Great writers aren't necessarily born but can be taught to fulfil their literary potential, finds Lorne Jackson.

Are writers born with talent, or can storytelling skills be taught?

It’s a question that would-be wordsmiths have pondered, long and hard.

If it’s down to innate genius, every author would be forced to rely on the lottery of the gene pool.

But if hard work, perseverance and the right training are key factors, anyone with determination and drive has a chance of making it.

Those working with the Arvon Foundation don’t believe in the gene pool.

They’re more interested in the ponds, rivers and babbling brooks that border the picturesque retreats where they teach creative writing.

Arvon, set up more than 40 years ago, supports authors throughout their working life.

Ruth Borthwick, National Director of the organisation, will be extolling its merits at The Writers’ Toolkit in Birmingham on Saturday.

The Toolkit is an annual writer networking conference, run by Writing West Midlands.

Authors, editors, agents and many others will also be giving advice at the event.

But does Borthwick really believe writing can be taught?

“Well, if you think about it as a craft, then, yes, it can be,” she says. “Just like painting, or how to act. At Arvon we think that everybody has a creative voice. What we like to do is give people the opportunity to try out different ways of approaching writing, so they can get in touch with their creativity and imagination. Our view is that there are all kinds of different sorts of talent. And we think everyone can benefit by having the opportunity to try writing out.”

Does Arvon attract every age group, or are older people less inclined to return to education?

“We work with kids from secondary schools, but people also come on our courses in their 70s and 80s.

“I don’t think you can make any rules about it. For young people, they obviously have an advantage, in as much as they don’t come with any preconceptions about what writing is.

“Or any self-censorship to stop them trying new things out.

“But equally, for older people, they’ve got more experience of life. And often they’ve got fantastic stories to tell, that are completely astounding.

“If they have an opportunity to get a bit of time and space to think about how they might tell these stories, they can produce amazing things as well.”

Arvon guides writers in various directions. Even towards opera, with a detour across the football pitch.

“We work with a lot of young people, who may not have thought writing was for them.

“For example, we run a project called Writing The Game, where we are connecting with young people who have a love of football, and through that love of the sport, they have an opportunity to write.

“They go to their local club, and interview the players, and make a newspaper. Then they come to Arvon, and they might write a football opera with the poet Ian McMillan, who’s the poet in residence at Barnsley Football Club. He’s a great supporter of this project.

“Those young people go away with a huge feeling of confidence that they can write creatively. Before, they aren’t interested, and don’t think it’s for them.”

Adults, meanwhile, can book into backbone courses called Starting To Write, of which 19 run throughout the year.

A group of students arrive at one of Arvon’s country retreats on the Monday, staying until the Saturday. In that time they live and work intensively with two professional writers.