arvon creative writing retreats

Writing on an Arvon Foundation writers’ retreat

A week in hebden bridge, yorkshire helped kickstart my creative writing.

A week on an Arvon retreat

Choosing to spend my first week of freedom away from my full-time writing job by booking a week-long writing course might seem a strange idea, but a week on an Arvon writers’ retreat in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire seemed just the thing to kickstart my creativity.

Not only would it be a welcome change from working from home, but would provide a much-needed change of scenery. I’d walked every route in my local area dozens of times and was desperate to get out of my postcode. Plus, being surrounded by beautiful countryside with nothing else on the schedule other than to write seemed like the perfect antidote to my day job – even if it still involved typing away at my laptop.

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The views from my bedroom alone made the trip to West Yorkshire worth it

I’d heard of Arvon Foundation many times over the years – most recently when Maggie O’Farrell credited it on Desert Island Discs with starting her literary career – but this was my first hands-on experience. Founded by poets John Moat and John Fairfax in 1968 with the aim of giving young writers the chance to develop their skills, the organisation which would later become the Arvon Foundation held its first residential course at a Devon community centre and expanded over the years to various locations in Devon, West Yorkshire and Shropshire.

Arvon Foundation writing courses

Arvon Foundation now offers a whole range of writing courses, workshops, tutored courses and writing retreats as well as Arvon Online . Arvon run tutored courses online as well as in person, but for those who just want to get away and soak up some creative atmosphere with other writers, Arvon are running their popular writers’ retreats at Totleigh Barton in Devon and at Ted Hughes’s former property, Lumb Bank in Hebden Bridge, which is the one I opted for.

Numbers are restricted to just six per week (there were just five on my week as someone had to pull out at the last minute) but this didn’t seem to be a downside. Peace, quiet, great views and a perfect writing atmosphere was all I wanted and it was with a light heart and feeling of release from captivity when I left my Hertfordshire home and drove up to Hebden Bridge.

Arriving at Lumb Bank, West Yorkshire

Arvon had provided detailed instructions and Lumb Bank was easy to locate, tucked into Colden Clough valley above Hebden Bridge, a place which looked so interesting that I vowed to come back and explore if I could. Lumb Bank itself is quite some way down a steep single-track lane and Arvon says to park at the top on the main road and walk down.

This is presumably to avoid congestion but it is quite a hike with luggage, so I instantly decided to leave my suitcase in the car and only bring the bare essentials – others made several exhausting trips back and forth and then drove down on the final day to load up the car. It is a narrow lane but with limited numbers it shouldn’t be a problem for people to unload luggage at the property and then park at the top of the lane for the week. Or you can just enjoy the aerobic exercise!

Arvon Foundation’s Lumb Bank used to be owned by poet Ted Hughes and is set in beautiful West Yorkshire countryside

I was greeted by the friendly members of staff who work but don’t live on site and shown to my room, Lumb Chimneys, named after one of Ted Hughes’s poems. It had a stunning view of the steep valley, the bank on the other side and of course, the Lumb chimneys which still remain.

After torrential rain on the motorway, the bright sunshine which flooded the valley was a delightful change and showed off West Yorkshire’s spectacular countryside at its best.

My bedroom at Lumb Bank was called Chimneys and had stunning views across the Calder valley

My writing desk awaited… (I later moved it round to make the most of the gorgeous views)

The room was large, light and airy, with a double bed, wardrobe, large chest of drawers, desk, comfy chair and window seat (which was rather too narrow to sit on). We had been given a fridge with fresh milk and yoghurt and there was also a kettle, cafetiere, tea, coffee, cereal, croissants for the next morning, fruit and a welcome chocolate brownie which I instantly polished off. The bed linen and towels all seemed to be of good quality and it all seemed well thought out.

My room was well equipped with tea and coffee-making facilities as well as a fridge, fruit, cereal and a welcome chocolate brownie

The room wasn’t en-suite but the loo, sink and shower room just across the hall was for my own personal use, so it was almost as good – everyone had their own bathroom on the course – when there are more guests I assume you have to share, another good thing about a small group. It felt like a good room to write in – although after the first morning I moved my rather heavy desk to face the window as it seemed a shame to come all the way to Yorkshire and then look at a blank wall – but you could choose to write anywhere in the property.

Facilities at Lumb Bank

Rather than hike back up the hill to retrieve more of my belongings, I explored the rest of Lumb Bank. There were several rooms downstairs: a library with an old-fashioned writing desk, a larger table and hundreds of books; a lounge with yet more books and comfy sofas, and the dining room where we would have lunch and dinner everyday, prepared by the staff in the kitchen next door.

The large dining room was where we were served lunch and dinner every day

Next to the dining room was a cosy lounge with an open fire

The library was another place to work and when the open fire was lit one rainy morning I spent a lovely few hours just reading in the warmth

The Barn was another place in which to write and is often used on the tutored writing retreats

With all the books and art work including many of Hughes’ poems, it felt like a very calm, inspiring place to be. Even better was the terrace outside which had amazing views for miles and there were various little spots and benches if you wanted to soak up the sunshine along with the creative vibes.

