There are plenty of reasons to be cheerful in 2009. It's the International Year of Astronomy, for one thing, so come on an Arvon course and meet the stars (our centres are great places for looking up into the night sky).

It's 250 years since the birth of Robert Burns and the first ever Homecoming in Scotland. Why not celebrate by going on a course at our Inverness-shire house, Moniack Mhor?

It's 200 years since Charles Darwin was born and 150 years since the publication of his seminal work, On the Origin of Species. Imagine if a book you started at an Arvon centre was celebrated 150 years later!

Dr Samuel Johnson was born 300 years ago this year. The king of words, Dr Johnson wrote the modern day dictionary. 

But 2009 is not just a time to look back. It's also a time to look to the future of literature - which is where Arvon comes in.

At Arvon we believe you should have the chance to work with words and to enjoy the freedom of your imagination.

That’s why we have a unique range of writing courses for everyone and a grants scheme to help you pay course fees if you can’t afford them.

That's why we run a mentoring scheme with the prestigious Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

And that's why you can submit a book proposal through us (if you go on one of our courses) which will beat the slush-pile at the offices of Capel & Land.