COURSES & RETREATS
Online or in-person, from one hour to five weeks – find inspiration, support, and transform your writing with Arvon’s courses for every writer, in every genre.
WHAT IS AN ARVON COURSE?
In-person or online
Whatever the setting, online or at our historic writing houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire, Arvon is home to your imagination.
Nurturing
and advice
Be supported by expert tutors to help you explore and develop your writing. Hone your craft with workshops, 1-1 tutorials, readings and Q&As.
Time and
space to write
Step away from your normal routine and immerse yourself in the creative process without distractions. The perfect way to let your writing off the leash.
Community
of writers
Encouragement, support and fellowship from a group of writers. You’ll inspire one another while learning from today’s leading authors.
DISCOVER OUR RANGE
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMME
Live as a writer in one of our houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire.
Residential Writing Courses and Tutored Retreats give you time and space to write, nurtured by two expert tutors. Experience the transformative power of Arvon, surrounded by beautiful scenery and a supportive group of up to 16 peers.
ARVON AT HOME
Our online programme of activities will help you find inspiration and keep writing, no matter the setting.
Writing Weeks, Short Courses, Evening Courses, Masterclasses, Saturday Writing Club and Arvon 1-1s, all accessible from the comfort of your sofa, delivered via Zoom.
CLOCKHOUSE RETREATS
Give your writing the time at space it deserves at The Clockhouse in Shropshire.
Your own private apartment at our dedicated Writers Retreat, with bedroom, study, en-suite bathroom, and all food provided, for six-day and four-day writing retreats.
MASTERCLASS ON-DEMAND
Bring your words to life in a two-hour recorded workshop led by today’s finest writers.
Explore our back catalouge of Masterclasses, ready to watch on-demand, and come away with new words on the page, new techniques and a boost of creativity.
FIND A COURSE BY TYPE
Residential Writing Course
Residential Retreat (Tutored)
Residential Retreat (No Tutors)
Online Writing Week
Online Writing Month
Online Writing Day
Masterclass
Residential Writing Course
Residential Writing Courses take place at our houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire and span a range of genres. You'll work closely with two tutors, each week consisting of workshops, one-to-one tutorials and evening readings. You’ll have time and space to write, and plenty of support. Long after you leave, your creativity will grow.
Oct 19-24
Lumb Bank
Writers’ Retreat at Lumb Bank
Time and space to write
Nov 2-7
The Hurst
Residential Writing Course: Deepening your Writing Practice in Poetry and Prose
Getting to the heart of the matter
Nov 2-5
Totleigh Barton
Short Course: Historical Fiction
Situation as story
Nov 2-7
Lumb Bank
Residential Writing Course: Memoir
Crafting a memoir
Nov 9-14
Totleigh Barton
Residential Writing Course: Poetry
Poetry as speech
Nov 9-14
The Hurst
Residential Writing Course: Adaptation
Moving stories between mediums
Nov 9-14
Lumb Bank
Residential Writing Course: Fiction
Writing the weird
Nov 23-26
Lumb Bank
Short Course: Neurodivergent Writing
Different minds, different stories
Nov 23-28
Totleigh Barton
Residential Writing Course: Starting to Write Non-Fiction
Fill your toolkit, find your voice
Nov 23-28
The Hurst
Residential Writing Course: Fiction
The world aslant
Nov 30-Dec 5
Lumb Bank
Residential Writing Course: Fiction
Evoking the past
Nov 30-Dec 5
Totleigh Barton
Residential Writing Course: Theatre
Creating a drama
Dec 7-12
Totleigh Barton
Residential Writing Course: Short Fiction
Re-energise your imagination
Dec 7-12
Lumb Bank
Writers’ Retreat at Lumb Bank
Time and space to write
Dec 7-10
The Hurst
Short Course: Build a Writing Practice
Getting out of your creative way
Dec 14-19
Totleigh Barton
Residential Writing Course: Poetry
Wicked women
Residential Retreat (Tutored)
Our residential tutored retreats are designed to allow you the time and space to focus on your writing from our houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire. Tutored retreats allow you plenty of self-guided writing time without workshops. You'll benefit from one-to-one tutorials with your tutors in the afternoons and a guest on Wednesday.
Dec 14-19
Lumb Bank
Tutored Retreat: Non-Fiction
Words come alive
Jan 18-23
Lumb Bank
Tutored Retreat: Fiction
Tackling your work-in-progress
Mar 15-20
Lumb Bank
Tutored Retreat: Poetry
How to finish your poetry collection
Apr 26-May 1
The Hurst
Tutored Retreat: Non-Fiction
Finding your way
Online Writing Week
Capturing the transformative power of a traditional Arvon week, you’ll experience a week of workshops, one-to-ones, social gatherings and readings delivered live by two Arvon tutors online. You’ll connect with a small group of fellow writers and unleash your imagination, all from the comfort of your own home.
