Apr 29-May 3
Online
Online Writing Week: Poetry
Poetry and its Hinterland
The essay is having a moment – this ancient form of writing, often overlooked in the past, now feels very contemporary. Whether personal or polemical, poetic or journalistic, the essay is a genre in its own right. Why write essays? And how? Where to begin and end, how to craft a voice or argument? In this online writing week, essayists and non-fiction writers Brian Dillon and Rebecca May Johnson will help you explore voice, tone, structure and research, as well as where essays might live in the world. Through writing exercises, close readings and one-to-one feedback you’ll discover the richness and breadth of the genre – including classic essays by Michel de Montaigne, Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin and Elizabeth Hardwick – and receive expert guidance as you find your own way into reading and writing this timely literary form.
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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Brian Dillon is the author of several books of non-fiction and essays, including Essayism, Suppose a Sentence…
Tutor
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Rebecca May Johnson is a writer of essays and nonfiction and an experienced teacher of creative writing in workshops and on…
Guest
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Katherine Angel is the author of the internationally acclaimed Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again; Unmastered: A Book on Desire, Most…
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!