Apr 29-May 3
Online
Online Writing Week: Poetry
Poetry and its Hinterland
There’s a natural progression from writing verse to writing monologues to duologues, to dialogue and plays. But when does one thing begin to slip towards the other? Where do the lines blur, and what should writers consider in the construction of pieces for theatre? During a week for all writers with an interest in writing both plays and poems, Rachel Long and Inua Ellams will show you how to tell a story for the stage effectively, discussing other essential elements along the way: dialogue, the importance of location, and character development. You’ll study ‘theatrical poems’: those that borrow from, or are inspired by the stage in terms of narrative, mood and lighting. We’ll look at poets from Shakespeare to Safiya Sinclair, via Marie Howe, Michael Donaghy, Oscar Wilde and Anne Carson, and playwrights from Brain Friel to Wole Soyinka. You’ll explore the ways in which your appreciation of these artists can inspire your work and grow towards a play. This course will experiment, fuse, meld, move and inspire each participant to leave with a new, unique, hybrid work.
Note: This course is part of Inua Ellams’ 2024 Writer in Residence programme of events.
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.
Tutor
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Born in Nigeria in 1984, Inua Ellams is an internationally touring poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist & designer. He is an…
Tutor
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Rachel Long’s debut collection, My Darling from the Lions (Picador 2020 / Tin House 2021) was shortlisted for the…
Guest
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Caroline Bird is a poet and playwright. Her sixth collection, The Air Year, won the Forward…
Online: £450
Concessions: £315
As part of our effort to increase participation in the arts, we offer limited concessionary places at a 30% reduction. You can select this option at checkout if available.
We are committed to making our Arvon at Home programme accessible to as many people as possible.
Across all of Arvon at Home
Masterclasses
Online Writing Day
How I Write
Online Writing Weeks and Evening Courses
Subject to funding/permissions (please contact arvonathome@arvon.org for more details)
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.
Monday
11.00–12.30 Everyone gathers online in Arvon’s Zoom Writing House. Your Arvon host will welcome you and the tutors. You’ll get to meet everyone, ask questions, and settle in. Your tutors will ask you to start thinking about your writing, perhaps setting an exercise.
12.30–14.00 Lunch
14.00–16.00 First workshop with both tutors: Everyone meets online for the workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break
16.00–16.30 Break
16.30–17.30 Tutor readings: Both tutors read and speak about their work, followed by a Q&A hosted by your Arvon host.
Tuesday
10.00–12.30 Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
12.30–14.00 Lunch
14.00–16.00 Tutorials or Writing Time: Please keep this time pencilled in your diary. Over the course of the week you will have 2 x one-to-one tutorials lasting 25 minutes (one with each of your tutors). These will be allocated for you and sent to you a week before the course starts. If you do not have a tutorial, we encourage you to use this time to write.
16.00–16.30 Break
16.30–17.30 Closing session of the day
Wednesday
10.00–12.30 Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
12.30–14.00 Lunch
14.00–16.00 Tutorials or Writing Time: Please keep this time pencilled in your diary. Over the course of the week you will have 2 x one-to-one tutorials lasting 25 minutes (one with each of your tutors). These will be allocated for you and sent to you a week before the course starts. If you do not have a tutorial, we encourage you to use this time to write.
16.00–16.30 Break
16.30–17.30 Closing session of the day
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19.15–20.15 (optional) The Arvon Wednesday ‘How I Write’ reading and Q&A — you get a free ticket to this, as well as access to the recording for a month afterwards.
Thursday
10.00–12.30 Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
12.30–14.00 Lunch
14.00–16.00 Tutorials or Writing Time: Please keep this time pencilled in your diary. Over the course of the week you will have 2 x one-to-one tutorials lasting 25 minutes (one with each of your tutors). These will be allocated for you and sent to you a week before the course starts. If you do not have a tutorial, we encourage you to use this time to write.
16.00–16.30 Break
16.30–17.30 Closing session of the day
Friday
10.00–12.30 Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
12.30–14.00 Lunch
14.00–16.00 Tutorials or Writing Time: Please keep this time pencilled in your diary. Over the course of the week you will have 2 x one-to-one tutorials lasting 25 minutes (one with each of your tutors). These will be allocated for you and sent to you a week before the course starts. If you do not have a tutorial, we encourage you to use this time to write.
16.00–16.30 Break
16.30–17.30 A celebratory reading where you have the chance to share some of your new writing. Expect laughter, tears and a huge sense of pride for all you have learned, written and achieved this week. There’ll be plenty of virtual hugs.
And then...
Next steps: The week doesn’t stop here. You now have a writing community. Stay in touch. Share your work with each other, and take it forward!