Andrew McMillan was born in Barnsley in 1988. His debut collection of poetry, physical (Vintage Publishing, 2015) was 'the sort of once-in-a-generation debut that causes everyone to sit up and take notice' according to Sarah Crown. physical was the only poetry book to ever win the Guardian First Book Award; it was also awarded a Somerset Maugham Award, an Eric Gregory Award, the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize and in 2019 was voted as one of the Top 25 Poetry Books of the Past 25 Years by the Booksellers Association. His second collection, playtime (Vintage Publishing, 2018) won the inaugural Polari Prize. A third collection, pandemonium, was published in 2021 and in 2022 he co-edited the acclaimed anthology 100 Queer Poems (Vintage Publishing) which was shortlisted in the British Book Awards. He is professor of contemporary writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Pity, a debut novel, was published in 2024 by Canongate.
The Passion of the Poem
How might we articulate our passions (personal, political, spiritual) onto the page? How do our private desires, our public declarations and our keen interests find their form and their voice in the poem? Do form and structure create passion, or offer mechanisms for controlling it? Join tutors Rachael Allen and Andrew McMillan to explore, through close readings, discussion and writing, how we might unlock, elevate and deepen the Passion of the Poem.
Bursaries
One £250 bursary space is available for this course. To apply, please complete this application form
Deadline for applications: Wednesday 11 June 2025.
For further information about the support available, please visit our Financial Assistance page: https://tynewydd.wales/courses-retreats/financial-support/
Tutors
Andrew McMillan
Rachael Allen
Rachael Allen is the author of two collections of poetry, Kingdomland (2019) and God Complex (2024), both published by Faber. Rachael was born in Cornwall and works as the poetry editor for Fitzcarraldo Editions and is a lecturer at Queen Mary University.
Guest Reader
K Patrick (Digital)
K Patrick is a writer based in Scotland. Their poetry has appeared in The Paris Review, Poetry Review, Granta and Five Dials, and was shortlisted for The White Review Poet’s Prize in 2021, the same year that K was also shortlisted for The White Review’s Short Story Prize. In 2023 they were shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award. Their debut novel, Mrs S, published by Fourth Estate was selected as an Observer Best Debut of the Year, and K was named a Granta Best of Young British Novelists for 2023. Their debut poetry collection, Three Births, was published by Granta Poetry in 2024.