Hi everyone,

I’ve just become a member after bumping into the site twice and being twice impressed.

I’m a British film-maker (writer/director) living and working in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I’m also writing an historical novel.

I’m currently very close to finishing the first draft of my novel and have been selected to take in on the Arvon Foundation’s advanced course on historical novel writing at the beginning of December.

I wondered whether anyone has experience of Arvon workshops and how best to prepare? I’m a little daunted by how to get the best out of four days when looking at a whole novel.

My latest film ‘Absolutely Positive’ premiered at the beginning of October at the Netherlands Film Festival and has since been broadcast on Dutch tv. There’s very little dialogue, so although it’s in Dutch, it’s probably fairly easy to understand. You can watch it online at:
http://www.cinema.nl/19021039

If you experience any technical problems, do let me know, and I’ll pass it on.

Other than that, I blog sporadically on my website at http://www.katebrown.nl.

I’m not planning to upload anything at the moment as I have to finish a draft of the novel in the next few weeks, but I’m looking forward to getting to know people and hope to take an active part in your writing community.

Kate

Hi, Kate, welcome to WW. You're obviously finding your way around, but do call for help in the forums if you get stuck. Good to have yet other historical novelist flying the flag!

Well done on getting onto the Arvon course; that sounds very exciting. There are quite a few WWers who've done one, and a couple who've taught there I think, so I'm sure you'll get good advice.

Emma

Thanks for the warm welcome, Emma.

I'm going to repost my Arvon question on the Teaching Forum as suggested by some other members in the Lounge.

I've just ordered a copy of your novel and am very much looking forward to reading it. I enjoyed 'Russian Tea' immensely.

Kate

Thank you, Kate. I'll be interested to know what you think of TMOL, by the way. And, historical fiction being my Thing, I'd be specially keen to know more about the course when you've done it, if you can bear to report - Arvon can be pretty overwhelming, though almost always in a good way.

Emma

Will do, Emma. On both counts.

Kate

Hi, Kate,

I am also new to the site, and I'm a member of the teachers' group, as well.

I did an Arvon Advanced Fiction course in November 2003. Emma is right when she points out that it can be an overwhelming experience - mine certainly was. It has been the singular most life-changing event I've ever experienced, and I do not say this lightly!!! It was instrumental in getting me to take my writing seriously. Three years later, and I'm . . . well, here, in limbo, but I have an MA in Creative Writing under my belt, and also an agent.

I didn't find that I needed to do any work to prepare for the course. You will find that the tutors have given a lot of thought to what they will want you to do, and if they required any advance preparation, I'm sure they would have let you know already.

The best advice I can give you is just to turn up with an open mind and let Arvon do whatever it does that enabled me to leave on the Saturday on a very, very intense natural high!!

Good luck with it,
Sarah

Thanks Sarah, turning up with an open mind is, indeed, probably the best advice there is. Here's hoping that I too get to experience one of those natural highs.

Kate

Hi Kate,

It is worth taking your full MS with you. When I did my course, I'd only ever written 13 pages, but there were a few people who'd written more, and one woman who'd almost finished her first novel. The tutors are often willing to read extra work in the time between tutorials, and they certainly did on this course. (I think this is expecially true if a particular MS is outstanding.) Although you obviously don't want to bombard a tutor with extra work, do give them your MS if they offer to read it. Someone did on my course, and he was so impressed, passed it on to his agent!

I hope you enjoy the week. Which centre are you going to?

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

I'm going to the Hurst.

I have a rough first draft and I will take it with me in its entirety, but it is very rough and I think presenting excerpts is probably the most sensible approach.

I still have to answer some basic questions, like third person or first person. As a screenwriter, I automatically chose third, but half-way through writing I had doubts and let myself be creative with them. Now I have to make choices. I'm hoping that the workshop will help me to shed light on some uncertain elements and get under my characters' skin.

It sounds like you got an enormous amount out of your workshop. Great to have gone on to do the MA and get an agent.

Cheers,
Kate

I did get an awful lot of the whole Arvon thing.

I haven't been to the Hurst, but I have been to Totleigh Barton, and we all went to Lumb Bank while I was on the MA.

I'd be happy to read any of your work and comment on the first person/third person dilemma, if you want.

Sarah

Thanks for offering to read, Sarah. At the moment, I'm not quite sure what I'd show you. I finished the first draft a fortnight ago and have to let the cobwebs clear - hopefully in time for Arvon. But I might take you up on it later, if I haven't figured things out.

Kate