Welcome talk and first night at Lumb Bank

The front terrace of Lumb Bank which was a lovely place to sit outside and soak up the views when the weather allowed

The weather was so good that we moved our welcome chat outside. Rosie and Helen were the course directors and explained the general set-up of the week, the meal times (1pm and 7pm) and how we were to bring our breakfast boxes downstairs by 10.30am so our cutlery and crockery could be washed and returned, along with any other requests for more fruit, cereal etc. After running through the various fire safety and rules we went round the group saying a bit about why we were there and what we hoped to get out of week: there were five of us in total, four woman and one man, most of us in our 40s or 50s, and most from the south of England (two found they were near-neighbours in North London and that their children even went to the same school).

We all had different writing needs which was interesting: two had almost finished their books (a memoir and a children’s book) and were at the editing process, while one wanted to start her non-fiction self-help project and another was more interested in poetry and physically creating a book with pictures and binding. I was there to wake up the very dormant creative part of my brain and as one of our group put it: ‘I’m fed up of saying I’m writing a book, without actually writing a book.’ I could totally relate to that.

Writing at Lumb Bank

I had come prepared to try and kickstart some creative writing inspiration

I quickly got into a really relaxing routine of a quick blast of early morning yoga followed by a shower and then breakfast of granola and coffee in my room at 8.30ish. This would be followed by some reading or staring out of the window for a good while while I soaked up the view and then I’d start writing down ideas on my laptop or a notepad.

The ‘I’ve got no idea what to write about’ panic on the first morning thankfully gave way to ‘let’s run through a few ideas’ and then by the end of the week I was well on the way to planning an entire outline for a book which I’m really excited about writing.

At 1pm I’d join the others for lunch and afterwards would get my walking boots on and go out for an epic ‘walk and think’ for several hours while the ideas I’d come up with that morning percolated in my brain.

There were endless walking possibilities from Lumb Bank – one particular favourite was hiking along Hebden Water towards Hebden Bridge

Hardcastle Crags was just a short drive away from Lumb Bank and was the perfect place for an energetic scramble after a morning’s writing

The location of Lumb Bank couldn’t be bettered – just a 20 minute-walk through the woods and you’d be in Hebden Bridge (it was downhill all the way, so it was a little longer coming back) and there were many other routes into the town so you could spend two or three hours trekking along footpaths up hills or along rivers and then end up in Hebden Bridge which was full of interesting shops and some lovely pubs.

The West Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge was just 20 minutes walk away and well worth exploring

A refreshing drink at the Fox & Goose pub in Hebden Bridge

I took particular pleasure in finishing my afternoon walks with a trip to a local pub: there were two friendly pubs in Heptonstall which meant Lumb Bank was just a gentle downhill walk away afterwards, or some lovely pubs in Hebden Bridge itself, such as the Vocation Brewery’s Vocation & Co or the highly-recommended Fox & Goose community pub .

The village of Heptonstall

Heptonstall was a real treat. Less than ten minute’s walk from Lumb Bank, this beautiful village with cobbled streets, two pleasant pubs and two churches – the ruined Thomas a Becket church and the current parish church, St Thomas the Apostle . Just wandering round the streets and churchyard is a lovely and relaxing way to spend the morning and literary fans can visit the grave of author and poet Sylvia Plath, who was married to Ted Hughes who came from nearby Mytholmroyd. The grave itself is in the separate graveyard extension which is across Back Lane and is often visited by fans.

The cobbled streets of the nearby village of Heptonstall

The impressive church of St Thomas the Apostle in Heptonstall lies next to the ruins of the previous church, St Thomas a Becket

The grave of Sylvia Plath is in the adjacant graveyard to the church of St Thomas the Apostle

Meals at Lumb Bank

One of the two remaining chimneys at Lumb Bank

The mainly vegetarian food was excellent all week and was fresh, healthy and extremely tasty, using salad leaves from the garden and local ingredients where possible.

The chef and friendly staff would bring in the food and then leave us to it and it was a lovely, relaxing way to catch up with everyone at the end of the writing day (or to inspire more writing into the evening).

On the first night we were given wine with our meal and could order more wine or beer throughout the week if we wanted. We mainly stuck to water until the last night when we shared several bottles of red wine, and the relaxed nature of the week meant that you didn’t have to worry about looking smart or  even when it was OK to leave the table after you’d eaten: some nights the after-dinner chat went on for a while but there was no obligation to stay if you wanted to have time to yourself.

Some improvements…

There was very little to complain about at Lumb Bank: the food was delicious and always on time, and we were left to ourselves to work as much or as little as we liked, which was perfect. My only minor complaints would be: the writing set up in the room wasn’t great, as the chair was a basic, non-adjustable chair and the writing desk was one of those which gives very little chance of sitting in any position but sitting straight up with your feet flat on the floor. If you like to write in any other position (I tend to write cross-legged, for example, or one foot on the other leg) then this desk is not for you. All the others had the same problem, so an investment in some adjustable chairs would be a good start.

My only other gripe which sounds trivial but which would prevent me from staying in the main building again, was the front door which would slam shut as staff went in and out. This created a massive crash which shook my room and was like a gunshot going off every few minutes throughout the day, which was catastrophic for concentration. When they send the feedback form this will be top of the list!

