Jump Aboard the Poetry Express II on Thursday, April 23 from 2 – 4 pm ET!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Fellow Writers! We had a terrific time at my last two WOW webinars, “Writing Is for the Birds” and “Shaping Creative Nonfiction,” and I sincerely hope you’ll consider joining me for the next workshop: POETRY EXPRESS II: FIVE POEMS IN TWO HOURS! Yes, we will again write 5 poems in 2 hours, and this time we’ll read brand new inspirational poems and work from entirely new prompts, some of my most favorite ever!

Check out the kind words from a selection of Poetry Express I students:

“Ashley, I so enjoy your workshops, and this one was great! Thanks for giving me good ideas, tools, and a helpful nudge.” – Lucinda Trew

“Terrific job, Ashley! I’ve got so much ‘clay’ on my potter’s wheel now to shape and make into poems.” – Ruth Moose

“Thank you SO MUCH for a wonderful poetry workshop. I’d been in a funk with my writing for various reasons and I needed to snap out of it. When I saw the dare of your workshop – 5 poems in 2 hours – I did not believe I could do it, but I wanted to try anyway. I hoped it would shock me out of my funk and onto the page. It did. Thank you. I’m so grateful for your enthusiastic response to my poem. And count me in for Poetry Express II! Can’t wait. – “Wendy Kagan

“Aloha Ashley! I thoroughly enjoyed the Poetry Express. It was my first experience with a WOW class, and I loved it. Loved the prompts and the inspirational pieces you shared. The submission suggestions and bit of education were helpful as well! I’ve been writing for a long time but am new to the submission process so that was especially appreciated. I also appreciated your kind feedback on my poems, and I can’t wait to polish these off and submit them very soon!” – Sonya Yamaguchi

“The Poetry Express was informative, and your manner of presentation put me at ease. Generating new poems brought creative pleasure! In the coming days, I plan to improve those poems and read more of the poems you cited. I’d say your workshop was beneficial! I learned, I will practice, and I will read and hopefully submit.” – Denise Scott

“I enjoyed and learned a lot during the [Poetry Express] webinar! I hope there will be others on poetry. I found Ashley’s feedback useful, constructive, and insightful. Figuring out where to submit can be so hard when you’re starting out! Having the suggestions from Ashley gives me more confidence that I am submitting to places that are more likely to publish my work.” – Angela Shaw-Thornburg

POETRY EXPRESS II: FIVE POEMS IN TWO HOURS with Ashley Harris

WEBINAR DATE: Thursday, April 23, 2026

WEBINAR TIME: 2pm – 4pm ET

DURATION: 2 Hours

LOCATION: Live webinar via Zoom

FEEDBACK: The last 15 minutes of the lecture will be open to Q&A.

SPECIAL OPTION: Receive a personal critique from the instructor of 2 poems (one-page limit each) within two weeks of the class for an extra fee. This includes an analysis of voice, format, reader engagement, and at least one submission recommendation per poem will be provided.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Do you long to write poetry but have always been intimidated? Or maybe you’re a previous Poetry Express passenger who wants to take advantage of new spring prompts and learn about new markets! Either way, you’re invited to hop aboard the “Poetry Express II” where you’ll learn (or review) our nifty technique for writing an engaging free verse poem on the spot, followed by four additional prompts to generate even more. (Warning: Keep your pen handy because you’re likely to start several others.) There’s no room for overthinking or second-guessing on the “Poetry Express II” because we’ll be having too much fun! Your “ticket” will also include editing tips to sharpen your poems, along with an overview of markets and contests and best practice poetry submission tips that will significantly increase your odds of publication.

This live Zoom webinar starts and ends on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM PT | 12-2 PM MT | 1-3 PM CT | 2-4 PM ET

The webinar can be viewed on a tablet, phone, or computer (both Mac and PC).

The instructor will record the class and have it available for anyone who would prefer to view the class at a different time and date.

Format
This course is offered via Zoom webinar. Webinars are workshops given online, where you can view the instructor and websites/materials she shares on her screen, making it an interactive experience. Webinars make learning from your home or office convenient.

