Apr 29-May 3
Online
Online Writing Week: Poetry
Poetry and its Hinterland
What is it that makes working-class voices so distinctive, so compelling?
Drawing on your own lived experience, this course for those at the early stages of their writing journey will enable you to turn your ideas and observations into new writing through focussing on the characteristics and experiences of being working-class. Tutored by two acclaimed working-class writers, interdisciplinary writer Maria Fusco and poet Katrina Naomi, this online writing week will enable you to start experimenting across different forms, from life-writing to fiction and poetry. Katrina and Maria will also share their writing journeys as part of the course.
In supportive online sessions with your tutors, through tailored workshop exercises, close reading, stimulating discussion, inspirational prompts and one-to-one tutorials, you will gain practical skills to express your distinctive voice to the outside world.
Please note: There are unlimited concessions available for this course. If the concession rate is not accessible to you, please email helen.meller@arvon.org to enquire about any extra funding opportunities.
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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Katrina Naomi is the winner of the 2021 Keats-Shelley Prize. Her poetic collaboration with Helen Mort, Same But Different…
Tutor
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Maria Fusco is the author of six books and has been commissioned by organisations including Artangel, BBC Radio 4, Film London…
Guest
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Isabel Waidner is a novelist based in London. They are the author of Corey Fah Does Social Mobility,…
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!