It’s here! The month of September, the official month of “Self-Care Awareness”! And writers, what better way to take care of ourselves than by laughing?
That’s why I hope you’ll join us on Friday, September 18, from 2 – 4pm ET at Women on Writing for Adventures in Vacuuming: Situational Humor II, a special workshop designed to help you turn your everyday experiences into funny essays that you can publish and share with the world.
ADVENTURES IN VACUUMING: SITUATIONAL HUMOR WRITING II with Ashley Harris
WEBINAR DATE: Friday, September 18, 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 of 3 double-spaced pages of your writing within two weeks of the class. This includes an analysis of voice, tone, title, format and at least one submission recommendation will be provided.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: When a hairspray cap clogs up your favorite vacuum, you can either call a repairman or decide to drill it out yourself. In the latter case, if you survive the endeavor, you’ll have enough raw material that your next humor essay may just write itself! In this updated situational humor workshop, we’ll read excerpts from funny ladies such as Erma Bombeck, Anna Lind Thomas, Shirley Jackson and more based on the wacky things that happen to us all. Maybe you tried to teach your mother how to use the Walmart self-checkout but ended up bouncing oranges in all directions and only embarrassed her. Maybe you nearly stabbed yourself to death while opening a bottle of vitamins “sealed for your protection.” Or maybe you took it upon yourself to rescue and return your neighbor’s dog only to have your car smell like skunk for six months. Confessions and readings will be followed by specialized writing prompts to generate the beginning of three of your own essays. We’ll also cover elements, form, and structure of humor writing, along with potential markets. The only prerequisite is a healthy funny bone!
This live Zoom webinar starts and ends on Friday, September 18, 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).
As always, 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 materials I share on my screen, making it an interactive experience. Webinars make learning from your home or office convenient.
What My Students Have Said:
“The Situational Humor Writing Class (Let Me Tell You About My Mammogram) with Ashley Harris was fun and inspiring. You are well-prepared, an excellent instructor with comprehensive visuals and an openness to questions from your students. Your friendly manner and tone make learning easier. Your insight about self-deprecation and situational humor was very poignant. I look forward to another class with Ms. Harris.” – Mary K. Lindberg
“I really enjoyed the Humor Writing Class (Let Me Tell You About My Mammogram). You gave us very valuable information, and I already put several of the books that you recommended on hold at my local library. I also appreciate your critique of my essay, which was very helpful.” – Kristi Scorcio
“Thank you for the wonderful workshop (Writing is for the Birds). 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)
“Thank you for another fun and information-packed class (The Pet Project)! You are the gift that keeps on giving, and I am so, so grateful you’re in my life. I really loved the enthusiasm and interaction among my classmates. I learned a lot from them, too.” – Laurie Miller
“Ashley, you and all the attendees are inspiring. Your class (Writing is for the Birds) yesterday 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
“Thank you for a superb class (Writing from the Garden), full of writings to enjoy, helpful prompts to get us going, and your teaching style that elicits our curiosity and our desire to write. I loved your ability to pack in so much content and context into 2 little hours. Your bright outlook, your sense of humour and your encouragement is so welcome and I look forward to many more classes with you! I am so happy to have found you. I have been looking for you.”—Yvonne Grandbois
“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
“Very well spent 2 hours. This is only my second workshop/class with WOW (The Pet Project)…I am impressed with the value and quality. Ashley is comfortable and confident, it engages her students.” — Ursula McCabe
CLASS AT A GLANCE:
Live Webinar: Adventures in Vacuuming: Situational Humor Writing II
Duration: 120 minutes
In two rib-splitting hours, I will share updated examples from humorous essays that will inspire you immediately. I’ll cover elements and forms of humor writing, along with writing prompts to generate your own pieces. I’ll also offer tips on beginnings and endings with an aim toward publication, along with an overview of current markets publishing humorous essays, including the X-FACTOR, the secret ingredient of the best published humor. For an extra fee, I’ll even critique your work and provide a targeted submission recommendation within two weeks of the class.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
- Overview of situational humor: expectations versus reality; don’t try this at home; wrong place, wrong time; no good deed goes unpunished and more
- Elements of humor: metaphor, self-deprecation, irony, surprise and incongruity
- Forms of humor: traditional, how-to-articles or manuals, faux forms, lists, graphics
- Excerpts from published humor to inspire you
- Three prompts to generate humorous essays from your own life
- An analysis of structure, including beginnings and endings that resonate
- X-FACTOR: Secret ingredient of the best humor writing
- Overview of outlets publishing humor submissions (hint: the market is wider than most people think!)
- Recommended books to tickle your writing funny bone long after class
- Q & A
Materials Needed: A pen or pencil, a writing pad, and your imagination
COST: $45, 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 3 double-spaced pages of your essay for $55 ($100 total) and one submission recommendation. Select from the drop-down menu.
To register, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Until then, writers, take care of yourself this month with a little laughter. You will live longer! In the words of Mary Pettibone Poole: “He who laughs, lasts.”
Ashley
Ashley Harris 