Workshop Overview:

Join us for Demystifying the Extraordinary, a six-week intensive led by Chloé Williams, where we'll uncover the beauty hidden within the everyday. Running from October 30th to December 4th, this workshop meets weekly on Zoom, offering a unique opportunity to explore how ordinary moments can spark extraordinary poetry.

In this workshop, we will work together to demystify the extraordinary by focusing on the seemingly ordinary details of our daily lives. Through a combination of reading contemporary poets, generative writing assignments, and collaborative workshops, you’ll develop the ability to find beauty and inspiration in the overlooked. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll have the tools to grow your poetic voice and edit your work with confidence—even when you don’t have a workshop to rely on.

What to Expect:

• In-Depth Discussions: Each session begins with a discussion on key themes, focusing on finding inspiration in everyday experiences. We'll look at poems that bring life to the routine and uncover moments of transcendence.
• Generative Assignments: Every week, you’ll receive a writing prompt encouraging you to turn your ordinary experiences into extraordinary poetry.
• Collaborative Workshopping: In a supportive, respectful environment, you’ll share your poems and receive feedback from peers, helping you refine and elevate your work.

Workshop Breakdown:

• Week 1: Getting Started & Obsession: We'll explore the role of obsession in writing and how to identify the themes that fuel your creative practice. Readings include works by Ross Gay.
• Week 2: Expansive Poetry: How can poetry expand our understanding of the ordinary? We’ll read and discuss works by Elizabeth Bishop and Joy Harjo.
• Week 3: Whimsy & Wonder: Discover how whimsy can breathe life into the everyday, with readings from Hannah Gamble and Ocean Vuong.
• Week 4: The Larger Poem: Learn how to explore larger themes through poetry, with readings from Li-Young Lee and Michael Gray Bulla.
• Week 5: Editing: We’ll dive into the editing process, discussing what makes a poem "successful" and how to improve your work. Readings include One Art by Elizabeth Bishop and Having a Coke with You by Frank O’Hara.
• Week 6: Final Words: We’ll wrap up by discussing when a poem is truly "done" and share resources for continued growth.

Important Dates:

Workshop Dates and Times:

October 30th, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM EST
November 6th, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM EST
November 13th, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM EST
November 20th, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM EST
November 27th, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM EST
December 4th, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM EST

Location: Zoom

About the Instructor: Chloé Williams is a New York City based writer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English: creative writing and a minor in media studies from CUNY Hunter College. She is currently freelance writing both for her own monthly newsletter and various publications. Sometimes she does some freelance editing. Much to her dismay, she is a frequent typo committer. If you can count on her for anything it is a subway cry, a soothing recording of overheard noise, and a book recommendation.

Join Us: Embark on this journey to uncover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Whether you’re new to poetry or a seasoned writer, Demystifying the Extraordinary offers a welcoming space to explore, experiment, and expand your creative practice.