Leaving Lumb Bank

Leaving on the Saturday morning was a real wrench, not just because of the pleasure of a week’s writing, but because West Yorkshire had proved to be far more beautiful than I’d imagined. We were blessed with the weather for much of the week to be fair – it was T-shirt weather for the first half of the week, and one afternoon I’d walked up from town to join the others having an impromptu bottle of wine sitting on the grass on the terrace overlooking the hillside in the glorious sunshine – and having a routine of writing and walking was ideal for me (others walked in the morning and wrote in the afternoon, while some powered on through all day). I really enjoyed exploring the local countryside and would come back in a heartbeat (especially now I know to pack light or at least be able to negotiate the steep lane to Lumb Bank to drop off my luggage).

A week since Lumb Bank and I’ve been trying – and mostly succeeding – in writing every day and I hope to keep in touch with the various courses and advice offered by Arvon Online to keep my creative writing part of my daily life, rather than letting it slide under the pile of more pressing, routine work. Knowing my fellow course attendees are doing exactly the same certainly helps too.

Enjoying one of my many afternoons walking the Yorkshire countryside and mulling over that morning’s writing

Arvon Foundation Writer’s Retreats info

Arvon runs creative writing courses and retreats for schools, groups and individuals. Its courses, tutored by leading authors, are held at three rural centres and are a mix of workshops and individual tutorials, with time and space to write, free from distractions of everyday life. Arvon runs writer’s retreats at Lumb Bank, West Yorkshire and Totleigh Barton, Devon . Up to six writers spend five nights (Monday to Saturday) at the fully-catered retreats, giving time for writing or walking in the beautiful landscape.

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 – a 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.

Totleigh Barton

To tleigh Barton is a 16th-century manor house with ancient origins (it is listed in the Domesday Book) in one of the most peaceful and idyllic parts of Devon. It’s around an hour from Exeter by car and the nearest village, Sheepwash, is half an hour’s walk away.

Cost : Each writer’s retreat costs £725 for a single room, £765 for a double room. Wi-fi and 4G local signal is excellent at Lumb Bank while Totleigh Barton is less well-connected – so you can choose how much of a digital detox you want!

Like reading about great hotels in Yorkshire? Check out these amazing reviews: A perfect Sunday roast and stay at the Feversham Arms, North Yorkshire ; A historic hotel stay at Middlethorpe Hall, York

If you liked this article on Arvon Foundation Writers Retreats – then why not Pin It?

Sarah Bridge

Every review is personally researched and written by me, Sarah Bridge, who, when I'm not writing about leisure for a national newspaper, spends my time seeking out the best leisure experiences, from city centre boutique hotels to country house estates, Michelin-starred dining to the newest openings. Some of the links on my reviews are affiliate marketing links, which means if you click through I get a small commission if you end up buying on these sites. This in no way affects the independence of my reviews, but helps with website running costs and I just wanted to let you know so as to be fully transparent.

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• 8 December 2018

Arvon writing courses review: fun and inspiration at The Hurst, Shropshire

Arvon writing courses review: why the Arvon foundation offers some of the world’s top writing courses and how they can help you.

Arrival at The Hurst

Ahead, in the kitchen, everyone seems to be laughing.  As I approach, the noise swells.  I push the door open to find ten people sitting around a long wooden table, drinking tea and eating lemon drizzle cake.  In an instant, the din dies down as everyone turns to look at the newcomer – me.

What have I left myself in for?

What happens on a writing course?

The prospect of attending a writing course holds both fascination and dread for would-be authors.  I attended the Arvon Foundation’s “ Editing Fiction: Turning First Drafts into Publishable Books ” at The Hurst in Shropshire.  So what actually happens on a writing course?  Do they help your writing?  And what if you don’t get on with the other participants?

I long to sit longer on this bench in the grounds of the Hurst

The Hurst: the basics

The Arvon course I attended, in November 2018, lasted from Monday afternoon to Saturday morning.  It consisted of morning workshops, followed by afternoons free for writing, walking, or attending 1:1 seminars with the tutors.  Workshops included sessions on how to edit a novel (including the advice “enjoy a moment of contentment on completion”); how to make novels more sellable (“story is everything”); story structure; and selling.

We also had sessions, to varying degrees both challenging and revelatory, where we examined the synopses and first pages of our novels.  Each of the 16 course participants too turns.  I was impressed by the candour of our tutors and their readiness to give concrete advice.

What else was on the schedule?  We had meals cooked in part by participants; evenings with readings and other more, or less, structured activities; and, sadly, farewells after breakfast on the final day.

Preparing a meal with other course participants (outstanding crew!)

Do writing courses help?

Did it help?  My week at Arvon helped turbocharge my motivation; my writing; and, possibly, the prospects for getting my next book published – see my post  “How to get a book published: introducing PALLADIUM” .  Five reasons why:

Great teachers

Access to top talent:  experts who can offer you advice on writing technique and on how the publishing industry works; and may even, if you are lucky, look at, and give feedback on, your writing.  All gold dust for a writer.  Our tutors were Hannah Griffiths , head of literary acquisitions at independent television, film and digital production and distribution company All3Media and Christopher Wakling , author of seven fine novels and lead fiction tutor at Curtis Brown Creative.  I found both outstanding.

Get inspired!

Being surrounded by other writers is stimulating and inspiring.  Everyone fizzes with ideas.  Listening to others’ first pages and other writing fuels your desire to improve your own.  Recommendations for reading; other courses; or tips on writing competitions can all boost your motivation or suggest new ways forward.

Connections

Contact with other human beings is the key to happiness and success in many fields – including writing.  A week living, cooking, learning and washing up together in a remote house is like a case study in bonding.  (For more on happiness and humans, see The one with the links to happiness  – links in bold italics are to other posts on this site.)

