A Masterclass on Creative Writing with Phillip B. Williams
Ours was one of Oprah’s Most Anticipated books of 2024.
On episode 27 of the Reed, Write, & Create podcast, award-winning poet and debut novelist, Phillip B. Williams is on the show. You might have heard about Williams because his brand new novel, Ours, was one of Oprah’s most anticipated books for 2024.
Ours is an epic story about a conjure woman named Saint, who goes around destroying plantations in the south, and then freeing the enslaved workers. She then creates a magical world called Ours where the newly emancipated can live in peace because white people can neither see nor access Ours. And if they try, they meet with a gruesome ending!
Suffice it to say, Ours is an epic story of Black resistance. The book was released at the end of February, 2024 and is receiving rave reviews. So, who is the man who created this magical world?
Who is Phillip B. Williams?
Phillip B. Williams is from Chicago, Illinois, and is the author of two collections of poetry: Thief in the Interior, which was the winner of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award and a Lambda Literary Award, and Mutiny, which was a finalist for the PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection and the winner of a 2022 American Book Award. Williams is also the recipient of a Whiting Award and fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and the National Endowment for the Arts. He currently teaches poetry at New York University's MFA creative writing program.
Phillip B. Williams Shares His Writing Lessons
During our conversation, Phillip delivers a full masterclass on creative writing essentials.Topics covered include: How to use poetry to write better prose; What MFA programs are actually good for and who should apply; Why writers shouldn’t be worried about word count; What you should be reading to improve your writing; Why we should be reading the works of our literary ancestors; and why He views Ours as Black Surrealism rather than Magical Realism.
These are some of the key literary lessons Phillip shares during the interview.
Read as much poetry as you can. And don’t reach for what’s popular, read what challenges you and intimidates you.
Don’t be a fast food writer. You have to study to get good at writing. If it comes too easily, then it’s probably been said before, or it’s just wrong.
Read more than you write, and read the work of our literary ancestors. Read the masters, because they have something to teach you about writing well.
When you read the masters, learn how to mimic, not copy. Think of it as learning how to make you grandmamama’s sweet potato pie and then putting your own spin on it.
Find a community to support your writing, a community who understands your vision and will help you attain it. (P.S. if you’re a BIPOC woman looking for a writing community, check out The Sanctuary.)
This is an episode with lessons you will want to remember and apply to your writing life, starting today. Listen twice and take notes. You can listen to the full episode below or find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
Resources to Write Like Phillip
To learn more about Philip B. William and to get more of his literary lessons, visit his website and/or find him on Instagram
You can purchase a copy of Ours from The Reed, Write, & Create Bookshop.
Phillip has also written two books of award-winning poetry. Check out Thief in the Interior.
One of Phillip’s early poetry influences, is the legendary Sonia Sanchez. Try her American Book Award Winning collection, Homegirls and Hand Grenades to inspire your poetry and prose.
If You Liked These Literary Lessons, Then…
If you enjoyed listening to Phillip B. Williams on the podcast, then check out the episode with Jabari Asim, and this one with more literary lessons from Langston Hughes. Keep writing and keep learning.