Going on an Arvon course - what to expect

[fruitstick]

I'm very nervous. Has anyone been on one?

What should I take? Laptop and notebooks obviously, but does it concentrate on new writing or are we expected to share previous stuff.

Not at all sure what to expect, how much time we have alone, am I going to be expected to bond with other people!

Any experiences gratefully received.

I went on one (my first) earlier this year.

Assuming that was a typical experience - I’d suggest you at least try to read some of any literary material they send ahead of the course. It’ll help to discern what you’ll be focussing on during the tutorials.

Crucially - investigate the work of your tutors - not just writing but any other creative or professional roles they might have. Try to understand (I didn’t!) why they have been chosen for whatever the week’s topic is.

The timetable for ours was that group tuition happened in the morning and you had the afternoons mostly free to read and write, or go for walks or sleep or whatever, with a 1:1 chat about your writing for each person scheduled at some point. (Think this is all exactly as described on the website.)

During the group tuition you examine published writing together and then have brief opportunities to try out some brief writing of your own. But no one is forced to share work at any time - even on the final day when everyone is invited to share a more substantial piece of their writing. You’re free to decline.

As for bonding … The wine flows, so … It is very convivial, particularly around lunch and dinner. (I found it a bit of a shock to the system after two years of lockdown.) But you’re entirely free to retreat to your room, or the surrounding outside space, whenever you want. Your turn at cooking and clearing up will be hard work but you’ll feel very virtuous afterwards.

All in all it’s a lovely but challenging experience.

Thank you, that has reassured me.

I feel ridiculous for saying it but I think this is the first time I've ever been away by myself. I'm nearly 50!

I've read two of the tutor's books and have downloaded two of the others (they are short).

The other tutor hasn't published anything yet. Phew!

Okay … So why is the other tutor there? Do they edit work? Publish? Review? Engaged in academic research? Work in a bookshop? Run a literary festival or produce plays? They will have some literature related activity which will be discussed (a lot …) during the week.

How sociable are you, generally? And think about whether you’re easy going or whether you might find the way other people roll their socks, or hold their knives, intensely irritating. During my stay anyone who felt themselves to be especially in need of consideration was afforded it - but that doesn’t stop people quietly gossiping if someone is … objectionable. Living suddenly amongst strangers can be very exposing, so be prepared for that.

The course is life writing. She is a coach so I guess she's there to work on the bits of ourself we'll be writing about. I've had a look at her website.

I'm not objectionable (I don't think!) and fairly easy going. I'm more than happy to peel potatoes and wash up.

I am writing about the death of my son, so whilst I'm naturally quite sociable and chatty, it will be emotionally quite exhausting.

Hello @fruitstick , I'm a bit late to your thread. I did my first Arvon course earlier this year. It was in lots of ways wonderful - inspiring, interesting, exciting - and then I also had moments every day when I felt absolutely wiped out by it all and just wanted to go to lie down and escape it all.
I found the "full on" nature of being with approx 15 other people throughout was quite intense. Mealtimes were really loud (not breakfast, but defiitely lunch / dinner).
Several of my group wandered off at different times - some had appointments, some had phone calls to make and had to walk quite far to get reception, some were struck with a fit of creativity and vanished for a day. This worked really well to feel that everyone could be treated as an adult.
Hope you enjoy (or by now, have enjoyed ? ) your course.

I have done one and absolutely loved it. I felt I was bursting with ideas, and met some nice people there. The tutors were good.

Mine was the one in Devon. Where are you going?

@fruitstick an update would be nice - when you have anything to update us with!

It was great. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so good to have some time away, and plenty of time for rest and also a bit of writing. Everyone was lovely and we all got on well together.

That’s good to hear!

I know some people go several times. (Though not me.)

That's good - I don't often find myself among a group of creative people - we are thin on the ground - I rarely sit down with other writers. I'm a musician first and finding people you get on with, who have compatible taste and sensibilities about music, that you actually co-write with is really hard to find. I've tried a couple of local writing groups but really didn't click with them at all - people I got to know through internet forums that I now know as friends outside the forums are my main collaborators - we read each others work, talk about what we are doing or trying to do, the problems we struggle with, encourage each other. I'm sure I could enjoy time among like minded people and it's good to have uninterrupted time but I wondered what you got from the course that will help you - is it more than as surge of motivation or did you take away something that might change the way you think or work? I'm waiting for a spot of better weather - I can use my campervan to go away for a few days - it's the uninterrupted time I need - to be free of the routines around eating and sleeping - when there's ice on the roads, flood risks, etc I just don't fancy driving but my van is ready to go and I have meals I put aside in the freezer ready to take with me.

I went on an Arvon course 20 odd years ago, in the wilds of Scotland, near Loch Ness. I loved it and it was useful - I had a block at the time (nasty divorce and new relationship) and it helped me get back onto what turned out to be a long road. Can't remember the tutors now (and too lazy to go and unpack my diary!) but I enjoyed the company and cooking dinner and the beautiful countryside - walked to Loch Ness with another woman, really good. Glad they are still as good and that you enjoyed it, fruitstick.