MFA grad and CE instructor finding success writing dark fantasy, weird fiction stories

Growing up, Nathan Batchelor read many stories by horror writers Clive Barker and Stephen King.

He decided to give writing his own spooky stories a try in 2017.

“In some hybrid of a quarter-life/mid-life crisis, I took up writing because my friends and teachers always enjoyed my writing and my ideas,” said Batchelor, who earned his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree from Ashland University last year. “After I sold my first story in 2018, I just kept writing and submitting.

“I’ve sold about a dozen stories since then,” he added.

When Batchelor isn’t writing and submitting dark fantasy stories, he teaches English Composition online in AU’s Correctional Education program. The Columbus-area resident has been doing that for a little more than a year.

“The great thing about teaching in the Correctional Education program is interacting with the students,” Batchelor said. “They come from all walks of life and are often extremely motivated and take their education very seriously.”

Like his students, Batchelor took his education seriously when he became part of Ashland’s MFA program in 2020.

“The program is filled with great people,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about it. Getting to work and befriend other writers in the program has been a highlight of my life.

“I still touch base monthly with many writers I met during my time in it,” he added.

MFA Director Christian Kiefer said Batchelor is a good colleague post-MFA and glad the MFA grad is part of the larger writing community with his weird fiction stories.

“Nathan is a genuine weirdo writer and I mean that in the best, most complimentary way,” Kiefer said. “He’s a true original and his publication record speaks for itself. We’ll be getting a book from him before too long — and people will read it.”

His MFA experience, as well as interaction with other people, vivid dreams and things he reads that compel him to respond in his own art are some of the inspirations for his stories, Batchelor said.

One of his most recent stories, “Hook and Mirror,” was published in Reader Beware Magazine as the cover story.

Here’s an excerpt from that story:

“My king, I’ve been loyal to you for the greater part of my life. I am simply a farmer. Why have you brought me here when your cattle need my attention?”

The translator, Colón, listened to the king’s clacking­—a more refined clacking than that of the soldiers—and then turned his beautiful face toward mine.

“You are here because the king’s former translator is dead, and as the previous translator is dead and was found in your house,” the translator paused, “the king’s court had to train the apprentice translator—myself—to take his place. This has caused much stress within the beetle kingdom.

“Because of what you have done, you are to be sent on a-” Colón paused again. I found his eyes strikingly green, nearly the same color as that of the shell of the beetle king. “A quest to the kingdom of the worm.”
 

With his success of selling stories for the past five years, could the title of full-time writer be in Batchelor’s future?

“Such a thing would be wonderful, but there’s something invigorating about working with students,” Batchelor said. “Many of my favorite writers taught for most of their careers. I am fine with both teaching and writing the rest of my career.”