‘Because always language/Is where the people are.’ – W S Graham
There are two worlds encompassed by a poem: the world we live in and the world that lives in us. This online course with celebrated poets John Glenday and Jane Clarke will address poetry in its geographical, psychological and historical context. You will explore how to deal with the notion of place and the past in poetry and, more importantly, how exploring that hinterland of the poem can inspire vivid and arresting new work.
As often as not, good writing comes from good looking; from a respectful scrutiny and empathic bond with the subject. On this week you’ll look at strategies for writing effective and moving poems in workshops where you discuss the poet as witness or dispassionate observer, and particularly how background research can spark the imagination. This course will be particularly suited to those with some experience of writing and publication (whether in journals and magazines or a pamphlet or collection).
We’ll help you to make ‘Arvon at Home’, turning your own place into a writing cocoon, capturing the transformative power of our acclaimed Arvon residential courses: two brilliant author-tutors at your service, a caring and sharing group, the time and space to devote to your writing, invaluable feedback, new writing pals, and the unique creative progress that happens in a dedicated week of writing.
You will be offered the best of a classic Arvon residential week, with a few virtual tweaks. Spot the difference: a carefully balanced combination of tips to help you focus, daily workshops, one-to-one tutorials with both tutors, get-togethers to chat about the day’s work, a mid-week guest reading offer, the celebratory Friday collective reading, and lots of time and encouragement for you to write every day.
All gatherings, one-to-one or group, will be delivered via Zoom, so you’ll need to have a reliable internet connection. Your Arvon host will offer support as you need it, including any help you may need with your computer set-up.
To participate, and to get the most out of the week, you’ll need to turn up online for all planned sessions, Monday to Friday. Last but not least, we urge you to read your tutors’ published work before the week starts.
See below for a detailed timetable of the week.
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 and Evening Courses
- 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 Evening Courses.
- 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.
John Glenday
Jane Clarke
Emma Must
