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Creative Writing Courses

Most Local Education Authority (LEA) and Workers' Educational Association (WEA) syllabuses include 'Creative Writing' and are advertised in the local press before the start of each term. The library should also have information.

Seminars and courses are held countrywide throughout the year. They're advertised in writing magazines and circulated to writers' groups.

Writers who get involved in seminars and residential courses find that their enjoyment, enthusiasm and stimulation carry over into writing at home and keep them going when they might otherwise become discouraged. Here are three of the best:

• The Arvon Foundation runs residential courses throughout the year at four centres around the UK, at Totleigh Barton in Devon, Lumb Bank in West Yorkshire, Moniack Mhor in Invernessshire, and The Hurst near Ludlow in Shropshire. Courses last four-and-a-half days and cover every kind of writing from poetry to novel-writing and journalism, with tutoring by top writers. Grants are available for those who can't afford the full fees. You can get a brochure from the National Administration office.
• The Writers' Summer School is held each August at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire. The oldest established of the British writers' conferences, having run at the same venue since 1949, Swanwick offers five full days of concentrated advice on all aspects of writing for publication. On most days there are two formal lectures by leading figures in the writing and publishing world - one at 9.30 in the morning, the other after dinner. As well as the main talks there is a choice of courses, talks and workshops throughout the week. Send a business-sized (DL size) stamped self-addressed envelope to the Secretary. Application forms are sent out in late January.
• The Writers' Holiday in Wales, Caerleon is another week-long writers' 'get-together', organised by Anne Hobbs in late July each year. Accommodation at Caerleon is in single student-type bedrooms with en suite bathrooms; every effort is made to separate (noisy) early-risers from (noisy) late-to-bedders - in separate residential blocks. Food is good. Reservations are accepted up to a year ahead against a small non-returnable deposit.