Masterclass: Writing with Chronic Illness

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Tutor

Gwyneth Lewis

Date Friday January 26th 2024, 11:00-13:00 GMT

Location Online

Description
Tutor
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‘Energy is eternal delight’ is a wonderful maxim if you’re not bed- or housebound, suffering from a chronic condition that leaves you unable to shower or even walk to the fridge on some days.

For Gwyneth Lewis, one of the most prominent Welsh poets of her generation, and the first writer to take up the Welsh Laureateship, being severely ill for the last decade has meant giving up her former idea of what being a poet is and adapting to new ways of working. In this workshop, you will look at how you can think creatively within chronic pain and brain fog, preparing your mind for those times when the internal weather lifts and lets you see a broader view for a while. You will read some poems by writers in their illness and other constraining circumstances. Gwyneth will lead you through some in-class exercises to get your mind ranging as widely as possible, but without depleting your precious energy. Gwyneth says: ‘This is terrain that everybody has to face from time to time and eventually, so we’re experts in how to batten down the hatches in bad weather while making the most of every day.

If we don’t have boundless energy, then we can hone our capacity for its equivalent, delight. We’ll discuss practical strategies but also consider how we can make our situation a creative asset for ourselves and others. This is difficult but, in company, can and is being achieved.’ Gwyneth Lewis is an award-winning freelance poet and non-fiction writer. She wrote the words on the front of the Wales Millennium Centre and was the first National Poet of Wales. She teaches in the UK and America. There are extra fully funded places available on this masterclass for those unable to afford the concession rate. For more information, please email access@arvon.org.

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.

Tutor

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Gwyneth Lewis

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Gwyneth Lewis is an award-winning freelance poet and non-fiction writer. She wrote the words on the front of the Wales Millennium…

Online: £40

Concessions: £20

As part of our effort to increase participation in the arts, 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.
There is a Chat facility to ask any questions.

Masterclasses

A recording of the Masterclass will be available to view for one month after it is aired live, simply log in to your account on our website and you’ll find a link under the ‘Event Details’ tab in the ‘Video recording’ column (you may need to scroll right on your screen to see it), similarly, if any learning resources are available, another link will appear under the ‘Course Materials’ tab.
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).
During sessions we will have a text version available via screen share (if you require these in advance of the session, please email arvonathome@arvon.org).

Online Writing Day

A recording of the workshops will be available to view for one month after it is aired live, simply log in to your account on our website and you’ll find a link under the ‘Event Details’ tab in the ‘Video recording’ column (you may need to scroll right on your screen to see it), similarly, if any learning resources are available, another link will appear under the ‘Course Materials’ tab.
There is a Chat and Q & A facility to ask any questions.
All sessions of the day are delivered live via Zoom meetings, with the option of cameras off or on.
During sessions we will have a text version available via screen share (if you require these in advance of the session, please email arvonathome@arvon.org).

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).
A recording will be available to view for one month after the event is aired live, simply log in to your account on our website and you’ll find a link under the ‘Event Details’ tab in the ‘Video recording’ column (you may need to scroll right on your screen to see it), similarly, if any learning resources are available, another link will appear under the ‘Course Materials’ tab.

Online Writing Weeks / Weekends

Courses are delivered by Zoom meeting, which means they are not recorded.
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 at all times, it would be helpful to let your course host know this in advance.
We use Padlet as a landing page for all course materials, and to provide an optional platform for interaction with your tutors and fellow course participants. If you would like some more information about this, or if you have any anxiety about using this platform, please email arvonathome@arvon.org.

Subject to funding/permissions (please contact arvonathome@arvon.org 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.

"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