Time to think

When was the last time you spent a week doing something you loved?  When that something is writing, you may end the week with a colossal sense of satisfaction.

I found living in a remote historic house (the former residence of playwright John Osborne, complete with the Oscar he won for  Tom Jones in 1964) with a bunch of lively and interesting writers, excellent food and drink and great outdoor walks on tap enormously enjoyable.

The gardens of The Hurst are pleasingly idiosyncratic

When I enter the kitchen, I register that all the faces are friendly.  ‘There’s tea in the pot,’ someone says.  I sit down, pour myself a mug and grab a slice of cake.

‘So,’ someone says.  ‘What’s your novel about?’

I take a deep breath, and the week begins.

P.S I hope you enjoyed this Arvon writing courses review.  I’d be interested in to hear of others’ experiences.  I earlier reviewed an (also excellent) Skyros writing course I attended a few years ago, and a likewise fine writing course at Loutro, on Crete .

P.P.S. I hope you’ve found this useful.  If so, I would be delighted if you would like to follow me on Facebook .  Or you can join my mailing list – I’ll be delighted to give you a free “Hotel Story” to say thanks.

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7 Responses

Nice blogpost, Robert. I’ve attended 7 or 8 Arvon courses and loved every one of them. There was never one that was disappointing and I always learnt a lot with excellent tutors. I believe I was on the Skyros writing course you mentioned, although it was a Pitching to Publishers rather than a lot of actual writing. A great week, wasn’t it?

The Skyros course was indeed good, too! I’ve written about it – see https://rleighturner.com/2018/12/01/dancing-for-new-orleans-a-writing-course-in-greece/

Loved this post, Leigh. Took me right back there!

I’m going on my first Arvon course later this year- great to read such a positive review, helps settle the nerves!

Good luck! I found it incredibly helpful: for the instruction, for the networking (although that can never be taken for granted) and the peace and quiet. Let me know how it goes!

… and I meant to add – do let me know if you would find any other info about Arvon useful – or if you find any of the other writing resources on the site (under “writing: about writing”) any good! Thanks! RP

Thank you, Robert. That’s kind. I’ll check out your resources. My plan is go with an open mind (obviously with some high expectations) and make the most of it. Having the few days booked in my diary has helped me focus on my writing already. I’ll let you know how I find it. R ????

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A writing week with the Arvon Foundation

17th march 2022 rebecca.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend a week away writing? I am an enormous fan of spending creative time away with others on an organised writing holiday. So, I am really pleased to be sharing this fabulous guest post by writer, Hilary Smith. Hilary, who is co-author of a non-fiction book for primary school teachers published by Routledge, wanted to refresh her creative writing skills, so she attended a residential writing week hosted by the Arvon Foundation. In this post she shares her story and describes how the experience inspired her to keep writing. Over to Hilary:

My writing week at Totleigh Barton

It is early December and the light is fading as I drive down the steep, muddy track looking for signs of habitation. Before leaving home I’d checked my route more than once but now there’s no longer a signal on my phone and I’m seriously doubting whether I’ll ever find my destination in this remote wintry landscape. Then, a large thatched manor house comes into view and I feel instantly relieved, convinced that the image before me promises to be a safe and welcoming haven for the next five days.

So begins my experience of an Arvon Foundation residential week exploring short story writing. I’ve come here to discover whether my neglected creative writing skills can be reignited by staying in an isolated sixteenth century house, with two successful authors and a dozen other aspiring writers.

Excitement and encouragement

During my professional life I’ve had a few academic articles published and recently co-authored a book for teachers but I haven’t written any fiction since leaving school over four decades ago. I approach the course with some trepidation and small ambitions. If I produce anything worthy of reading aloud by the end of the week (which we are invited to do on the course outline) I will feel very proud of myself.

As soon as I get out of my car I’m greeted by a member of Arvon’s staff team who smiles warmly and welcomes me inside. She leads me through a bustling farmhouse kitchen into a large dining room with a wood burning stove, beamed ceiling and a huge oak table where all the communal meals are shared. As we pass into the hallway and up the wide staircase I notice pieces of antique furniture and artwork everywhere and of course, shelves and shelves of books.

“Your room is by the poetry library,” she says.

I feel privileged and humbled to be surrounded by such luminaries, hoping that some of their talent will rub off on me.

My room is large and airy with a sloping ceiling, bare creaky floorboards and thick walls that reflect the age of the house. The furnishings are basic, a rickety wardrobe, an ancient chest of drawers and an old sink with pipes that knock when the taps are turned. But the bed is soft and inviting and the low, deeply recessed window looks out over the garden, woods, and empty fields beyond. A desk is placed in front of the window, like a cliché, inspiring great writing to happen. I’m both enchanted and intimidated. 

I unpack and venture downstairs to meet the rest of the group. We share pleasantries over tea and cake, finding the connections between us. We range in age between 30 and 70, and come from a mixture of backgrounds and professions although, as I expected, there are more women than men (about two thirds to one third).

Two of the Arvon team give us an introduction to the house rules (thankfully few) and encourage us to make full use of the beautiful surroundings during our stay, advising us on walking routes but also about the unfriendly local cattle! Despite this warning, we continue to relax over our first dinner together and as the wine flows, the chatter and the laughter increase.