CLASS AT A GLANCE:

Live Webinar: Poetry Express II: Five Poems in Two Hours

Duration: 2 Hours

All aboard! In this express two-hour class, as your “conductor,” I’ll share excerpts from notable published poems that will inspire you to write your own. We’ll use my own technique — the 3-step “Poetry Express” prompt — that is guaranteed to bust through inhibition and help you generate an instant poem, followed by four equally inspirational prompts to write even more. We’ll cover tips and tricks to help you polish your poems with an aim toward publication, along with an overview of current markets. By the end of class, you’ll have five draft poems and a schedule of submission deadlines, plus take-away wisdom to help you establish a lifelong poetry habit. For an extra fee, I’ll critique your work and offer targeted submission recommendations within two weeks of the class.

Topics covered include:

  • Overview – why you should write poetry
  • A review of published poetry to inspire you
  • 3-Step “Poetry Express” Prompt (board a train, grab a window seat, and enjoy the ride!)
  • Four additional prompts to generate more instant poems
  • Tips to edit your poems for publication on matters of sound, turn, punctuation, line breaks, and titles
  • Overview of contests and markets, including best practice submission tips just for poetry
  • Tips and a list of recommended books to keep your poetry train going
  • Q & A

Materials Needed: Your favorite writing implement (pen, pencil, writing pad or keyboard) and your imagination.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:  Ashley Harris is a poet and teacher whose first poetry collection, Waiting for the Wood Thrush, described by acclaimed poet Ruth Moose as “witty, wise and overflowing with life and color” debuted in 2019 (Finishing Line Press). She has won the Mary Ruffin Poole Heritage Award from the North Carolina Poetry Society for her poem “A Widow on Chester Street,” and has written poetry for O. Henry Magazine, The Phoenix, Naugatuck River Review, Broad River Review, Kakalak, among many others. Since 2021, she’s served as a critique editor and judge for WOW’s quarterly fiction and nonfiction contests, and her favorite hobby, by far, is helping other writers achieve their publication dreams.

COST: $35, which includes one two-hour webinar with a 15-minute Q&A with your instructor.

OPTIONAL CRITIQUE ADD-ON: A personal critique from the instructor of two poems (one-page limit each) plus submission recommendations for $40 ($75 total).

POETRY EXPRESS II with Ashley Harris (Thursday, April 23, 2026, 2pm – 4pm ET) Limit: 25 students. Early registration is recommended.

To register, click here, where you will be taken to the WOW registration page.

I hope to see you there! In the meantime, below is a selection of more kind comments from recent students.

“I loved your examples, the prompts, and your generosity in sharing your experiences and resources with us. You pack in so much invaluable information and I’m in awe of how you present so much over a relatively short period of time. Your encouragement, humor, and compassion are true gifts to us, and again, I thank you.” Laurie Miller (Shaping Creative Nonfiction)

“I’ve been telling my friends what a fine instructor you are. You come prepared, do a wonderful job of boiling things down, and more importantly, you give your students confidence.”—Camille Armantrout (Shaping Creative Nonfiction)

“I truly enjoyed your class and learned so much. I especially appreciated the framework you shared—it was incredibly helpful to see the visual slide as you walked us through each element. The exercises you used to guide us were both engaging and fun. You’re a wonderful instructor, and your authenticity really shines through.” –Linda Neff (Shaping Creative Nonfiction)

Ashley, I thought your class (Shaping Nonfiction) was fabulous! I’m thrilled I did sign up and look forward to working with you more. So exciting! —Mary Anne Trause (Shaping Creative Nonfiction)

Thanks so much, Ashley!! This was super helpful and enjoyable, and I can’t wait to get started using your ideas and tips. I’ve read a number of books on writing technique and have taken quite a few writing courses. I am also a professional content editor. I love “nuts and bolts” material, and your workshop did not disappoint! —Marlene Martzke (Shaping Creative Nonfiction)

Thanks for the recording of Shaping Creative Nonfiction with a Narrative Arc. I listen and then I watch and listen again. I’m revising a memoir. Your suggestions are very helpful. Hoping I’m on the right track! I’ve done many workshops on Zoom. Yours by far has been the most helpful to me! –Robin Allen (Shaping Creative Nonfiction)

