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
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.
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Norminton, G. (2018) The Devil's Highway. Fourth Estate.
Norminton, G. (2017) The Ghost Who Bled. Comma Press.
Aubry, C. (2016) Belle and Sébastien The Child of the Mountains.
Saint-Exupery, A.D., Norminton, G. (2015) The Little Prince.
Norminton, G. (2013) Beacons Stories for Our Not So Distant Future. Oneworld Publications.
Norminton, G. (2013) Thumbnails. Watkins Publishing.
Norminton, G. (2012) The Lost Art of Losing. Vagabound Voices Pub Limited.
Flaubert, G. (2010) Dictionary of Received Ideas.
Norminton, G. (2008) Serious Things.
Norminton, G. (2005) Ghost Portrait. Hachette UK.
Norminton, G. (2004) Arts and Wonders. Sceptre.
Norminton, G.D.R. (2002) The Ship of Fools. London: Sceptre.
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Chapters in books
Norminton, G. (2019) ''How To Love What Dies'.' The Book of Sheffield A City in Short Fiction. Comma Press,
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Journal articles
Norminton, G. (2009) 'ZELUCO Various views of human nature, taken from life and manners, foreign and domestic.' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, (5565) pp. 30-30.
Norminton, G. (2009) 'CARMILLA.' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, (5565) pp. 30-30.
Norminton, G. (2009) 'EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2009.' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, (5555) pp. 18-18.
Norminton, G. (2008) 'THE LIBRARY AT NIGHT.' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, (5511) pp. 29-29.
Norminton, G. (2008) 'Edinburgh festivals.' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, (5501) pp. 17-17.
Norminton, G. (2008) 'When languages die - The extinction of the world's languages and the erosion of human knowledge.' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, (5491) pp. 25-25.
Norminton, G. (2007) ''On farting' - Language and laughter in the middle ages.' TLS-THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, (5461) pp. 31-31.