Making the Ordinary Strange: A Fiction & Publishing Masterclass
Making the Ordinary Strange: A Fiction & Publishing Masterclass
Volume 1 of Silent Book Club - Torrance Writer’s Series
Join Silent Book Club - Torrance for the launch of our fiction writing series. Our mission for this series is to foster a South Bay writers’ community through sustainable workshops and professional development. Whether you're a hobbyist or an aspiring pro, this series supports your creative fulfillment through specialized craft talks and guided exercises. Join us to sharpen your prose, see your work through a professional lens, and help us build a lasting home for writers in the South Bay. For this writing series, we are excited to introduce our host, Yimin (Tori) Huang.
About Tori
Tori is a NYU graduate with a MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco. She has a published book of poetry, Estrangement, available at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon and in the San Francisco bookstore Nowplace located in Chinatown. Her story "Backfield Blues," was part of a performance piece at the Esplanade Theaters - which is Singapore's premier performing arts center. It hosts local and international performances with 1,600 - 2,000 seats.
Her other accolades include winning the Writing The City contest in Singapore (2021, 2022) with her short stories "Teacher's Pet" and "Extra," organized by the prestigious Sing Lit Station organization which hosts workshops, events, writing contests in Singapore. She has had her work featured in the sold-out anthology What We Burn For which features 25 Singapore-based writers as well as being featured in the Singapore Kinokuniya bookstore, Japan's largest bookstore chain.
Her writings have also appeared in Neocha, Cha: A Literary Journal (based in Hong Kong), The Hooghly Review, Wildscape (upcoming), and Expat Living Singapore, to name a few. She is currently working on a story cycle regarding the Chinese diaspora. Tori brings a global perspective to the craft of fiction.
The Workshop
In this session, Tori will lead a deep dive into "defamiliarization" - the art of making the familiar feel unfamiliar. She will walk you through on how to describe a familiar setting in an uncanny way using sensory details and then applying what you learned during the workshop. You will receive concise feedback from Tori and the group.
You will be able to purchase Tori's powerful poetry book, Estrangement, on-site at a 10% discount. The book delves into various forms of estrangement from politics, familial, and societal expectations.
Learning Objectives for this Workshop
Observe the ordinary with heightened awareness
Participants will be able to identify quirks in everyday objects and locations, and notice setting details that are usually overlooked.
Experiment with language and imagery
Participants will be able to play with descriptive language and metaphors to create a sense of strangeness in ordinary settings.
Challenge assumptions about normalcy
Participants will be able to question conventional perspectives and reimagine familiar things in unexpected and meaningful ways.
Produce a creative piece that reflects this technique
Participants will create a short writing exercise or micro-story where the ordinary becomes strange, demonstrating their understanding of the workshop’s core technique.
Tier 1: Fiction Class for $20 includes -
● Access to the 1.5 hr workshop
● Concise group feedback focused on the day's curriculum
Tier 2: Fiction & Publishing Masterclass for $30 includes -
● Access to the 1.5 hour workshop
● Concise group feedback focused on the day's curriculum
PLUS
● Extended Workshop Time: 30 minutes of additional post-session time
● Personalized Feedback: Deep-dive publishing Q&A, extended feedback on your writing process, and other miscellaneous questions
● Future Access: One (1) complimentary admission to Tori's Psychology Book Club
Important Information
● Refund Policy: We maintain a "No Refunds" policy; however, tickets are fully transferable. You must email us to give us a heads up.
● Media Notice: Photographs and videos may be captured for SBC - Torrance promotional purposes.