After dinner we have our first tutored session. We play a few icebreakers, hear about the programme for the week ahead and reveal a little more of ourselves as we share our writing hopes and ambitions. When the official session is over, we carry on chatting and finding connections, some of us late into the night. I go to bed buzzing, excited about what is to come.

How the day pans out

The writing workshops are after breakfast each day. We bring our cups of tea and coffee to the converted barn across the yard from the house and settle into the sofas and armchairs. Our tutors for the week are Chris Power and Vanessa Gebbie (look them up, their writing is formidable) who skilfully lead us into the craft of short story writing, through readings, discussions, exercises and examples. We read aloud from the likes of Chekhov, Ali Smith, Peter Orner, Stuart Dybek, and more. We tease out what brings characters alive, what compels us to read on, what helps us imagine a place, what suspends us in time.

I discover how to play word cricket, the art of ‘show don’t tell’, that concrete descriptions are more effective than abstract ones, how to use dialogue sparingly, that some writers are planners and some are pantsers (they write by the seat of their pants), that there are no rules to short story writing (and yet there are) and oh yes, how to write lists. Each morning in that barn we explore, we challenge, we share experiences, we learn from each other, we are inspired to write!

Food, warmth and companionship

The afternoons are free for individual writing and one to one tutorials, and each evening we feast on a home-cooked dinner made by members of the group. Communal cooking is a feature of Arvon writing weeks, and everyone is on a rota to prepare and serve one evening meal. I’m not a confident cook but my anxieties quickly disappear when I discover that clear instructions and recipe cards as well as all the ingredients needed, are laid out ready on the kitchen table for that evening’s cooks to use. The food we make is delicious and the whole experience strengthens my feelings of warmth and companionship.

In the evenings we gather again in the barn for more reading aloud and sharing our love of stories. Chris and Vanessa read from some of their published work, we hear from the writing of a guest author and at the end of the week we read out our own.

Time for a guest

After two days on the course I still haven’t made a start on my short story although I have written plenty in my journal about the view from my window and copious notes from the morning workshops. On Wednesday evening the guest author arrives, a diminutive but larger than life woman, with luxurious black hair, worthy of a L’Oréal shampoo advert, wearing a black polo neck jumper, black leather trousers and a huge smile.

Exuding charm and cheeky humour, Ingrid Persaud regales us with tales of Trinidad spattered with funny anecdotes in “Trinnie” dialect with much hair flicking and teeth-sucking, and describes her journey from barely-known blogger to internationally acclaimed author. We are enthralled. Amongst her generous responses to our questions, I retain this advice: work hard, then harder, until it hurts; write everyday and don’t make excuses; and, memorably, write sex scenes that embarrass you. 

Inspired by Ingrid’s passion, good humour, and work ethic, I finally begin writing my short story and by the following afternoon I have a couple of paragraphs to share with Chris in my first one-to-one tutorial. 

The pod in the garden

On a tutored Arvon course you are allocated two tutorial times during the week and at Totleigh Barton these take place in a bespoke glamping ‘pod’ in the garden, all Scandinavian wood and mood lighting: an intimate, secluded space that encourages a feeling of safety and trust. I certainly feel safe enough to share my lack of confidence as a writer as well as expose my budding story to its first audience of one, (keenly aware of that one being a successfully published author). I enter the pod feeling anxious and fraudulent, I leave feeling excited, and so energised I return to my room and write non-stop for four hours, barely lifting my head until the dinner bell shakes me out of my trance.

How to get Sheila back to the kitchen

My second tutorial is with Vanessa on the last day of the course. Although by this time I have fleshed out more of my story, it is still incomplete and I’ve started to lose my nerve, angsting over every word and over thinking each sentence. Vanessa’s no-nonsense approach puts me straight:

“I don’t know how to get Sheila (my main character) back into the kitchen, maybe I shouldn’t send her upstairs in the first place? But her going upstairs is necessary for the plot so the children are left alone downstairs and it sets the scene for…” 

“how about writing ‘Sheila came back into the kitchen’?” 

The simplicity of this leaves me open-mouthed with relief and gratitude. 

I am a writer

On the final evening we gather in the barn as usual, wine glasses in hand, feeling nervous. We each take turns to read our stories aloud. Not all are complete, most are early drafts but every single one is extraordinary. A fortune-teller dying in her booth on the pier, sisters queuing with eggs and bricks, a fastidious man adoring a footstool, an exquisite gold crest, an outrageously funny giant, and more besides, all come alive and join us in the room. We are absorbed, attentive, we feel moved, we applaud each other.

And when it is my turn to read my own piece aloud, I experience the loving attention of the group. I feel recognised, known and I feel proud. I belong to a group of writers; I am a writer. 

Then and now

As the time between my retreat at Totleigh Barton and today expands, I am still absorbing and exploring what was said, what I felt, what I learned and how I learned it. The words and wisdom still resonate. My confidence and self-belief as a writer was boosted immeasurably by being there. I now write nearly every day and have started submitting pieces to competitions. And the evidence is here, in this piece of writing. Not a fictional short story but a story nonetheless and one, I believe, worth sharing and passing on.

The Arvon Foundation

Arvon Foundation offers a wide range of writing courses, workshops, tutored courses and writing retreats as well as Arvon Online. For further information go to: https://www.arvon.org

About Hilary

Hilary Smith is a retired teacher and lecturer living in Bristol. She has extensive experience in primary and early years teaching and is a freelance education consultant and trainer. She is a passionate advocate for schools where relationships are central to learning and believes that all children deserve teachers that are warm-hearted, kind and compassionate.

