معرفی
David Savill is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies, University of Salford, where he founded and leads the BA Hons Creative Writing Multidiscipline program. He coordinates the Northern School of Writing, a university-wide network of professional writers driving Salford's literary ecosystem through community partnerships and the Salford Literacy Matters Network (152 educators).
His academic background includes a Master's in Creative Writing from Birkbeck College (2008-2009) and a Bachelor's in English and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia (1996-1998). As a Senior Fellow of Higher Education (2023), he pioneered curriculum development for creative writing degrees and teaches modules including Teaching Masterclass, Final Portfolio, and Introduction to Children's Fiction.
Savill's research integrates creative practice with community literacy, examining reading motivation through place-based methods. His fiction explores Central European political decay, notably in the award-winning novel 'They Are Trying to Break Your Heart' (2016), which analyzes Bosnian War trauma through intergenerational narratives. Current projects investigate reading barriers among Salford's teens and new parents using participatory action research.
His recognitions include France's Lectures Plurielle Debut Novel Award (2016), Desmond Elliot Prize shortlisting (2016), and three 2024-2025 research awards funding Salford literacy innovation networks. He organizes the 2025 Salford Literacy Symposium and leads advisory boards with Birmingham, Reading, and Royal Holloway universities alongside the National Literacy Trust.
Savill's teaching directly applies his research, developing programs that bridge academic writing with community literary engagement. His grants focus on translating reading behavior insights into practical interventions for Salford's schools and community centers, particularly targeting demographics with declining reading-for-pleasure rates.
He directs the Northern School of Writing innovation network and co-leads the Salford Literacy Matters Network's research consortium, which includes Manchester City of Literature and national literacy organizations to drive place-based pedagogy advancements across Greater Manchester.
