What is a short story? How can we create stories that give a strong sense of place, believable characters and realistic dialogue? How do you show a character’s thoughts and feelings? What is point of view and how can it be deployed? How do we use language to move our narrative forward and how can we make every word count? Vanessa Onwuemezi and Graham Mort will guide you towards new potential in your writing and help you to sharpen your craft by addressing these questions and by looking at how other writers have navigated them. They will open up a creative space that encourages you to take risks and explore the many possibilities of the form. There are no hard and fast rules for short fiction, and its many opportunities are generated by the writing process itself. New Fictions will enable you to transform initial ideas into convincing narratives through workshop exercises, discussion, and one-to-one tutorials. This is an opportunity to focus on your writing in an inspiring and supportive environment. Suitable for all writers seeking fresh perspectives on the craft of short fiction.
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.
Online: £425
Concessions: £297.50
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 and Online Writing Day
How I Write
Online Writing Weeks / Weekends
Subject to funding/permissions (please contact us 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.
Nothing short of transformative! I can't believe how much we packed into just a few days and how much impact it has had. I'm writing in new styles, new forms, new images, new rhythms!— Writing Week Participant
I had the chance to speak with two well respected tutors about my work. Being able to do this in one-to-one tutorials was excellent and not reduced in any way by being on Zoom. A good chance for some very good advice. I am now determined to set to work on my writing.— Writing Week Participant
Arvon courses are always so inclusive, supportive, fun, and instructive. There is something really magical and intimate about what happens during the week.— Writing Week Participant
Monday
11.30-13.00 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. There’s likely to be some homework for the afternoon.
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-16.00 Quickfire tutorials (both tutors will be in one Zoom room – you will be allocated a 7 min slot to drop in and give a quick intro about yourself and your writing).
16.30-17.00 The closing session of the day, the theme of which will be decided nearer the time by your tutors.
Tuesday
10.00-11.30 Morning workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
11.30-11.40 Break
11.40-12.00 Morning coffee/sharing session: a chance to share some of the things you have been working on with the rest of the group/chat about how the week is going.
12.00-13.00 You are encouraged to use this time to write, continuing on from the morning’s workshop.
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-15.30 Afternoon workshop: Everyone meets online for the afternoon workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
15.30-16.00 Break
16.00-17.00 Tutor readings: both tutors read and speak about their work, followed by a Q&A hosted by your Arvon host.
Wednesday
10.00-11.30 Morning workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
11.30-11.40 Break
11.40-12.00 Morning coffee/sharing session- a chance to share some of the things you have been working on with the rest of the group/ chat about how the week is going
12.00-13.00 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.
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-15.30 Afternoon workshop: Everyone meets online for the afternoon workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
15.30-16.30 Break
16.30-18.30 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.
18.30-19.15 Break
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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
10.00-11.30 Morning workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
11.30-11.40 Break
11.40-12.00 Morning coffee/sharing session: A chance to share some of the things you have been working on with the rest of the group/ chat about how the week is going
12.00-13.00 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.
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-15.30 Afternoon workshop: Everyone meets online for the afternoon workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
15.30-16.30 Break
16.30-18.30 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.
Friday
10.00-13.00 Final morning workshop with both of your tutors
13.00-14.30 Lunch
14.30-16.00 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!
Jun 9
Online
Start writing and keep going
Jun 26-Jul 1
Totleigh Barton
Time to focus
Jun 26-30
Online
Holding on and Letting Go: Writing the Body in Grief
Jul 10-14
Online
Disrupting the Real - A Farewell to Fiction
Jul 14
Online
Zoom Masterclass with Guy Gunaratne
Jul 20-24
Other
In collaboration with Black Mountains College
Jul 24-28
Online
Finding Your Story
Jul 26
Online
Q&A and Reading
