May 3
Online
Masterclass: Nature Writing
Writing the wild
Midlife can be a time to reassess: to look back, and plan how to move forward. Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, join award-winning writers Miranda France and Marina Benjamin in exploring any aspect of the menopause experience that interests you: body or mind; lifestyle or culture.
In dramatic terms, a change to the status quo is often where a story starts, giving the writer impulse to seek new equilibrium. But change can also be disturbing, destabilising – a place of confusion and exploration you might want to stay with and untangle. How can you render an experience that is common to all women uniquely yours? How can you rise above the corny japes and cultural myth-making that sideline menopause and deem it irrelevant? How can you tackle its medicalisation without sounding medical yourself?
With the help of your tutors you’ll find creative ways to harness these questions. With a group of fellow writers, over the course of five days, you will read, write and think, using existing texts as prompts and provocations, as well as bringing to bear your own experiences both as writers and as women in the thick of midlife. You’ll leave the week with new clarity on how to move forward with your writing and a sense of purpose in doing so.
Tutor
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Marina Benjamin’s memoirs draw on poetic sensibilities. Her latest, A Little Give, follows on from The Middlepause…
Tutor
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Miranda France is the prize-winning author of five books, encompassing memoir, fiction, non-fiction and reportage, as well as a translator from…
Guest
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Alice Smellie is co-author of Cracking the Menopause with Mariella Frostrup and co-founder of the campaign group Menopause Mandate….
Single room: £985
Concessions: £689.50
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 The Hurst:
The Hurst is the only house that is fully accessible to wheelchair users. There is access to every room via a lift. All communal spaces, including workshop spaces, have level access. There are no steps on the ground floor. All door frames measure the required 825mm, although the fire doors installed reduce this width slightly. All door handles are at an accessible height, with power sockets located at 500mm from the floor. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor.
For additional detailed information on physical access in bedrooms, kitchen, 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 Hurst is a place you can write, far away from daily distractions. The house and gardens, surrounded by the forest-covered Shropshire Hills, were the former home of playwright John Osborne.
The 19th century building has been given a thoroughly 21st century renovation. All 16 bedrooms have a single bed, en-suite bathroom and are lift accessible. There’s plenty of space to relax and write throughout the house, including the main workshop room with a library.
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.
The grounds boast redwoods, wild orchids, surrounded by the forest-covered Shropshire Hills, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The house sits within 26 acres of woodland, with a spring-fed lake and inspiring walks.
See here for more information on The Hurst.
Monday
2.00pm—3.30pm: Arrival of participants. We’ll welcome you, show you to your room and offer light refreshments.
4.15pm: The welcome talk from a member of our hosting team – this will cover domestic & practical arrangements for the week, but it’s also a chance to meet other participants and introduce yourself. Please be sure to arrive in time for this session.
5.15pm: The first group workshop of the week. The tutors will introduce themselves and share their plans for the week in detail. You will have the chance to outline what you’d like to achieve. There’ll be discussion, short exercises, and perhaps some ‘homework’ for Tuesday morning.
6.30pm: Dinner. Our hosting team will serve the evening meal and wash up after, but it would be helpful if you would help clear the dining room/stack dishes.
The rest of the evening is free for you to relax and prepare yourself for the week ahead.
Tuesday
Please note exact timings may change slightly but you’ll be updated at the beginning of the week.
Wednesday
Thursday
9.30am—1.00pm: Morning workshop.
1.00pm: Lunch
2.30 – 4.30pm: 1-1 tutorials
4.00pm: Today’s cooks start preparing the evening meal.
6.30pm: Dinner (today’s cooks washing up afterwards).
Activities for Thursday evening are left flexible and will be agreed between the group and tutors during the week. It may be a ‘night off’ or even include a visit to the local pub for those who would like to.
Friday
9.30am—1.00pm: Morning workshop.
1.00pm: Lunch
3.00 – 4.30pm: 1-1 tutorials
4.00pm: Today’s cooks start preparing the evening meal.
6.30pm: Dinner (today’s cooks washing up afterwards).
8.00-9.00pm: The culmination of the week is a celebratory reading by course participants. Everyone will have the opportunity to share work they have produced during the week.
Saturday
Breakfast, goodbyes, and departure. We ask everyone to vacate the building by 10.00am, but you can leave as early as you wish.