Andrew McMillan – #Arvon50

When I was just about to graduate from undergraduate study, Arvon began to run a scheme, connected to an anniversary, where they would offer full scholarships to writers who had never been on an Arvon and who could prove that they wouldn’t be able to afford one. I photocopied my student overdraft statement which showed how much less than nothing I currently had, and was offered a free place. Because it was free, I felt I should take the chance to do something I would never normally do- I tended to write very small, short poems and there was a course on the long poem, being run by Michael Symmons Roberts and Mimi Khalvati; it was a transformational week at Lumb Bank; I began writing what became Protest of the Physical, first published as a pamphlet by Red Squirrel Press, and then becoming the central section of my debut collection physical.

_______________________________________________________________________

#Arvon50

Arvon turned 50 in 2018 and to celebrate we have collected the stories of writers far and wide who have a tale to tell about Arvon. The collection is published in our anniversary book and featured on our blog. This contribution is by poet Andrew McMillan.