Matt Young

Fiction, Nonfiction

matt young
  • Biography

Biography

Matt Young  is the author of the memoir, Eat the Apple (Bloomsbury, 2018), and the novel, End of Active Service (Bloomsbury, 2024). His stories and essays have appeared in TIMEGrantaTin HouseCatapult, and The Cincinnati Review among other publications. He is the recipient of fellowships from Words After War and The Carey Institute for Global Good, and teaches composition, literature, and creative writing at Centralia College in Washington.

Mentor: Workshops and classes in fiction and nonfiction

Statement: Workshops should be places of inquiry where we learn to articulate the why behind our aesthetic values and preferences as writers. In my classrooms I work to foster an environment where students can explore their unique voices and engage with the craft that underlies their work without the pressure of polished products. I encourage my students to experiment with different styles and forms of writing, to read widely and beyond their immediate preference and comfort; it’s essential for writers to engage deeply with the nuances of language, voice, and style and to develop a sensitivity and understanding toward the formal and technical aspects of their craft. By emphasizing aesthetic values in the workshop, I aim to equip my students with the tools and critical frameworks they need to both understand and create work that is personally meaningful and artistically significant.