This was fabulous and I will enjoy seeing the recording for the beginning. I loved hearing everyone’s work. So inspiring! I am also interested in any future classes! – Lisa Sukenic (Writing is for the Birds)

Thank you for the wonderful workshop. I am still on Cloud 9. You are the best teacher, best poet, best role model I know. I am eternally grateful for you and all that you do. Thank you for your teachings, your feedback and suggestions, your giving soul. You give me confidence in my voice. Thank you. – Mary Alice Dixon, author of Snakeberry Mamas: Words from the Wild (Writing is for the Birds)

Ashley, you and all the attendees are inspiring. Your class was such a pleasure! I was very impressed with your approach to commenting on the work attendees shared. You not only encouraged them but also highlighted specific details of what they did well. Thank you! I love your idea of letting birds help set a scene in place, time, season, and mood. And I’m hoping to add more birds to present and future writing projects. I’m also looking forward to your class on writing about fur-babies! With much appreciation, Rosemary Poole-Carter (Writing is for the Birds)

Thanks so much for sending the recording, I really enjoyed the presentation! Your enthusiasm for the birds is contagious and makes me want to try my hand at including them in my own writing. Also loved the idea of your Pet Project course coming up and will keep an eye out for that. Thanks again and best wishes to you! –Julie Flanders (Writing is for the Birds)

Great presentation! Lots of food for thought and future writing.  [This webinar] was just the right amount of each element…the examples, the writing to prompts, the resources, etc. Thank you for doing this! – Betty McCreary (Writing is for the Birds)

Ashley your class was an absolute JOY AND DELIGHT! The presentation, the participants, the prompts, the poems, the pacing…I loved every minute! – Michelle Seitzer  (Writing is for the Birds)          

Join me for “Writing is for the Birds” on Tuesday, February 17 from 2 – 4 pm ET

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? Writers and bird lovers, I bet you can barely keep your feeder full, especially if you got as much snow as I did today. Recently, I was honored to write “Wings to Words,” an article about the powerful connection between birds and writing for the introduction to the February newsletter for Women on Writing. Read it here.

If birds enchant and inspire you, I hope you’ll consider joining me for a 2-hour workshop, “Writing is for the Birds” on February 17 from 2 – 4 pm ET. For more information and to sign up, see below.

WRITING IS FOR THE BIRDS: A WORKSHOP INSPIRED BY OUR AVIAN FRIENDS with Ashley Harris

WEBINAR DATE: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

WEBINAR TIME: 2pm – 4pm ET

DURATION: 2 Hours

LOCATION: Live webinar via Zoom

FEEDBACK: The last 15 minutes of the lecture will be open to Q&A. Students can also send questions ahead of time, to be addressed during the lecture.

SPECIAL OPTION: Receive a personal critique from the instructor of 3 double-spaced pages of your work within two weeks of the class for an extra fee. This includes at least one submission recommendation.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Did you know that cardinals symbolize fidelity and that their appearance may represent a visit from a lost loved one? Did you know the wood thrush has a Y-shaped voice box, allowing the last two notes of its song to fork off and harmonize? It’s no wonder that our avian friends find their way into the work of so many writers, from John Keats to Jane Kenyon to Amy Tan. In this special workshop, we’ll uncover the many ways that birds can elevate both poetry and prose through sounds, sights and themes.

This live Zoom webinar starts and ends on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

Time: 11 AM – 1 PM PT | 12-2 PM MT | 1-3 PM CT | 2-4 PM ET

The webinar can be viewed on a tablet, phone, or computer (both Mac and PC).

We’ll record the class and have it available for anyone who would prefer to view the class at a different time and date.

Format
This course is offered via Zoom webinar. Webinars are workshops given online, where you can view the workshop and websites/materials I share on my screen, making it an interactive experience. Webinars make learning from your home or office convenient.

COST: $40, which includes one two-hour webinar with a 15-minute Q&A with me. Enrollment is limited to 20 students so I encourage you to register early.

Register here by clicking and scrolling to the bottom of this page.