Nov 16-20
Online
Online Writing Week: Poetry
Movement and stillness
Nov 23-27
Online
Online Writing Week: Non-fiction
Writing together for a better future
Dec 7-11
Online
Online Writing Week: Fiction
Boost your progress with your novel
Jan 18-22
Online
Online Writing Week: Fiction
Finding your finishing line
Online Writing Month
Perfect if you want to commit time to your writing but can only manage a couple of hours a week. Our Online Writing Months unpacks our popular 5-day Online Writing Week over a month of evening classes. You’ll have a weekly workshop, one-to-one tutorials, socials and How I Write sessions. You will develop a network of fellow writers and give your writing a transformational boost.
Nov 2-24
Online
Online Writing Month (evening): Fiction
Making progress with your novel-in-progress
Jan 11-Feb 2
Online
Online Writing Month (evening): Poetry
Living and Writing the Poetry of Change and Resolution
Feb 8-Mar 2
Online
Online Writing Month (evening): How to Finish your Non-fiction Project
Real people, places and things
Online Writing Day
Need a boost while you tackle your latest writing project? These one-day courses are aimed at writers who already have a work in progress, or a current working practice and would like a concentrated bolt of creative inspiration. Delivered live via Zoom and recorded for you to watch back later.
Oct 23
Online
Online Writing Day: Fiction
Wild inspiration
Nov 13
Online
Online Writing Day: Screenwriting
TV Pitch Writing Bootcamp
Dec 4
Online
Online Writing Day: Short Fiction
Never the same again
Jan 29
Online
Online Writing Day: Writing Your Own Way
How to build a writing practice around a busy life and mind
Feb 19
Online
Online Writing Day: Screenwriting
The fundamentals of writing for TV
Mar 12
Online
Online Writing Day: Personal Narrative
Exploring the self on the page
Masterclass
Two-hour online creative writing workshops delivered live by acclaimed writers. With a mix of reading, discussion, and writing exercises, you’ll get new words onto the page, tighten your technique, and become the writer you were meant to be. You can also access an on-demand back catalogue of past Masterclasses.
Oct 9
Online
Masterclass: Substack
A sympathetic space
Oct 13
Online
Masterclass: Adaptation
From page to screen
Oct 20
Online
Masterclass: Telling true-life tales
Using interviews and archival sources
Oct 30
Online
Masterclass: The Haunters and The Haunted
Developing characters in ghost stories
Nov 6
Online
Masterclass: Speculative Fiction
Bold ideas and unexpected angles
Nov 10
Online
Masterclass: The Lyric Address in Poetry
You, you and you
Nov 17
Online
Masterclass: Fiction
Finding your voice
Nov 20
Online
Masterclass: Polish your Play
Finding the nub, honing the detail, cutting the crap
Nov 27
Online
Masterclass: Fiction
From idea to first page
Dec 1
Online
Masterclass: The Ethics of Writing Memoir
How to protect yourself and loved ones
Dec 8
Online
Masterclass: Historical Fiction
Writing women and domestic space
Dec 15
Online
Masterclass: Infinite Ways into Writing Poems
Tackling big subjects with wonder
Jan 15
Online
Masterclass: The Art of Description
Making it come alive
Jan 19
Online
Masterclass: Fundamentals of Non-Fiction
Many ways to skin a cat (the cat, in this case, being ‘non-fiction’)
Jan 26
Online
Masterclass: The Swerve in Poetry
Developing your poem
Feb 5
Online
Masterclass: Rhythm, Memory and the Making of Fiction
Writing life into fiction
FIND A COURSE BY GENRE
Fiction
Poetry
Non-Fiction
Starting to Write
Children & YA
Screenwriting
Theatre
Other
Fiction
Our famous residential fiction writing courses, held in remote countryside locations. Tutored by leading authors including Mark Haddon, Sunjeev Sahota and Kamila Shamsie. Long after you leave, your creativity will grow.
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Poetry
Our poetry courses begin with a warm welcome, give inspirational support, and end with transformation. Since 1968, our poetry courses have supported and inspired writers of all kinds.
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Starting to Write
Build your writing confidence in a supportive environment, led by experts. We offer Starting to Write courses in specific genres and more general Starting to Write courses that include both fiction and poetry writing. Starting to Write courses include workshops and one-to-one tutorials.
View CoursesChildren & YA
Our range of courses and retreats aimed at writing for younger audiences – from picture books and children’s fiction, to YA fiction – will leave you feeling inspired, having made progress on your writing.
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Screenwriting
Many writers who have been on Arvon’s TV and Film courses go on to have their work produced. There are in-depth workshops each morning, personal feedback on your script in one-to-one tutorials, chances to share your work and ask industry experts questions in the evening, lots of writing time and opportunities for creative inspiration.
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Theatre
Our theatre and playwriting courses are the perfect environment to release imaginative potential. On these courses you will benefit from the support of accomplished playwrights, plenty of time to write, workshops and tutorials.
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Other
We like to keep things interesting at Arvon, and these courses don’t fit into a box. From writing for wellbeing and preparing for publication, to hybrid writing and nature writing, these courses are as unique as your imagination.
View CoursesGRANTS & CONCESSIONS
Grants are available for writers who are unable to afford our full course fees and would otherwise be unable to attend an Arvon week. We offer two grants: a low income grant and a teachers grant. We also offer concession pricing on Arvon courses and events, with a generous eligibility criteria.
IN THE PRESS
