Masterclass: Nature Writing

Do you want to write about the natural world? Do you think about ecological issues and how these can be tackled in a piece of writing? This online masterclass with environmental author Joanna Pocock will give participants practical approaches to writing about nature, the environment and our place in it. She will provide suggestions for making space for observing and documenting the natural world around us, and for using these as springboards for creative non-fiction. For writers of all styles, abilities and genres, this class will look at ways of thinking about the place of writing in this time of climate disruption. Joanna will guide you through technical aspects of writing, from establishing a point of view to creating vivid descriptions of place, as well as the importance of editing and fitting writing into one’s life. Discussion will then open up about the differences between ‘Nature Writing’ and ‘Environmental Writing’ and how we can involve ourselves and our stories into this expanding genre of creative non-fiction.

Please bring an object to the session – preferably something natural, such as a conker, a shell, a piece of moss. It doesn’t have to have a huge significance for you, but if it does, that’s fine. We will be writing about this object during the course of the Masterclass.

The Masterclass will be delivered via Zoom webinar, so you can take the session at your own pace, without the pressure of having your video or camera on. Sessions are also recorded so if you are unable to attend live, you will have access to the recording for a month afterwards.

Online: £35

Concessions: £17.50

As part of our effort to increase participation in the arts, a limited number of half-price concessions are available for this course at checkout. There are a limited number of free subsidised places for those who cannot afford the concession price.

We are committed to making our Arvon at Home programme accessible to as many people as possible.

Across all of Arvon at Home

• All sessions will have auto-generated captioning.
• During sessions we will have a text version available via screen share.
• There is a Chat facility to ask any questions.

Masterclasses and Online Writing Day

• A recording of the Masterclass will be available to view for one month after it is aired live.
• There is a Chat and Q & A facility to ask any questions.
• Zoom webinar format (your video and audio will remain off throughout, & your name will not be visible to other participants so it is a ‘relaxed’ event).

How I Write

• There is a chat and Q&A facility to ask any questions.
• Zoom webinar format (your video and audio will remain off throughout, & your name will not be visible to other participants so it is a ‘relaxed’ event).

Online Writing Weeks / Weekends

• Courses have much smaller groups than Masterclasses and How I Write events, and are also more interactive with your fellow course participants and tutors, so cameras and audio are usually on (though both are completely optional). If you would prefer your camera and audio to be off, it would be helpful to let your course host know this in advance.

Subject to funding/permissions (please contact us for more details)

• Recording of Writing Weeks and Weekends.
• Downloadable transcripts.
• BSL interpretation.
• Live captioning.

If you have any access issues that we have not covered here, please contact us on access@arvon.org

See here for more access information.