Hope to see you there, but in the meantime, please stay warm and safe!
Ashley

Let’s Talk Creative Nonfiction on Friday, June 20, 2025, 2 – 4 pm ET!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Ever wondered how your favorite writers are able to stitch together an unputdownable essay? I did, too. So I studied my favorite essays for years, literally took them apart, line by line, scene by scene, until I discovered just what made them tick.

The good news is that I’ve discovered a secret (or two) that I’d like to share with you. This will save you from much of the guess work and revision headaches that come with drafting a successful longform essay.

“Shaping Creative Nonfiction with a Narrative Arc,” a two-hour webinar hosted by Women on Writing, features special readings, writing prompts, and the revelation of the secret behind a successful narrative arc, the glue that magically hooks the reader, followed by an exercise to help you develop your own. During our time together, I’ll also offer an overview of current markets publishing creative nonfiction, and by the end of class, you’ll have all the tools you need to finish your essay and a schedule of submission deadlines so you can share your words with the world. For an extra fee, I’ll critique up to 3 pages of your work-in-progress and give you a targeted submission recommendation within two weeks of the class.

As with all my webinars, I promise it won’t be all work. We’ll also laugh and have our share of fun! I’d love to see you there, so if you’re interested, please register here.

Special note: Thank you to everyone who kindly signed up for “The Poetry Express” webinar earlier this month. We had a blast, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the terrific poems generated during this event. In fact, it was so successful that we’re planning “The Poetry Express II,” in the fall, complete with all-new prompts and even more inspiration poems! Stay tuned for the details.

In the meantime, take care, and I wish you a productive summer of writing!

Ashley

Let’s Start a Nano-Palooza!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

This month I was honored to pen the introduction to the November newsletter for Women on Writing, the prestigious and inspirational writing community. I’m reprinting it here, in the hopes that my fellow writing friends will take advantage of National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo).

I was a skeptic. To put it mildly. In other words, I was the ultimate NaNoNayer (NaNo-Naysayer ☹). The idea had always seemed a little silly to me. Why write my heart out in November when technically I could do that all year long? And what’s with all the badges, tools, and community building? As an adult, I should be able to manage myself without all the hoopla, right? Besides, I wasn’t working on a novel anyway.

The truth is that I didn’t write my heart out all year long. And I couldn’t manage myself. In fact, among freelancing, taking care of three dogs, tending a garden, volunteering at church, and the normal kerfuffle of life, it was all I could do to set aside a few hours a week to finish a single essay. I needed a little push. In fact, I had been talking so long about finishing my memoir that the eyes of my writer friends glazed over every time I brought it up. So, when I found out that NaNoWriMo isn’t just for novelists, I decided to give it a try.

All writers, whether novelists, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, essayists and memoirists, are welcome at NaNoWriMo. In fact, anyone aiming to write 50,000 words toward any project will find something of value at NaNoWriMo, from motivation and accountability to making new friends and gaining new skills.

Last November, I cleared my calendar and finally started pulling together the pieces I planned for my book, which would be a memoir in essays exploring love, faith, and healing. Although I’d already written many of the pieces, I had never seen them all together in the same file. Doing so gave me the opportunity to look at them as a unit, edit and tighten, as well as plan new bridge essays to cover any holes. I also created a framework that tied together the chronological arc of the narrative—my seven years of growing cherries. Before November ended, I even had time to begin drafting a few of the new pieces. Along the way I logged onto NaNoWriMo regularly, joined a regional group, and began checking in, and lo and behold, the word count on my dashboard started to tick up and up and up! It was a true NaNo-palooza!

At the end of the month, the momentum continued. Over the next year, I concentrated on finalizing my new essays and wrote even more, ending up with a total of 22. Later, I turned back to my behemoth of a manuscript, and that’s when I re-discovered my draft framing document. This turned into the four thematic sections of “Plant,” “Believe,” “Pollinate,” and “Love,” and presto, I suddenly had a table of contents and my essays became actual chapters. Thanks to NaNoWriMo, I now have a 200-page manuscript that I’m currently circulating among my writing partners and will be submitting for publication.

