Thanks again Deb et al, have taken the plunge, and sent off the application form.

Deb, what you say about spending time with other writers is one of the reasons I would be drawn to an Avon course if it weren’t for the accommodation shortfall. However, I believe you can get that at any event where writers gather and have the opportunity to talk to each other. I got it at Winchester and I got it on my two visits to Caerleon. OK they're different types of events. You don’t get the concentration from tutors that you presumably do at an Arvon course. What you do get is to spend time away from the real world, realising how many other writers of all levels share the same insecurities, struggle with the same problems, strive for the same goals.

Dafydd, good for you. Which one have you booked?

Dee

Well done. Hope you get lots out of it, and do let us know how you get on, if you want to: it's all useful info for others thinking whether to take the plunge.

Emma

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Crossed with you, Dee. I think you're absolutely right that the time away thing is vital: every other Wednesday at your local adult ed college isn't the same (though it has other merits). The intensity you get is so energising, I think. It's one of the reasons I did the MPhil, which included weekend workshops and an Arvon-type week at Ty Newydd, rather than a purely distance-learning Masters. (Though there were precious few of those then either - many more shapes and styles of course to choose from now.)

The course I've booked is called Enjoying Inventiveness, from 3/12/7 to 8/12/7, at Lumb Bank.
I will try top remember to post a write-up.

That sounds very interesting, Dafydd: open-ended and inspiring.

Emma

Oh, Arvon is fabulous. Seriously.

I've done two - Advanced Fiction in 2003, and then one as part of my MA, which wasn't really an Arvon course - it was just based at one of their centres, but very much followed the Arvon format (ie. morning tuition, afternoons free, readings and guests in the evening).

They can send you bonkers, though - all the excitement of meeting other writers and stuff. I was loopy after mine. I thought, 'Ah ha!! Finally! I know exactly what to do with my life.' And it was quite like being on mushrooms.

NB. This doesn't happen to everyone.

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And Lumb Bank is really beautiful.

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What I mean is I am one of those folk who found it one of those 'pivotal moments' in their writing life.

This doesn't happen to everyone.

No, but I drank more on my Masters Arvon-type week than I have for about a decade before or since...

Emma

I went on an Arvon course at Lumb Bank last year, Dafydd, and can't recommend them highly enough. It was a different experience from any other I've had. It was very intense, enormous fun and, in my opinion, VERY good value for money. The tutors on my course didn't restrict their time to the workshops and tutorials, they lived with us and if we had a question they were only too happy to have a chat. I came away knowing a lot more than I did when I went and had a great time in the process....that alone was worth what it cost. I also came away with half a dozen new friends, one a very good one....BONUS!!

As far as the cooking and accommodation is concerned, if you take into consideration what you are getting, I thought it was very good value. If all centres are the same then there is a rota, one night you wash up, the following night you cook, all as part of a team which is great fun. And OF COURSE the dietary requirements and sensibilities of everyone are taken into consideration, no-one would expect a vegitarian to lob a lamb shank in the oven. Four out of sixteen people on my course were veggies and none of them had a problem. You do have to share a bathroom but for £475 for five nights I wouldn't have expected anything else.

Dee, have you approached Lumb Bank about a day rate? They might be able to do something for you. I don't live far from Swanwick and am going there as a day visitor this summer for less than if I'd had to stay there.

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Oh, and I did have a single room, I can't remember how much it cost but I don't think it was £50, could have been... I can't remember, but I definitely don't have any medical need for one. In fact, as it was at the top of a steep flight of stairs I doubt it would have been much use to anyone who had.

Went to Lumb Bank several years ago and thought it was outstanding. Excellent tutors (I had John Crace and Janice Galloway, very different from each other, and a brilliant mix.) As others have said, it's beautiful, you are fully focused, only cook once and others cook for you the rest of the time - so less cooking than at home, always a veggie option. We shared rooms, but i don't remember sleeping much - lots of talking all night. Barely aware of bedroom - just a place to crash for a few hours. There were writing huts and writing rooms that offered privacy.
Made two close friends, both able writers and critiquers. Got loads of feedback from tutors and the group.

Don't know Jill Dawson but met Romesh Gunsekeera at a conference once. Rather overawed by him. Very warm and intelligent. Charismatic. Don't know what he's like as a teacher, but on the strength of his writing I'd want to learn from him. I think Arvon is excellent value. You get taught by some of the best UK writers, in a small group, with private tutorials. A lot cheaper than MAs pro rata, and you get to choose your tutor and have a holiday too.

Yes, Lumb Bank is beautiful. The mist hangs in the valley in the mornings and is wonderful - well, it might depend on weather conditions but it seemed to much of the time I was there.

As for sharing rooms, Dee, I understand your trepidation about that. I wouldn't be very keen on that either without knowing in advance who it was. I actually have a long term illness which means I have to sleep and rest more than most people, so I asked for a single room on medical grounds, but on both occasions I found that nearly everyone had a single room. I think at Lumb Bank everyone did, and at Totleigh Barton (where I've also been) about 12 of the 16 students had a single room. So if you pay the extra it's most unlikely you'd have to share. I think booking early would mean you got priority for a paid single room after people with medical reasons.

I guess the other possibility if you hate the idea of sharing with a stranger is to book it with a writing friend and tell Arvon you want to share with them if you have to share at all.

None of the bedroom doors lock from the outside anyway (can't remember if they do from the inside), so you trust others anyway, and when you get there and meet them all I doubt you'd worry about it. I didn't. Everyone was so nice.

Deb

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Emma and Sapph - relate to what both of you are saying. Drink does flow very freely, and yes, it did have quite a profound effect on me on both occasions.

The last one I went on was April 06, and we set up an online writers' group with just the people from that course, and 5 of us are still critiquing each others' work every month. I know we can get that on WW, but I wasn't a member then - and the point I was making was really that the 5 days on an Arvon course can forge friendships which last.