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.
Aug 24-29
Lumb Bank
Residential Writing Course: Memoir
The perfect recipe for lifewriting
Aug 24-29
The Hurst
Residential Writing Course: Poetry
How craft shapes meaning
Aug 24-29
Totleigh Barton
Residential Writing Course: Exploring Feminine Creativity
Writing your love, grief, rage, and hope
Aug 31-Sep 3
Totleigh Barton
Short Course: The Creative Pause Wellness Retreat
Open the body, calm the mind
Sep 5-12
Totleigh Barton
Residential Arvon Plus: Memoir
Stories from life
Sep 7-12
The Hurst
Residential Writing Course: Starting to Write
Play with words to find your own voice
Sep 7-10
Lumb Bank
Short Course: Fiction and Non-Fiction
Making human connections
Sep 12-19
Lumb Bank
Residential Arvon Plus: Poetry
Polishing and Redrafting
Sep 14-19
Totleigh Barton
Residential Writing Course: Non-Fiction
Clearing the path
Sep 14-19
The Hurst
Residential Writing Course: Fiction
Bring your novel-in-progress to life
Sep 28-Oct 3
Totleigh Barton
Tutored Retreat: Screenwriting
Deep dive into your script
Sep 28-Oct 3
Lumb Bank
Residential Writing Course: Fiction
Jump start your fiction
Oct 5-10
Lumb Bank
Residential Writing Course: Finishing your Poetry Collection
Cohesion, clarity and flair
Oct 5-10
Totleigh Barton
Tutored Retreat: Fiction
Finding your way
Oct 5-10
The Hurst
Residential Writing Course: Fiction and Non-Fiction
The first 5000 words
Oct 19-24
Lumb Bank
Writers’ Retreat at Lumb Bank
Time and space to write
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.
Sep 28-Oct 3
Totleigh Barton
Tutored Retreat: Screenwriting
Deep dive into your script
Oct 5-10
Totleigh Barton
Tutored Retreat: Fiction
Finding your way
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
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
Kickstart your novel
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.
Sep 7-29
Online
Online Writing Month (evening): Poetry
Writing taboo
Oct 1-22
Online
Online Writing Month (daytime): Poetry and Memoir
Shaping lived experiences into writing that connects
Oct 5-27
Online
Online Writing Month (evening): Screenwriting
Develop your compelling calling card script
Nov 2-24
Online
Online Writing Month (evening): Fiction
Making progress with your novel-in-progress
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.
Aug 21
Online
Online Writing Day: Poetry
Boost your writing for performance
Sep 11
Online
Online Writing Day: Making Progress with your Novel-in-Progress
Dig deep and go forward
Sep 25
Online
Online Writing Day: Writing the Menopause
Poems of rage and power
Oct 23
Online
Online Writing Day: Fiction
Wild inspiration from nature and folklore
Dec 4
Online
Online Writing Day: Short Fiction
Never the same again
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.
Sep 1
Online
Masterclass: Playwriting
Structure and archetype
Sep 4
Online
Masterclass: Poetry and AI
Larger languages
Sep 8
Online
Masterclass: Research for Writers
Prying with a purpose
Sep 15
Online
Masterclass: Writing Lives
Fresh approaches to life-writing
Sep 22
Online
Masterclass: Energise your Non-Fiction
Sensory detail for vivid non-fiction
Sep 29
Online
Industry Insight Session: Steps to Publication
Everything you need to know about getting published
Oct 2
Online
Masterclass: Ecopoetry
Poems of the earth
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
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