Are you a diehard NaNoficionado? Or like me, are you on the fence? Either way, the tips in this column are meant to help you take advantage of NaNoWriMo and meet your own writing goals.

Think big. As mentioned before, you don’t have to use this time to write a novel, but you sure can. This is perfect for writers like me who have a short story that yearns to be a novella or longer. Maybe you have a juicy flash fiction that’s just itching to be part of a collection. Or a poetry chapbook. Perhaps you have an essay collection, or a memoir, or like me, maybe both. Whatever you’re working on, take it to the limit, and imagine what you might do with 50K words. As for me, it wasn’t the writing itself that intimidated me. I suffered from the age-old commitment phobia. But once I gave myself permission to think BIG and actually envision my work as a book, the writing itself was easy.

Go a little wild. Consider your NaNoWriMo experience as your personal sandbox. This is your chance to break personal boundaries and do something new. For example, you could try writing in second person or maybe in present tense. Or perhaps you could branch out and turn a nonfiction article into the background for a novel or short story. Or shift a poem into an essay, one of my favorite “makeovers.” In my case, I literally went a little wild. With the title, that is. Calling my book “Cherry Wild, a Memoir in Essays” sets the tone from the beginning, reinforcing the theme of my reconnection with nature.

Quash the critic. The critic inside my head was NOT invited to my NaNoWriMo. While she will come in handy as I finetune my synopsis and coalesce all the feedback, I promptly kicked her out the door during my brainstorming and writing sessions. During the month of November, make sure that your creative and imaginative writer self is firmly in charge, NOT the critical editor. Send her on a month-long cruise! See ya later, you naughty infiltrator!

Meet a new writer. While you can easily connect with friends who are also part of NaNoWriMo by sharing your usernames, you can also meet new writers. In the “My Community” tab, you will find both discussion forums and regional groups to join. NaNoWriMo also sponsors specialized virtual meet-ups for writers of similar backgrounds or interests. 

Check in. Not only did I enjoy entering my word count into my dashboard and watching it rise, I loved keeping tabs on the progress of my writer friends. Witnessing their successes inspired me to work that much harder, and vice versa. Under the “My NaNoWriMo” tab you’ll see links to “My Buddies.” Here is where you can easily see the word counts of your friends and compare theirs to your own.

Get support. This year NaNoWriMo offers more support than ever before, from yoga for writers to guidance on all genres, from fiction to memoir. The “Resource Hub” (under the “Writer’s Resources” tab) is your headquarters for support, including pep talks from celebrated writers and links to writing tips and exercises to keep your creative juices flowing. 

Celebrate! Once you begin reaching your writing goals, you’ll automatically rack up badges for important milestones, such as the 5K and 40K word marks. You can also award yourself a bevy of personal achievement badges for efforts such as planning, “pantsing,” and eureka moments. In addition, you may expect frequent kudos from your writing buddies, which will also keep you motivated every step of the way.

Ready to dive in? I hope so! My NaNo handle is “memwarrior” and I’d be honored to be your writing buddy. I hope to get some traction on a couple of new projects, including a creepy seaside novella. But if you’re still not sure, check out NaNo Prep, which offers a crash course in essential elements such as story development and time management.

For more inspiration, including craft articles, interviews and markets for submission, check out the complete WOW newsletter.

No matter where you are in your writing journey, I wish you all the best, and I hope you write your heart out this November. 

Tips on Publishing Short Pieces

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Writers! Let’s finish 2023 on a strong note. Join me and Charlotte Lit on Tuesday, November 7, from 6 – 8 p.m. for a Zoom class on where and how to publish your short pieces. We’ll survey the most exciting open calls and contests seeking your work now, whether poetry, fiction, nonfiction or hybrid.

Hope to see you there!

Make it a S-U-M-M-E-R to Remember!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

This summer is a milestone for many reasons, but as you may have noticed, I officially changed my last name from “Memory” to “Harris!” I was thrilled to learn that my one-sentence flash essay “Pedal, Pedal, Pedal” won Off Topic Publishing‘s June 2023 contest on the theme of “Moving,” and I was so grateful for the opportunity to debut my new byline.

