Gregory Norminton

Gregory Norminton

Senior Lecturer

My profile

Biography

I teach English and creative writing on the BA joint honours course and the novel route of the MA. I am a writer of novels and short stories but I have also written a volume of aphorism, adapted books for radio and translated others from French. I have a particular interest in ecological writing, the European novel, historical and speculative fiction and literature in translation.

I am currently working on my fifth novel and have a book of stories out with Comma Press in 2016.

Words of wisdom

My advice for any creative writer is simple: read. Read all you can, whenever you have a moment. This is happy advice – it means you are ‘working’ even as you engage in one of the most pleasurable activities known to humanity.

Academic and professional qualifications

I was born in Berkshire in 1976. I read English at Oxford before training as an actor at LAMDA.

Languages

English and French.

Personal website address

http://www.gregorynorminton.co.uk

Get in touch

0161 247 1715
5.03 Grosvenor East Building
Wednesdays 1 - 5 pm

Teaching

Why do I teach?

Writing is a solitary activity, yet we grow when we can share our work. If we expose it to scrutiny and learn to communicate what appeals to us in fiction we can develop as writers. I believe in the benefits of close reading and discussion of texts. We improve as writers by becoming better readers and by simply sitting down and getting the pen to the paper; the only way to write is to do it. Having people there to read the result may be daunting but it is the best way of building discipline. My job is to be available to encourage and challenge students and to propose ways forward when the path seems unclear.

Postgraduate teaching

The Novel route of the MA.

Subject areas

Creative Writing

Research outputs

I have a particular interest in ecological writing, short stories, speculative fiction and literary translation.