COURSES & RETREATS

Online or in-person, from one hour to five weeks, you can find inspiration, support and transform your writing with Arvon. Discover our range of creative writing courses and events for writers of any genre and any level of experience.

WHAT IS AN ARVON COURSE?

In-person or online

Whatever the setting, online or at our historic writers’ 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 an inspirational mix workshops, 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 make meaningful friendships and inspire one another, while learning from today’s leading authors.

DISCOVER OUR RANGE

ARVON AT HOME

Our online programme of activities will help you find inspiration and keep writing, no matter the setting.

We're pleased to share our Writing Weeks, Short Courses, Evening Courses, Masterclasses, How I Write and Arvon 1-1s, all accessible from the comfort of your sofa, delivered via Zoom.

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMME

Live as a writer in one of our houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire.

Residential Writing Weeks 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 peers.

ARVON LIVE

City-based day-long events with leading authors to inspire your writing and spur on new work.

The day usually consists of Masterclasses, time to write, a reading and Q&A with a guest speaker.

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.

FIND A COURSE BY TYPE

Residential Writing Week

Online Writing Week

Masterclass

How I Write

Online Five Week Course

Online Writing Day

Arvon Live

Residential Tutored Retreat

Children and Young People's Events

Residential Writing Week

Residential Writing Weeks take place at our houses in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire for 5 days 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.

Apr 10-15

The Hurst

Fiction, Poetry

Residential Writing Week: Starting to Write

Uncover your writing

Cecilia Knapp
Russ Litten
Guest: Sammy Weaver
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Apr 17-22

Totleigh Barton

Non-Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Life Writing

More than memoir

Alice Jolly
John-Paul Flintoff
Guest: Roopa Farooki
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Apr 17-22

Lumb Bank

Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Fiction

Landscapes and Underworlds

Zoe Gilbert
Andrew Michael Hurley
Guest: Samantha Harvey
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Apr 24-29

The Hurst

Fiction, Starting to Write

Residential Writing Week: Starting to Write Fiction

Embracing the beginning

Sarah Butler
Gemma Seltzer
Guest: Yvonne Battle-Felton

May 1-6

Lumb Bank

Non-Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Non-Fiction Work in Progress

Taking Your Non-Fiction Project Over the Line

Laura Barton
Luke Turner
Guest: Stephanie Phillips
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May 1-6

Totleigh Barton

Poetry

Residential Writing Week: Poetry Towards a Collection

Pushing at the Limits

Rachael Allen
Eliza Griswold
Guest: Arji Manuelpillai

May 8-13

Totleigh Barton

Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Fiction

Experiments in Fiction

Emma Glass
Samuel Fisher
Guest: Sophie Mackintosh

May 8-13

The Hurst

Non-Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Narrative Non-Fiction

Expanding the Boundaries

Craig Taylor
Cal Flyn
Guest: Joanna Pocock

May 8-13

Lumb Bank

Poetry

Residential Writing Week: Poetry

The Lyric Self

Pascale Petit
Will Harris
Guest: Sarah Howe
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May 15-20

The Hurst

Poetry

Residential Writing Week: Poetry

Exploring Poetry with Dreams, Myths and the Landscape

Fiona Sampson
James Harpur
Guest: Ruth Padel

May 15-20

Totleigh Barton

Publishing, Other

Residential Writing Week: Prepare for Publication

Clearing the Path from Manuscript to Book Deal

James Spackman
Ka Bradley
Guest: Lisette Verhagen

May 15-20

Lumb Bank

Fiction

Residential Writing Week: Fiction Work-in-Progress

Going the Distance

Toby Litt
Stacey Halls
Guest: Hannah Chukwu
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May 22-27

The Hurst

Non-Fiction

Residential Writing Week: The Essay

The Art & Craft of the Essay

Amanda Thomson
Jay Griffiths
Guest: Anita Roy

May 22-27

Lumb Bank

Other

Residential Writing Week: Picture Books

Dancing with Words; Dreaming in Pictures

Mei Matsuoka
Anna Wilson
Guest: John Hegley

May 22-27

Totleigh Barton

Poetry

Residential Writing Week: Poetry

Meeting the Reader

Paul Farley
Colette Bryce
Guest: Padraig Regan
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May 29-Jun 3

Lumb Bank

Other

Residential Writing Week: Writing for Performance with Communities

Sara Clifford
Francesca Beard
Guest: Rob Watt
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Online Writing Week

Our acclaimed week-long writing courses are now available online. Capturing the transformative power of an Arvon week, you’ll experience a week of workshops, one-to-ones, social gatherings and readings delivered by two Arvon tutors via Zoom. You’ll connect with a small group of fellow writers and unleash your imagination, all from the comfort of your own home. 

