Chris Gribble on how to grow a national centre for writing

Chris Gribble moved to Norwich from Manchester (where, among other things, he’d worked with Michael Schmidt at Carcanet Press) in 2006 to join a regional literary arts organization. Here he had a vision and, after a time, helped turn the place into the UK's National Centre for Writing. Then he spearheaded a successful effort to get Norwich designated as England’s first UNESCO City of Literature. These impressive book-related accomplishments were achieved largely through the discovery and telling of stories Chris told me. Over the years he excavated loads of little local literary stories and crafted them into one strong, persuasive narrative arc that features place, yes, but also, more broadly, the many social, economic and personal benefits that derive from the practice of writing. We met in the soon to be 600-year old Dragon Hall, a space in Norwich that the NCW calls home, to talk about the power of story-telling - stories as machines that change the world; ways of building literary organizations through coalitions; Norwich's rich history of immigration and dissent and its impressive list of literary firsts, including its connection to the novel Black Beauty, one of the first-ever works of animal advocacy, a surprising example of potent, successful behavioral change-making propaganda at work; about writing and mental well-being, and about the broad positive impact that books and writing have on place and society. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebibliofile.substack.com/subscribe