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)          

Of Momentum and Hope

Posted on by Ashley Harris

It would be so easy to say that the life of a writer is made up of many ups and downs. Such as finishing a challenging piece of writing, seeing it rejected, possibly many times, before—if we’re lucky—having it accepted or winning a prize. But the truth is there are so many other little things in between.

Suppose, in the case of a good writing friend, you meet a huge deadline you set for yourself. Or maybe a famous writer that you just followed on Twitter follows you back! And then there’s the moment you finally settle on the perfect word for what you’re trying to say. “For your born writer,” says Catherine Drinker Bowen, “nothing is so healing as the realization that he has come upon the right word.”

Small victories are important but so are the small roadblocks. Suppose you can’t find a book that you just know is in your library, but you stumble on another one you know you need to read. Then there’s having an essay you worked on for months get rejected. It’s crushing at first, but if it compels you to work a little harder on a troublesome paragraph, that decline can turn into a boon.

All of these little steps –good, bad, or serendipitous—are part of the same thing: momentum. And this is the life force of a writer. Momentum is also the energy of being alive. It starts with the decision to get out of bed in the morning. To keep that date with your writing desk. To go on a walk with your husband to see the blooms on the quince tree. And then finding a bird’s nest lodged in the branches.

Momentum is much more than forward movement. It is hope. And this is something we can all use a little more of right now.

Learn How to Move from the “Slush” Pile to the “Rush” Pile on February 23!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Technology makes submitting for publication easier than ever. At the same time, as more and more writers offer their work, competition for space has never been fiercer. But take heart. In this class, we’ll cover the art behind successful submissions and how to move from the “slush” pile to the pile editors rush to accept. We’ll discuss how to find the best fit for your writing, tips on putting your best foot forward, and a little secret to boost the number of marketable pieces in your portfolio. We’ll also discuss the nuts and bolts of submission: cover letters, biographies, tracking and more, such as how to stay motivated as you cast those precious pearls out into the world.

Interested? Join me on Tuesday, February 23 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. for a special online 90-minute Zoom workshop hosted by our friends at Charlotte Lit.

Cost: $30 members ($25 early bird rate); $35 non-members

For more and to register, click here.

Biscuits Help Each Other Rise!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

biscuit1On Saturday, I had the pleasure of spending my morning with an enthusiastic and especially curious group of women writers at Charlotte Lit. What a vibrant organization! I can’t say enough about the leadership and students at Charlotte Lit. They have built an enviable powerhouse of writing, and are truly dedicated to helping each other succeed.

The topic of our discussion was how to share your writing with the world. While self-publishing continues to be a vital force in the writing world, no question, I believe it’s still worthwhile to submit your writing for publication by others–whether to contests, commercial or literary magazines.

Why? First, you’ll get to know so many other wonderful people, whether at public readings or just by getting to know them by reading their work. You’ll also meet talented editors, who will happily help your shape your work and promote your writing. And among all your new writing friends (at Charlotte Lit and beyond), you can help each other. As Martha Stewart once said, quoting another baker whose name escapes me, the reason we put biscuits together in a pan is because they help each other rise.

Second, and equally important, is that when you write for publications and contests, you also grow as a writer. Yes, you have to be brave enough to stand the occasional rejection, but you can learn so much about yourself and the wider world of writing, that it’s well worth it. The motivation to improve will invariably result in acceptances, I promise, and by sharing your words and experiences with the world, you’ll expand your community that much more. And, ahem, at the risk of repeating myself too much, we know that biscuits help each other rise, right? 🙂

Have you submitted yet? If you haven’t, give yourself a New Year’s goal of submitting one piece of writing at least once every month in 2020. And remember, in the words of Harriet Beecher Stowe: “Never give up. Because that is just the place and time where the tide will turn.”

In the meantime, I encourage you to lean on each other for help and accountability. Choose a “submission buddy” and check in with that person regularly just to make sure you’re meeting your goals, if nothing else. Share your writing with each other and ask for suggestions on where you might submit your work. Most importantly, celebrate each other’s successes.

And if you missed Saturday’s workshop, no fear, I’ll be offering an extended version of the same one (with even more writing time and new markets for publications!) at Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro on April 25.