Apr 3-7

Online

Fiction

Online Writing Week: Fiction Work-in-Progress

Focus on the Craft

Marcel Theroux
Rachel Seiffert
Guest: Tania Hershman
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Apr 10-14

Online

Poetry

Online Writing Week: Poetry

Indulging in your obsessions

Stephen Sexton
Jessica Traynor
Guest: Amali Gunasekera
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Apr 17-21

Online

Non-Fiction

Online Writing Week: Non-Fiction

Writing family history: whose story is it anyway?

Hannah Lowe
Colin Grant
Guest: Meriel Schindler

May 1-5

Online

Non-Fiction, Other

Online Writing Week: Essays

Fresh Ideas about Form

Amber Husain
Will Rees
Guest: Rebecca Liu

May 15-19

Online

Poetry

Online Writing Week: Poetry

Poetry as Conversation

Vanessa Kisuule
Deanna Rodger
Guest: Nikita Gill

May 29-Jun 2

Online

Fiction

Online Writing Week: Fiction

Creating Your World

Winnie M Li
JJ Bola
Guest: Sameer Rahim

Jun 12-16

Online

Non-Fiction

Online Writing Week: Memoir

Everyone Has a Story

Amy Liptrot
Kerry Hudson
Guest: Jenni Fagan
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Jun 26-30

Online

Poetry

Online Writing Week: Poetry

Holding on and Letting Go: Writing the Body in Grief

Victoria Kennefick
Rebecca Goss
Guest: Alycia Pirmohamed

Jul 10-14

Online

Other

Online Writing Week: Performance

Disrupting the Real - A Farewell to Fiction

Paula Varjack
Deborah Pearson
Guest: Brian Lobel

Jul 24-28

Online

Fiction, Starting to Write

Online Writing Week: Starting to Write Fiction

Finding Your Story

Paul Murray
Rosa Rankin-Gee

Aug 7-11

Online

Non-Fiction

Online Writing Week: Non-Fiction

Exploring form in narrative non-fiction

Fiona Sampson
Tishani Doshi
Guest: Rana Dasgupta

Sep 18-22

Online

Poetry, Other

Online Writing Week: Poetry and Research

States of Knowing

Tara Bergin
Yomi Sode
Guest: TBC
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Masterclass

Join an Arvon tutor for a two-hour masterclass, delivered live via Zoom webinar. Similar to workshops on a traditional Arvon course, the tutor will share their invaluable writing advice and explore forms and techniques. You’ll also have time to write over the two hours, with helpful prompts set by the tutor.  

Apr 4

Online

Poetry, Other

Masterclass: How to Teach Poetry

Invent a workshop that is entirely yours

David Morley

Apr 11

Online

Fiction

Masterclass: Lessons from Speculative Fiction

Harnessing the power of 'what if?'