This piece wouldn’t have been possible if not for the support of Ang and Marilyn, my fellow “Memwarriors.” In fact, this piece was inspired by my love of Ang’s own masterful and riveting one-sentence essay, “Girls Like Us,” which appeared in Exposition Review. I’m linking it here so you can read it, too, and also fall in love with this unforgettable piece.

Why not try to write your own one-sentence flash? For more inspiration, I’m reprinting an excerpt from my column in the July 2023 Women on Writing newsletter, “Writer, Stop and Smell the Roses.”

As someone born in July, I’m a summer baby through and through. With so much inspiration around me, new ideas are springing up like clover. But it’s SUMMER! Gardening, swimming, dining on the deck, watching the baby birds…. What’s a writer to do?

As I thought about it, I realized the answer was right in front of me, in the form of an acrostic for the word S-U-M-M-E-R. If you’re like me, and you’re also suffering from a bad case of SWD (Seasonal Writer Distraction), I hope the pointers below will help you too.

S. Soak It In. As my puppy Tulsi reminds me, summer abounds in sensory pleasures—sights, scents, sounds, textures, and tastes. There’s the evening primrose with its velvety blooms, the myrrh fragrance of my roses, the eerie melody of the wood thrush, the sweet tang of my black raspberries, and more. Ahh! This is the time of year to let these sensations wash over you, and later, jot down those metaphors that will invariably come to mind. And don’t let those new ideas get too far away before acting on them.

U. Be U. Enjoying the summer is all about finding what works for “U.” While I should get back to my edits and revisions, I know that I must also reward myself along the way. After all, a dangling carrot is much more effective than a stick. For every hour spent on more difficult work, I’ve resolved to give myself the gift of 10 minutes to work on something new. And to satisfy my inner planner, I’ll set a mini goal or two for the summer, such as learning a new word or trying out a new style of sentence. But this is what works for me, and you are certain to find your own system. Whatever it takes, let “U” be “U” this summer.

M. Move. We writers know only too well how easy it is to park ourselves in front of a computer or notebook for hours. This is as bad for the mind as it is for the body. Think back to the frigid temperatures of January and how you longed for warmer weather and if you’re able, get moving. Take a walk around the yard in the morning. Breathe in the fresh air and revel in the scents of the season. Something as simple as lounging on the porch swing and feeling the sun on my face is all it takes to refresh my body and mind. Find a way to engage with the outside world and stretch your limbs, even for a few minutes. Your writing—and your health—will thank you for it.

M. Marvel. Awaken your inner child. Take some time every day to wonder about the world around you with fresh eyes. I like to imagine that the rustle I hear every morning as I walk by the bamboo grove comes from a family of fairies. Or that the dragonfly that just flew by shimmers with wings of stained glass. Whether it’s on your deck, in the woods, or at the park, spend some time marveling at nature. If you’re a poet, draft a new poem every day for a week. And if prose is your specialty, try to write a poem anyway, and use the language in your fiction or nonfiction.

E. Enjoy the Moment. Not only should you cherish the delights of summer, you should seize them too. As an example, I recently spent an entire morning laboring over the ending to a short story that just wasn’t working. Reluctantly, I took a break and heeded my husband’s call to witness one of our bee colonies swarm to their new home. Boy was I glad I did! This magical moment stirred my creative soul and generated a new metaphor that gave my conclusion that special little oomph. Don’t let your work keep you from experiencing the special moments of summer. They may never come again, and they may be just what you need.

R. Relax. The idea of summer is synonymous with napping in a hammock and paddling down a lazy river, but if you’re like me, you’re probably very busy trying to juggle it all—pets, gardening, family gatherings, and of course, writing. The extreme heat of summer can be exhausting, especially with more than twelve hours of sunshine, and it’s important that we take care of ourselves. Don’t feel guilty about taking a breather every now and then. Not only will it make you feel better, it just might improve your writing too!

If you like what you’re read so far, I hope you’ll check out the entire July WOW newsletter. It’s full of terrific writing advice and markets galore.

In the meantime, here’s wishing you a S-U-M-M-E-R to remember, full of endless joy and writing inspiration.