Are you working on a novel? Are you on draft 17, or wobbling two chapters in? Or are you somewhere in the middle, with a sense of direction but many pages to go? This course aims to bring writers together at every stage of the novel writing process.
Gentle bootcamp might sound like a contradiction. But that’s the thing about novels: they need tenderness and they need rigour. We hope to supply you with both. We will discuss key topics of novel writing, covering topics such as conflict, relationships, setting, style, and editing. Together, we will explore prompts and exercises to develop your writing further and spark new ideas.
During workshops, you will also read each other’s work with care and attention, not just for their benefit but for yours. Because when we read the work of others we sharpen our own editing skills. In the afternoon you will have dedicated time for writing, as well as tutorials with Rowan and Sophie. Tutorials will be a time to discuss your work but also any queries you have about writing habits, the industry, and wider novel-related questions.
We welcome those at any stage of the novel writing journey.
Please find the course timetable here.
Is this course for me?
These courses are often attended by writers who:
• Want to commit time to their writing but life keeps getting in the way
• Want to set aside five days to focus on their writing
• Need the flexibility and accessibility of attending from their own space
• Would love one-to-one feedback from two professional writers
• Want a live, fully interactive experience with a group of no more than 14 writers
What will I gain?
• Daily interactive mornings workshops to propel your writing forward
• Two 25 minute one-to-one tutorials with experienced tutors
• Free passes to any webinar events happening elsewhere at Arvon at Home during your week with us including masterclasses (each worth £40)
• A reading and Q&A with your tutors
• Daily check-ins
• A group of creative peers who you may decide to keep in contact with after the course
• Support at all times from friendly Arvon hosts
• An inclusive and supportive environment in which to open up creatively
How does it work?
The week starts with an introductory session to get to know you and your writing, and the chance to meet the other writers in the group. Then each day there will be morning workshops designed to move you and your writing forward, and check-ins at the end of each day. You will also be offered one-to-one tutorials with each tutor + a free pass to all readings and masterclasses happening elsewhere at Arvon at Home.
All sessions are delivered live via Zoom meetings, with the option of cameras off or on. Groups are limited to 14 writers so the experience has a bespoke feel.
A more detailed timetable can be found below.
Why Arvon?
Arvon is a not-for-profit charity that has been running since 1968.
At Arvon, everyone who crosses the door of one of our writing houses is a writer – no matter what their age or writing experience – and all are welcome.
About Arvon – Home of Creative Writing since 1968 – Arvon
We are committed to making our Arvon at Home programme accessible to as many people as possible.
Our FAQ page may also helpful.
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 without a time limit after the live event. You will receive an email with a link to the recording the day after the masterclass takes place. You can also access it in your Arvon account by logging in on our website, finding the course under My Bookings and clicking on More Details. The recording will have auto-captions running, and chat and transcript will be visible alongside. Any course materials shared by the tutor will also be available in your Arvon account.
- 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)
- We aim to present all resources in two formats e.g., extracts of texts will be read aloud and provided in text form via screen-share or as a document. If it would be helpful for you to have any available resources ahead of the session, we will try to arrange this for you. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss.
Saturday Writing Club
- There is a Chat and Q & A facility to ask any questions
- The sessions are delivered by Zoom meeting, which means they are not recorded.
- You have the option to keep cameras on or off.
- We aim to present all resources in two formats e.g., extracts of texts will be read aloud and provided in text form via screen-share or as a document. If it would be helpful for you to have any available resources ahead of the session, we will try to arrange this for you. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss.
- We use Padlet as an optional community platform. If you would like some more information about this, or if you have access barriers to using this platform, please email arvonathome@arvon.org.
Online Writing Days
- A recording of the workshops will be available to view for one month after it is aired live. You will receive an email with a link to the recording the day after the masterclass takes place. You can also access it in your Arvon account by logging in on our website, finding the course under My Bookings and clicking on More Details. The recording will have auto-captions running, and chat and transcript will be visible alongside. Any course materials shared by the tutor will also be available in your Arvon account.
- 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.
- We aim to present all resources in two formats e.g., extracts of texts will be read aloud and provided in text form via screen-share or as a document. If it would be helpful for you to have any available resources ahead of the session, we will try to arrange this for you. Please email arvonathome@arvon.org to discuss.
Writing Weeks and Writing Months
- Courses are delivered by Zoom meeting, which means they are not recorded.
- Online writing weeks and months have smaller groups than our other events of up 14 participants, and are interactive with tutors and your fellow course participants. We encourage everyone to participate in the way that is most comfortable. You are welcome to keep your camera and audio on or off, take breaks as needed, and contribute either on audio or in the chat.
- Tutors and participants often use the zoom chat to interact and share resources. If you have access barriers to using the chat, please let us know.
- 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 access barriers to using this platform, please email arvonathome@arvon.org.
A note on the use of AI and recording
- Due to concerns around privacy, we do not allow the use of external AI transcription services during our online events and courses. Auto-captioning is available across all of our online courses, and the transcript can be viewed during the session. For recorded events (Masterclasses, How I Write sessions and Online Writing Days), the auto-captions, transcript and chatbox can be viewed alongside the recording. Please get in touch via access@arvon.org if you would like to discuss this further.
Subject to funding/permissions/availability (please contact arvonathome@arvon.org for more details)
- Recording of Writing Weeks and Writing Months
- Downloadable transcripts
- BSL interpretation
- Live captioning
If you have any access needs that we have not covered here, please contact us on access@arvon.org
See here for more access information.
Sophie Mackintosh
Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
