Understand
Ian McMillan says social media helps new poets bypass establishment gatekeepers
Overview
Poet Ian McMillan has stated that social media platforms like Instagram and BlueSky are helping a new generation of poets bypass traditional establishment gatekeepers and publish their work with greater confidence. McMillan, who is appearing at the Ilkley Literature Festival, also discussed his new poetry book 'Red River Valley' and the ongoing regeneration and survival of his home village near Barnsley following the austerity of the 2010s.
Key points
- Ian McMillan says social media platforms liberate new poets by allowing them to bypass traditional publishing gatekeepers.
- He notes that publishing work on Instagram or BlueSky gives emerging writers confidence.
- McMillan is appearing at the Ilkley Literature Festival to read poems from his new book, 'Red River Valley'.
- His latest collection focuses on family life, everyday surrealism, and the impact of austerity on his home village near Barnsley.
- He believes staying in South Yorkshire has given him a positive, long-term perspective on Barnsley's regeneration and survival.