Sixty books in, Prof. Megan Atwood practices the ability of storytelling | Rowan At this time

Storytelling will not be science, however telling tales effectively, persistently and productively takes as a lot power, dedication and drive because the work of any researcher wherever.

Simply ask Megan Atwood.

A professor of creative writing within the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, Atwood has revealed an astounding 60 books, primarily within the thriller, horror and sci-fi/fantasy genres, and loves nothing greater than educating and galvanizing her college students to seek out their writing voice too.

Atwood largely writes for a youthful readership and, like many fiction writers, doesn’t all the time know the place a narrative will go till it will get there.

“It kind of will depend on the mission,” Atwood mentioned. “I all the time have a free construction in thoughts however it virtually by no means goes precisely how I feel it should. Characters make selections primarily based on how they’re crafted and it doesn’t all the time observe a plot.”

Which is a part of the enjoyable, she mentioned.

“It’s one cause why I really like writing,” she mentioned. “The story type of simply unfolds and it’s thrilling and interesting to see the place it’s going to go.”

Atwood, who teaches Inventive Writing I and Style Writing in addition to particular subjects in publishing and writing for kids, usually works on two or three initiatives concurrently.

The writer of a younger grownup horror e-book, “The Devils You Know,” from Soho Teen, and a center grade collection, “The Orchard Novels,” from Simon & Schuster, Atwood has loved a rewarding profession as not solely a author however as an acquisitions editor, developmental editor, managing editor and literary agent.

A longtime writer for each the commerce, or retail market, and the library market, Atwood is abhorred by a latest pattern in some American communities to burn and ban books, even from college libraries.

Among the books include LGBTQ+ and/or racial storylines that talk to the lived experiences of many readers and, Atwood believes, stopping entry to them is unconscionable.

“If you write for youths you’re making an attempt to permit them to see themselves in a e-book,” she mentioned.

When self-appointed censors “yank books away that might present a mirror for some college students that might assist them get by way of childhood, it’s incomprehensible.”

Atwood believes her effectively of expertise as an writer and trade skilled offers a deep vein of educating materials and he or she attracts on all of it to assist her college students change into the writers they dream of being.

“My most essential recommendation to college students hoping to launch their very own writing profession is to simply preserve writing,” she mentioned.

She mentioned all writers, however particularly fiction writers, tend sooner or later to query their means, however it’s a bent they should struggle.

“It’s not an excellent productive query to say am I good author?” she mentioned. “The extra essential query is, did I present up at present? Am I writing?”