Following on from a popular Masterclass earlier in the year, writer James McDermott is back to deliver another two-hour online session exploring even more ways to write grief poetry (this will be a stand-alone Masterclass, and you don’t need to have attended James’ previous Masterclass on grief).
James will lead you through some examples of seminal grief poems, pulling out key themes and techniques which he will then ask you to put into practice through inventive live writing exercises. Over the course of the two hours, you will learn a number of tools and techniques to help you re-see loss and write about bereavement in new ways. At the end of the session, you will have first drafts of several new poems, dozens of poetry writing prompts, as well as many new lenses through which to look at grief.
James McDermott’s new collection, Father Myself (Nine Arches Press) explores grief and growth after losing his father to COVID. TS Eliot Prize-winning poet Joelle Taylor has described the collection as ‘a meditation on father-son love, queerness, loss, imperfection, and a man slowly becoming his own father. Lyrical, haunting and exquisitely rendered. A bright devastation of a book’. This will be a supportive and playful session.
This recording will be available to watch at your convenience. Please see the ‘Access’ tab for information on how to find it.
Online: £25.00
Concessions: £12.50
We are committed to making our Arvon at Home programme accessible to as many people as possible.
When you make your purchase, you will receive an email confirmation, including a link to the recording. You can access it at any time using that link. It can also be accessed by logging in to your account on our website, opening the course card on your ‘My Bookings’ page, and clicking on the green ‘Recording’ button. Any course materials that may have been shared for the live session will also be available via a button in the course card. All Masterclasses are recorded with auto-generated captioning, which appears on the recordings.
If you require any assistance or further information, please email arvonathome@arvon.org
"These zoom opportunities are really helping to open my world and keep me inspired to write."— Masterclass participant
"Arvon at Home creates a model to participate in inspirational tutoring for writers, at a distance. The feeling of attending to my writing life in an excellent fashion, and still having a half-day for my work and caring responsibilities at home, felt like a good balance."— Masterclass participant
"It was an absolutely brilliant session and very very useful. And it made me realise how much I’ve missed this kind of workshop because of having children and family that I can’t leave. Now we’re all in the same boat the online stuff is truly transformative."— Masterclass participant
Residential Writing Course
Residential Retreat (Tutored)
Residential Retreat (No Tutors)
Online Writing Week
Online Writing Month
Online Writing Day
Masterclass
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
The perfect recipe for lifewriting
Aug 24-29
The Hurst
How craft shapes meaning
Aug 24-29
Totleigh Barton
Writing your love, grief, rage, and hope
Aug 31-Sep 3
Totleigh Barton
Open the body, calm the mind
Sep 5-12
Totleigh Barton
Stories from life
Sep 7-12
The Hurst
Play with words to find your own voice
Sep 7-10
Lumb Bank
Making human connections
Sep 12-19
Lumb Bank
Polishing and Redrafting
Sep 14-19
Totleigh Barton
Clearing the path
Sep 14-19
The Hurst
Bring your novel-in-progress to life
Sep 28-Oct 3
Totleigh Barton
Deep dive into your script
Sep 28-Oct 3
Lumb Bank
Jump start your fiction
Oct 5-10
Lumb Bank
Cohesion, clarity and flair
Oct 5-10
Totleigh Barton
Finding your way
Oct 5-10
The Hurst
The first 5000 words
Oct 19-24
Lumb Bank
Time and space to write
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
Deep dive into your script
Oct 5-10
Totleigh Barton
Finding your way
Dec 14-19
Lumb Bank
Words come alive
Jan 18-23
Lumb Bank
Tackling your work-in-progress
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
Movement and stillness
Nov 23-27
Online
Writing together for a better future
Dec 7-11
Online
Kickstart your novel
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
Writing taboo
Oct 1-22
Online
Shaping lived experiences into writing that connects
Oct 5-27
Online
Develop your compelling calling card script
Nov 2-24
Online
Making progress with your novel-in-progress
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
Boost your writing for performance
Sep 11
Online
Dig deep and go forward
Sep 25
Online
Poems of rage and power
Oct 23
Online
Wild inspiration from nature and folklore
Dec 4
Online
Never the same again
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.
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Anthony (Vahni) Capildeo
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Abda Khan
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Michael Brooks
Online
Building Worlds
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Chrissy Williams
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Alexander Masters
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Steve Voake
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Felicity Cloake
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Niall Campbell
Online
Invent a workshop that is entirely yours
Online
Harnessing the power of 'what if?'
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Jack Wallington
Online
Finding a Path
Online
Writing relatable characters
Online
Zoom webinar with Federico Andornino
Online
You’re invited to Writing: The Party
