Aug 15-20
The Hurst
Tutored Retreat: Non-Fiction
Crafting your non-fiction story



Literary non-fiction allows us to celebrate and question the world but in times of upheaval and flux, how do we create writing that matters? Led by Sunday Times bestsellers, Cal Flyn and Dan Richards, this is a course for writers of any level to explore non-fiction in various forms — travel, reportage, biography, nature writing. Taking the great Joan Didion’s maxim that she wrote ‘entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear’, the ultimate goal of this course is to get you writing and thinking clearly and concisely, the better to communicating with another mind, tell a story, connect; to show the world as it really is, at once mundane and sublime. Workshops will consider the core skills of research, narrative structure, and editing. You’ll discuss the necessity for good non-fiction writing now, as an authentic gift and a responsibility; the need to seek out and celebrate light in the dark.
Tutor
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Dan Richards writes about travel, culture and art. His first book, Holloway (Faber, 2013), co-authored with Robert Macfarlane and…
Tutor
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Cal Flyn is an author and journalist from the Highlands of Scotland. She has worked for the Sunday Times…
Guest
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Tabitha Lasley was a journalist for ten years. Her work has been published in The Paris Review…
Band A (rooms are located in the main house with a guaranteed valley view): £865
Band B (rooms are located in the barn or main house without a valley view): £815
Concessions: Band A Room £605.50
Concessions: Band B Room £570.50
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.
Physical Access at Lumb Bank:
We do not recommend this house if you are a wheelchair user. Plans are underway to redevelop the house to provide level access. There is 1 level access en-suite bedroom – the Log shed. There is level access from outside into the workshop room and level access into the sitting room. Door widths are generally narrow, though all door handles are at an accessible height. There is no designated car park. If you have a mobility impairment, we can allocate you a space in the courtyard (1 place per course). Others are asked to park at the top of a long steep lane and make their way on foot to the house. For additional detailed information on physical access in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, dining, shared spaces and the grounds please visit our dedicated access page.
General Access Information for Residential Writing Weeks:
Available on all courses for those who are Deaf, Partially Deaf or who have significant hearing loss
We provide BSL interpreters on some courses. If you require this please check whether the course you are interested in offers this facility. Or get in touch on our dedicated access email: access@arvon.org
Available on all courses for those who are blind, partially sighted or who have significant sight loss
Available on all courses for those who have Dyslexia
There’s no need to worry about spelling, grammar or handwriting on our courses, the focus is on creativity.
Available on all courses to those who identify as Neuro Divergent
Arvon is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment to all.
If you need to take some time out to rest, or be alone, you’re welcome to do so. Participation in any activity is entirely at your discretion.
Our grants scheme may be able to cover a portion of your course fees. Disability costs and additional living/support costs are taken into account when considering your grant application. You may also be entitled to concession pricing on selected courses.
For additional detailed information on how we can support people with learning difficulties, mental health issues, and those with special diets and allergies, please see our dedicated access page.
If you have any questions or concerns and want to chat to a member of staff prior to booking please contact us on access@arvon.org
The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre, Lumb Bank is an 18th-century millowner’s house in West Yorkshire, which once belonged to Ted Hughes. It’s set in 20 acres of steep woodland with breathtaking views to the valley below.
You’ll find many quiet places to write in the house and garden – and a well-stocked library. All rooms are single occupancy, and bathrooms are shared.
All your meals are provided, locally and sustainably sourced wherever possible. Help yourself to breakfast, our team will prepare lunch, and dinner is prepared in groups each evening using the delicious recipes and ingredients provided.
Explore the Pennine landscape of woods and rivers, weavers’ cottages, packhorse trails and ruins of old mills. It is half a mile from the historic village of Heptonstall and two miles from Hebden Bridge.
See here for more information on Lumb Bank.
Monday
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Arrive in the afternoon, settle in, enjoy dinner and the tutors’ introduction to the week in the evening.
Tuesday
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Morning workshops led by tutors. Afternoons are your time for writing and one-to-one tutorials. Tutors read from their work in the evening.
Wednesday
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Morning workshops led by tutors. Afternoons are your time for writing and one-to-one tutorials. In the evening a guest speaker joins the group.
Thursday
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Morning workshops led by tutors. Afternoons are your time for writing and one-to-one tutorials. You are free to spend this evening as you wish.
Friday
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Tutors lead the final workshops in the morning. In the evening everyone gets together to share and celebrate their work.
Saturday
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The week comes to a close after breakfast, departures by 10am. Have a tissue handy to say your farewells to the group.
“I arrived at the beginning of the week wondering whether I might be a writer or even if I could write. But when I left, not only did I feel I could write, I knew that’s what I was going to do next.”— Piers Torday
“It is invaluable to writers at an early stage to have this feedback on their work. Many people on my course said that they wished that they had received this type of input earlier in their career – that it might have borne fruit and improved their success. It also provides time to think – in an over complicated world it is hard to carve time for yourself against the requirements of work, family, and daily chores. Arvon was a breath of fresh creative air.”— Penny Clark
“Both courses I attended have had a massive impact on my writing, and been part of the motivation and encouragement I needed to begin working professionally as a writer.”— Participant, Residential Writing Week