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Promised Land author to share his sports writing skills

As Promised Land, Anthony Clavane’s superlative history of Leeds United, continues to attract acclaim, the author has been engaged to pass on some of the skills of his profession at a sports writing course in Shropshire in November.


Clavane, who writes about a range of sports for the Sunday Mirror, will share the tutor’s platform with fellow author Richard Beard at a week-long residential course in the splendid surroundings of The Hurst, the estate that was once the home of the playwright, John Osborne.

From back-page reports to full-length books, the course will examine techniques for transforming a passion for sport into writing that engages and entertains a wide range of readers.

In a series of workshops and tutorials, Clavane and Beard will explain how to bring people and events to life, find the connections between personal experience and the wider sporting world and turn the compelling narratives of sport into equally gripping stories.

The course, which costs £595.00 (£545.00 if sharing a room), is run by the Arvon Foundation, which was established in 1968 to promote creative writing and which now owns The Hurst, a collection of 18th century buildings set in 30 acres of woodland at Clunton in Shropshire’s picturesque Clun Valley.

In common with Arvon’s three other ‘writing houses’ -- in West Yorkshire, Devon and Inverness-shire -- The Hurst offers the chance to work and study in tranquil surroundings, yet there are rail connections to London, Wales, North and South West England from Craven Arms station, just eight miles away.

Richard Beard, who has written four novels, is the author of Muddied Oafs, a journey to the heart of rugby, and of How to Beat the Australians.

Clavane’s Promised Land -- described in one review as ‘Andrew Marr for the football fan’ -- is a strong contender for sports book of the year prizes.

If you are interested in signing up for the course, which runs from Monday, November 15th to Saturday, November 20th, email thehurst@arvonfoundation.org.

Alternatively, telephone 01588 640658, or write to
The Hurst - The John Osborne Arvon Centre,
Clunton,
Craven Arms,
Shropshire,
SY7 0JA.


Visit the Arvon Foundation website for more details of this course many others covering a wide range of writing genres.


Promised Land: The Reinvention of Leeds United by Anthony Clavane, Muddied Oafs and How to Beat the Australians (both by Richard Beard) are all published by Yellow Jersey Press.

For more information on these titles or to buy, follow the links.


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