She recently co-authored a book for teachers: Relationship-Based Pedagogy in Primary Schools: Learning with Love published by Routledge. Her aspirations as a fiction writer, especially short story writing, continue to grow and although she has not yet won a competition or had a story published, she is still working at it!

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Top 2023 Writing Retreats from All Over the World

• on Nov 28, 2022
• in Writing Tips
• Last update: January 4th, 2024

Note: Make sure to check out our list of 2024 writing retreats .

Every writer’s dream is to be able to enjoy some quiet time so they can focus and get creative. But with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this is pretty hard to do. That is what makes writing retreats a great opportunity for writers to get their much-needed focus time.

If you’d like to join a writing retreat but don’t know where to start, we have got you covered! Check the retreats happening these years and prepare yourself for some quality writing time.

ACPA: 2023 Writer’s Retreat

The Clockhouse Retreats

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway

Winter On the Farm Creative Writing Retreat ​at ZigBone Farm

Puerto Escondido, Mexico Retreat

Winter Writers Retreat

Casa Ana Creative Writing Retreat

Island Time Writing Retreat

Write Here, Write Now

Foxes’ Writing Retreat

Centauri Arts Creative Writing Retreat

Art of Writing Retreat

Stay at Home Writing Retreat

The Rainforest Writers Village Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat: Untutored February Retreat

Stylish Writing Intensive

Gunnas Weekend Writing Retreat

Foxes’ Retreat Festival of Writing

Ossabaw Island Writers’ Retreat

Susan Hagens: Women’s Writing Retreat

Spring Novel Retreat

Writing on the Big Sur Coast with Laura

Himalayan Writers Retreat

Haven Writing Retreats

Mission of the Algonkian Writer Retreat and Novel Workshop

Ego Break Retreat

Foxes’ Quilting Retreat

Ireland Writing Retreat

Western Caribbean Writing Retreat Cruise

Rocaberti Writers Retreat

Mission of the Writer Retreat in California

Weaving Words and Women

Writers in the Wild Blue Ridge Retreat

Write Your Way In: A Week in Spain

Imagine Retreat

Retreat. Create. Revitalize.

The Taos Deep Dive & Revision Writer’s Retreat

Iceland Writers Retreat

Indian Summer House: Writer’s Retreat

Shine: Creative Writing + Pilates Retreat

Paros Greek Island Retreat

Deep of writing

The Garsdale Retreat: Untutored May Retreat

Writing Retreat for Academics, PhD students and other professionals

Foxes’ Reiki The Awakening Retreat

Writeaway in New Mexico

A Retreat For The Senses

A Writer Within Retreat in Tuscany

The Garsdale Retreat: Developing Your Poetry

Write, Travel, Transform: Tuscany

The Writing Retreat

Valeria Vescina Writing Retreat

Memories into Memoir Writing Retreat

Paris Writers Retreat

Literature & Landscape of the Horse Retreat

Rainforest Writing Retreat

Composed Writing Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat: Untutored June Retreat

Greece Writer’s Retreat

Greece Writers Retreat

Greece’s Writer’s Retreat

AWCS Writers’ Retreat

Mountain Rise Writing Retreat

All-Genre NIP Bookcamp Workshop & Writing Retreat

Come to Your Senses Writing Retreat with Author Karen Karbo

Tuscany Writing Retreat

Open You Art Retreat

Writeaway in France

Casa Ana Novel Writing Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat: Novel Writing

Journey into Sacred Expression Retreat

Summer on the Farm Novel Writing Retreat at ZigBone Farm

Writers’ Retreats with Tours of Ireland

Write. Run. Connect.

The White Mountain Book Writing Retreat

Write Away Plovdiv Retreat

Creative Writing Retreats in the Pyrenees

Writing as a Pathway Through Grief, Loss, Uncertainty and Change: A Weeklong Retreat

Foxes’ Wellbeing Retreat

Writing & Hiking Retreat in the Swiss Alps

GoodLit Writers Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat: Untutored August Retreat

Writing Retreat in Tuscany, Italy

Fiction & Autobiographical Writing Retreat

A Creative Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago

Mythic Creativity Retreat

Write Away: France Writing Retreat

The Okoboji Writers’ Retreat

Grand Tourist Writer’s Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat: Untutored October Retreat

Himalayan International Writers Retreat

Autumn Novel Retreat

Writeaway in Italy

Fall Retreat in the Beautiful Berkshires

Radical Craft Retreats

True Life Stories

Annual November 4-Day Writing Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat: Untutored November Retreat

Unplug and Write All-Inclusive Writing Retreat

The Garsdale Retreat: Untutored December Retreat

La Bodeguita Writing Retreat

La Casa Grande Writing Retreat

Words and Wanderlust Retreat

Whatever your writing expertise is, you could definitely use a writing retreat to finish your manuscript, meet fellow writers, or just relax and get some writing done!

The Best Writing Conferences and Workshops to Attend in 2024

The 2024 International Book Fairs Calendar

The Comprehensive List of 2024 Writing Contests

Thank you guys, you’ve spent a lot of time gathering all these retreats and organizing them in one place. Good job!

Thank you Nour for your kind words 🙂

I really appreciate the information you provided. Now I can properly prepare for my next writing retreat. Congrats on a wonderful job. All the best!

