Jenn Ashworth

PhD Supervision Interests

Fiction - the novel / short story collections. I am particularly interested in projects that engage with a 'sense of place' (including the no-place of cyberspace), first person fiction and the instability / unreliability this mode of story-telling engenders, that cross over with memoir and autobiographical writing, or use epistolary forms. I am also interested in LDS fiction and fiction that engages with religion and religious experience more generally.

Current Teaching

I teach on the CREW 303 workshop course and the MA (CREW 900). I also convene the CREW 304 Long Fiction workshop course.

Career Details

I studied English at Newnham College, Cambridge and took my MA in Creative Writing at the Centre for New Writing, Manchester University. I started my career in libraries, working at the Bodleian library, Oxford University as well as in public libraries and prison libraries in Lancashire as a chartered librarian with a specialist interest in reader development work.

From there, I went on to become a freelance writer, literature development and project worker, setting up the Lancashire Writing Hub and developing other writing development projects across the North West.

I have lectured at UCLAN, held a Writing Research Fellowship at Manchester University's Centre for New Writing and most recently, joined the Department of English and Creative Writing here at Lancaster in 2011.

My first novel, A Kind of Intimacy, won a Betty Trask Award. On the publication of my second, Cold Light, I was featured on the BBC's Culture Show as one of Britain's 12 best new novelists. My third novel, The Friday Gospels was published in 2013 and is currently being developed into a television series.

As well as writing novels and short stories, I also review contemporary literary fiction for The Guardian.

Web Links

My personal website

My author profile at Sceptre

Office Hours

Thursdays, 3-5 (term-time only).

Current Research

Currently I am working on a novel (provisionally titled The Sycamores) set in the North West of England, August 1963.

I am also working on a collection of creative, critical and personal essays entitled 'On Reading.'

Recently finished stories included 'Five Thousand Lads a Year' (for broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014) 'Replay' (on submission) and 'Katy, My Sister' (for publication in late 2013).

Professional Role

Currently I am part of the ICT team in the department which means I am responsible for updating the website, assisting the department with its social media presence and updating the virtual learning environments for all Creative Writing courses. I also assist with undergraduate admissions.

Thesis Title

Preaching to the Choir: Writing and Uncertainty in a Mormon Context

Qualifications

BA hons English Literature (2003) Newnham College, University of Cambridge

MA Creative Writing (2006) Centre for New Writing, Manchester University

• Manchester Letters

  14/06/2012 → 21/11/2012
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• Station Stories

  01/05/2011 → 20/07/2011
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• 2012 Great Writing Conference

  (Speaker) 16/6/2012
  Activity: Participation in conference
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• Newnham College Literary Archive Weekend

  (Invited speaker) 2/3/2013
  Activity: Participation in conference
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