA Bristol

In partnership with Royal West of England Academy, Arvon delivers Writing Days inspired by the gallery’s exhibitions.

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Quay Words

Workshops delivered with Quay Words to support writers in developing their work.

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Hay Festival

Arvon hosts in-person writing masterclasses as part of the programme at Hay Festival.

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EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Jane Gregory Bursaries

Applications are now open for the Jane Gregory Bursaries which offer three under-represented writers a unique opportunity to attend the Creative Thursday writing day at the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the world’s largest and most prestigious celebration of crime fiction, taking place in Harrogate on 23-26 July 2026. The bursaries will support the next generation of crime writers and offer recipients a life-changing opportunity to access the Festival and build connections in the literary world. All three bursaries are centred around Creative Thursday and include a contribution towards travel costs, with one bursary incorporating a Weekend Break Package with accommodation and tickets to all Festival main stage events. Closing date: 22 March

The Northern Writers’ Awards: Arvon Award

In conjunction with Arvon, New Writing North are offering a prose writer the chance to undertake an Arvon course. This may be either a tutored or untutored retreat, depending on what you think will be of most benefit to you. To enter writers should submit a sample of 3000–6000 words and a synopsis of up to 600 words. You must over the age of 18, living in the North of England, and be working towards a full-length work of fiction or narrative fiction to enter this award. Both children’s writers and writers for adults may apply for this award. Closing date: Tuesday 10 March

BBC Short Story Awards 2026

Entries are now being accepted for the 2026 BBC National Short Story Awards with Cambridge University. The Award, now in its 21st year, is worth £15,000 and will be given to one writer demonstrating exceptional skill and artistry in the short story form. The Award is for a single story of up to 8,000 words, written by an established author. Submissions for the 2026 BBC National Short Story Award close on Monday 16th March 2026.

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TIPS & EXERCISES

Private

Exercises

How to be an intelligent reader

This one is easy: READ!  
As writers, we should all be readers to give ourselves ready access to what makes for…

Jenny Parrott
Private

Tips

How to Look at Your Work as a Reader Might

As writers, we can get consumed by our actual writing, and it is easy to forget our reader.  
It is …

Jenny Parrott
Private

Tips

Find the right agent for you

Remember: agents aren’t deliberate “gate-keepers”

James Spackman
Private

Exercises

Finding an Agent

A breakdown of the method James recommends to authors in search of an agent.

James Spackman
More Tips and Exercises

STAY IN TOUCH

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Keep in touch with us on Instagram to experience what the joy of an Arvon course looks like and to get a heads-up on upcoming courses and giveaways.

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A smorgasbord of forthcoming creative writing courses and carefully curated writing opportunities, our Twitter provides a window into Arvon at a glance.

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