Thank you for your kind words! We’re glad to hear that our article was helpful to you. Wishing you all the best with your writing journey!

Grateful for your research. Thanks.

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Arvon Writing the Game

Arvon is the UK’s home of creative writing. With three centres in Devon, Shropshire and Yorkshire, it runs an annual programme of creative writing courses and retreats for schools, groups and individuals.

Writing the Game is one of Arvon’s flagship projects, harnessing young people’s love of football in order to engage them with writing and learning.

© Arvon

Target Beneficiaries

The project targets young people aged 13-16 who are currently underachieving and have negative attitudes to writing and limited experience of participation in the arts.

The project aims to:

• Offer arts experiences that improve young people’s self-expression, enjoyment of creative writing and writing skills
• Increase young people’s well-being (including confidence, emotional wellbeing, relationships and satisfaction with school)
• Develop a robust model of creative learning for young people aged 13-16 who are underachieving to support their writing development
• Develop teachers’ ability to support young people’s writing development more effectively and to share their learning with others
• Evaluate and disseminate learning from the project, creating a community of practice at national level

Since 2009, Writing the Game has worked with young people in London, Plymouth and South Yorkshire. This case study focuses on the period between 2013 and 2015, with projects taking place in South Yorkshire and London. Each of the schools were partnered with a football club, with three schools in Barnsley partnering with Barnsley Football Club, one school in Barnsley partnering with Sheffield United, and one school in Lambeth partnering with Crystal Palace.

Activities included:

• week-long residentials at one of the Arvon centres
• preparatory and follow-up workshops
• creating writing anthologies and sharing events in schools

From 2013-2015 Arvon has worked with schools and young people:

5 schools involved 80 young people 10 teachers involved 4 participating football clubs 32 Arts Award accreditation for young participants 14 literary co-ordinators & teachers gaining CPD participants identified improved outcomes in their writing skills and abilities 95%

In addition:

• the ‘Kick it Out’ national creative writing competition involved 2,000 young people
• Arvon promoted pupil well-being and achievement by developing their self-confidence; strengthening their capacity to learn and developing both independence and social bonds

All teachers reported development of more effective teaching strategies.

Following this activity, Arvon:

• secured £19,000 to support an extended Writing the Game programme in partnership with Crystal Palace Football Club
• developed a £65,000 bid to Comic Relief as part of an ongoing relationship with Leyton Orient Football Club

In Spring 2020, Arvon will released their free Writing the Game Learning Resource , a new publication for teachers and youth leaders to run Writing the Game activities in their own clubs or classrooms.

Testimonials

“ I never used to like writing and now I love it. ” Pupil

“ I think it’s helping to build my confidence, and when I talked to [the tutor] he told me he thought I was smart, and I’m bottom set for some things, … so that made me feel more confident. I’m not used to people thinking I’m smart. ” Pupil

Acknowledgements

Paul Hamlyn Foundation and an individual donor.

30 YEARS OF MONIACK MHOR

Young writers, support for writers, crime masterclass.

FUTURE PLANS RESEARCH

ONLINE: SHORT STORY

MYTH & FOLKLORE

YOUNG WRITERS CAFE

LIFE OF A BOOK

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Home / Courses & Retreats / Arvon Grants: The David Pease Fund

Arvon Grants: The David Pease Fund

Our grant fund is named in affectionate memory of David Pease, Arvon’s National Director from 1973-2000, who ‘grew Arvon from a small charity to a national literature organisation’. David was committed to ensuring an Arvon course should be available to as many people as possible, and it was under his visionary leadership that the grant fund was created.

For our online and residential writing weeks and weekends, we offer a Low Income Grant. If you couldn’t attend an Arvon course without some financial help, we encourage you to apply. With Low Income Grants, you can apply for any amount up to the full course fee.

Grant funds are released on a quarterly basis, in January, April, July and October. We now have no grant funds remaining for residential or online courses running up to the end of September 2024.

 Keep an eye on this website and/or sign up to our weekly newslette r for grant fund release dates.   Please note that we can now only offer  one grant per person , so if you have received an Arvon Grant in the past, you will be unable to reapply. Our terms and conditions and application form are below.

GENERAL LOW INCOME GRANT – RESIDENTIAL COURSES AND ONLINE WRITING WEEKS/ WEEKENDS

If you are a UK resident and cannot afford the full course fee, we encourage you to apply for one of our grants, which are awarded on the basis of financial need – not writing ability.

You may apply for any amount up to the full course fee. To help us support as many people as possible, please apply only if you’d be unable to attend the course without a grant, and ask for the minimum amount you need. 

To apply for a grant, you must first book on a course, and then send us your completed grant application form. We will hold a place for you while we assess your application. You do not need to pay anything to book your place. Payment will only be required if we confirm  your grant application was successful and your grant is less than the full cost of the course.

Grants are only available for those booking a course with tutors, not our untutored retreats.  Grants are also not available for our online Masterclasses or Writing Days. We encourage applications from  D/deaf and/or Disabled people, and factor in any additional living/support costs when considering your grant – see here for information about accessibility on Arvon courses . See here for details of our grant fund terms and conditions.

If you’re having difficulty downloading or completing the grant application form, due to access reasons , and would like help to complete the form over the phone, please call 020 4529 4970 or email [email protected] and we can call you.