Sophie Mackintosh

Apr 14

Online

Non-Fiction

Masterclass: Writing the Wild Way

Zoom Masterclass with Jack Wallington

Jack Wallington

Apr 21

Online

Poetry

Masterclass: Poetry

Finding a Path

Jen Campbell

Apr 25

Online

Fiction, Children & YA

Masterclass: Writing Fiction for Children

Writing relatable characters

Maisie Chan

May 5

Online

Fiction, Publishing

Masterclass: To Publication and Beyond

Zoom webinar with Federico Andornino

Federico Andornino

May 9

Online

Poetry

Masterclass: Poetry Party

You’re invited to Writing: The Party

Laurie Bolger

May 19

Online

Fiction, Short Story

Masterclass: Short Stories

The art and craft of the short story

Vanessa Onwuemezi

May 23

Online

Fiction

Masterclass: Historical Fiction

Making the Past Feel Present

Naomi Wood

May 30

Online

Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Other

Masterclass: Using Poetic Language in All Your Writing

Bring all genres to life with poetry

Joseph Coelho

Jun 9

Online

Non-Fiction, Other

Masterclass: Nature Writing

Writing nature now

Joanna Pocock

Jun 13

Online

Poetry

Masterclass: Poetry

Looking at Imagery with a Watchmaker's Eye

Mark Pajak

Jun 20

Online

Screenwriting

Masterclass: Screenwriting

How to Get the Best from Working with a Producer

Carol Harding

Jun 30

Online

Non-Fiction

Masterclass: Travel Writing

A Journey in Modern Travel Writing

Sophy Roberts

Jul 4

Online

Non-Fiction

Masterclass: Eco-Poetry

Pastoral to Dystopia and Back Again

Zena Edwards

Jul 14

Online

Fiction, Non-Fiction

Masterclass: Read like a Writer

Zoom Masterclass with Guy Gunaratne

Guy Gunaratne
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How I Write

Now more than ever we need stories – to engage, to entertain, to nourish, and to help us make sense of what we’re living through. So join us from the comfort of your sofa and listen to writers share their work, the stories behind their work, and invaluable writing advice directly from their own desk (or maybe the kitchen table). And the best part? At the end you get to ask them questions about their words, pick their brains on craft, and learn more about the business of writing. Delivered live via Zoom webinar and recorded so you can watch back later. 

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Online Five Week Course

Perfect if you want to commit time to your writing but can only manage a couple of hours a week. Our evening course unpacks our popular 5 day online writing week over 5 weeks 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.  

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Arvon Live

Day-long events in towns and cities with leading authors to inspire your writing and spur on new work. The day usually consists of masterclasses, time to write, a reading and Q&A with a guest speaker.

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Residential Tutored Retreat

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 writing time in the mornings without workshops. You'll benefit from one-to-one tutorials with your tutors in the afternoons and a guest on Wednesday.

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Children and Young People's Events

Arvon at Home Workshops for Children and Young People offer online opportunities for creativity and self-expression, outside the curriculum, for young people aged 8 upwards, whether from their own home or in a school classroom, under the guidance of expert tutors in poetry and prose.

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FIND A COURSE BY GENRE

Fiction

Poetry

Non-Fiction

Starting to Write

Children & YA

Screenwriting

Theatre

Other

A closeup person writing in a notebook

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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Old poetry book on a wooden table

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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View of the valley from Lumb Bank, Arvon's writing centre

Non-Fiction

Non-fiction and lifewriting courses for writers of all levels.

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One-to-one tutorial at Lumb Bank, a writer and tutor discussing some work

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.

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Children & 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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A notebook with writing

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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a person reading a script document on a table with mugs

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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Table with book during a Creative Writing Course at Arvon

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.

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GRANTS & 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.

"My week at Arvon was transformative. The advice, the ideas, the people and the experience have taken my writing to new levels, in ways that I couldn’t have anticipated before attending the week."

— Liz Sage

"An Arvon course is transformative and energising for tutor and student alike; it draws a temporary magic circle within which nobody has to duck their head and apologise for calling themselves a writer."

— Patrick Gale

"Two weeks ago I’d never have scribbled away on a train like this. I might daydream out of the window, passing the time, losing all those thoughts to the air. But now they’ve become a source of stories. Stories everywhere that only I can capture, only I can tell."

— Course participant

It was a week that changed my life. I was very nervous, wondering if I was kidding myself, but the tutors' exercises shook me up. They got me thinking about different ways to write. One of the big things for me was narrative voice, particularly exploring first person, and Kester's voice cam from that....I went on that course thinking I want to be a writer and I left feeling I am a writer"

— Piers Torday

"Utterly exhilarating - a supportive group and constant challenges galvanized my creativity. Performing and writing under pressure in this beautiful space has been fabulous."

— Course participant

"It might be a cliché (what a sin a writer!) but the Arvon course I went on really did change my life; it gave me the space to conceive a long poem I've never been able to match for scope or style since"

— Andrew McMillan

IN THE PRESS