Low Income Grant Application Form (Word)

Low Income Grant Application Form (PDF print version)

HOW TO APPLY:

• Download our application form via one of the attachments above (Word or pdf format) or contact us to send you a copy at: [email protected]. Please read this and the Terms and Conditions through carefully before applying.
• Reserve a place on your chosen course online. (If you have any problems with this contact [email protected]). You do not need to pay a deposit at this stage. Your place will be held while we await your application form.
• Complete the application form and send it with your supporting documents by email or post  within seven days.  See the application form for contact details.
• Once we’ve assessed your application, we’ll contact you with a decision and finalise your booking. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

If you would like more information about our grant scheme, or help with the application, email [email protected] .

Eligibility: You must be resident in the UK and able to demonstrate that you do not have the financial means to cover the full cost of an Arvon course.

Please see the grants scheme terms and conditions.

CONCESSIONS 

Concessions are available for both online courses (50%) and residentials (30%). You need to meet certain criteria but do not need to complete an application form. See here for further details.

Please note that you cannot apply for both a Grant and a Concession for the same course.

We also offer a very limited number of free fully subsidised places on online Masterclasses, if you cannot afford the concession rate.

Alternative sources of funding

• The Society of Authors administers a number of grants for writers
• The Royal Literary Fund offers a range of grants to professional writers seeking short-term to long-term financial support who unable to write due to a change in circumstances, sickness, disability or age.
• Ideal for the short story writer or poet, the Scottish Book Trust aims at supporting new writers
• With some funding coming from partners it’s worth having a look at Creative Scotland
• Royal Society of Literature Brookleaze Grants supporting writers from novelists, playwrights, poets, to short story writers who need time away from their normal lives
• Arts Council Grants – fund projects that are all about engaging people, aiding Artists and Art Organisations
• Developing your Creative Practice is a new development fund designed to support independent creative practitioners
• Franics W Reckitt Arts Trust Fund for playwrights supports residential stays by professional artists, writers, composers and others for short periods away from home for holidays, convalescence or quiet working time
• Peggy Ramsay Foundation gives money to theatre writers in order to afford them the time and the space to write

"It would have been impossible for me to pay for this course, and I’m extremely grateful for the generous grant which was awarded to me. For a few days, I was much more than a parent and a carer: I was truly myself again… In that sense, it’s been life-changing.” — Grant Recipient

"In 2010 I was given a grant by Arvon to attend a narrative non-fiction course at Totleigh Barton. During the week I produced a piece which I read out on the final night called The Caravan, based on my experience of living in a caravan on the North Kent Marshes. I am happy to tell you that I expanded this idea and my first book, On the Marshes, was published by Little Toller in April 2017. I would like to thank Arvon for giving me the opportunity to attend the course which gave me the time and thinking space to come up with this idea." — Tracey Craze

"I applied for a grant following a recent corneal transplant operation. I have been unable for some time to continue as a stage actress due to the degeneration of my sight. It goes without saying that this grant was undoubtedly a lifeline.” — Grant Recipient

"I have no doubt that my writing career has already benefitted significantly from the course and will continue to do so into the long term. It’s an opportunity I know I will always be grateful for, and will still reflect upon in years to come as a key turning point." — Grant Recipient

"What I learned at Arvon is that we all have stories, and mine is worthwhile." — Grant Recipient

"The advice I gained about my novel is invaluable, the support was wonderful…I cannot express my gratitude enough; I feel truly blessed to have received financial assistance for this. Having had a long term illness and been unable to earn for a very long time, I would never have been able to afford this otherwise. In about a month I shall be submitting my first novel to agents, this would not be the case without Arvon." — Grant Recipient

Support the Grant Fund

Grants are funded by generous donations from supporters and our fundraising work. Want to support the Arvon Grant Fund? Learn about how you can donate and keep Arvon #OpenToAll.

Late availability concession pricing

Aged 18-25 or receiving certain state benefits? You could qualify for our late availability concession pricing, giving you a half-price discount on selected courses.

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• Residential Writing Week
• Online Writing Week
• Masterclass
• Masterclass Recording
• How I Write
• Online Five Week Course
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Head Office

Unit 103, Clerkenwell Workshops, 27/31 Clerkenwell Close London EC1R 0AT United Kingdom

Book, Newspaper and Magazine publishing

Arvon is a charity that runs creative writing courses, events and retreats both in-person and online. Our courses are tutored by leading authors and include a powerful mix of workshops and individual tutorials, with time and space to write, free from distractions of everyday life. Grants and concessions are available to help with course fees.

Rosalyn Chissick

A life spent writing

Creative writing

Based in the South West of England, Rosalyn Chissick offers creative writing workshops in Glastonbury, Bath, Bristol and Devon.  She  has taught Practical Journalism and Creative Writing courses  all over the UK, including teaching at The Arvon Foundation and Bath University.  She has run writing groups in care homes and took a writing group to the foothills of the Himalayas.

Have you always secretly longed to write but don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’ve already started and are looking for fresh ideas and support. Whether you are new to writing or hoping to improve your work, creative writing workshops with Rosalyn Chissick will provide ideas, inspiration and fun. In a relaxed, friendly and creative atmosphere you will find your flow, experiment with writing forms and release your imagination.

Rosalyn runs creative writing day retreats at multi-award-winning The Barn in Somerset.

For more information,  please get in contact .