Remember, I am rooting for you. Because, okay, last time, I promise. Biscuits help each other rise. 😊

 

Share Your Writing with the World!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

cup-3488805_1280Submission is an exciting step in a writer’s life, and for some of us, it can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be! If one of your writing resolutions for 2020 is to delve into the exciting waters of submission, why not get an early start? Join us on Saturday, January 4, 2020 from 9:30 – Noon at the Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc., 1817 Central Avenue, #302, in Charlotte to learn how simple (and fun) writing for publication can be!

Bring a polished piece of original work (poetry, short fiction, or nonfiction) and leave with all the tools you need to submit your writing and become a published author. You may even win a prize along the way. We’ll tackle market research for journals, newspapers, magazines and contests, submission systems, cover letters and short biographies.

Register here: https://www.charlottelit.org/event/submissions-and-contests/

I can’t think of a better way to start the New Year! I look forward to seeing you soon.

 

“Pfull” House at Pfeiffer and WOW!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

phoenix2Last night I had the pleasure of reading my poem “I Like My Bagel Toasted” at the special launch celebration of The Phoenix at Pfeiffer University, and it was a blast. First off, it’s a rarity to see more than 20 people at a literary event but at this wonderful occasion, there was at least 100–a “pfull” house by anybody’s standards! And anytime I get to see my friend Ruth Moose (and Pfeiffer alumna!) is always a special occasion.

Wonderful food, a great mixture of art (poems, stories, essays and photography!) and fabulous music made for an entertaining evening. The editors, staff, and advisors did a terrific job of making all attendees and authors feel appreciated.

bagelHats off to the editors who read and considered the nearly 1,000 submissions they received for this issue! My “bagel” and I were indeed lucky to be included. It’s taken a lot of courage to write about my multiple sclerosis so this has been a big step for me.

All in all, the day itself couldn’t have been more perfect. The weather alone was magnificent, sunny and dry with a gentle breeze. Amazing. And not only did my little bare-rooted Mara des Bois strawberry plants arrive from the nursery, I found out I won first place in the WOW Q2 Essay Contest for “How to Chop an Onion Without Crying.”

Isn’t it funny how life turns out? We writers work so hard, day in, day out, and the rewards are mostly internal–the joy you get from finding just the right word, putting your words to paper and sharing what you write with family and friends. But once in a while, the world surprises you with a little recognition and how sweet it is!

Wishing you strawberries, onions, bagels (and more) as you plow ahead and make your own writing dreams come true.

 

Advice to a Poet…and All the Writers Out There

Posted on by Ashley Harris

A friend of mine recently asked that I share some advice with a friend of his, who happens to be an emerging poet seeking publication. It’s always a pleasure to connect with other writers, so I decided to post my response here, in case that my journey might help someone else.

Dear Poet:

As much as I love poetry, I am a novelist so I’m afraid I don’t have the kind of specific advice that an experienced poet might offer, but I can tell you what I might do if I were you. So please take this with more than a grain of salt.

Because of the explosion of the internet (a market of 2-billion+ users) and the need for quality content, short stories and poetry are very much in demand, so yes, you should continue to pursue publication in online publications. And if you haven’t already, I would definitely enter my work into contests. This is a way for your work to attract attention and to develop a following. It also helps you develop early credentials for your work. Naked and Hungry did not win the 2009 James Jones First Novel Fellowship, but it was one of 7 finalists in a field of 653. So I included this note in all query letters and eventually added it to the bio section of my published book. More valuable than a cash prize? You bet!

Next, if you haven’t already, I would purchase a copy of The Writer’s Market. Pronto! There’s a specific edition available just for poets and other genres such as children’s books, for example. This is the best way to get a bead on all the available markets for poetry and contests.  It also provides guidance on the development of a query letter, which is essential for approaching agents and publishers. This book is how I found my publisher, Ingalls Publishing Group, which specializes in regional and N.C. writers.

Also, you should strongly consider joining a writer’s group, in person or online. It’s a great way to get honest feedback on your work and trade ideas on publication opportunities. And again, you will have an instant “fan base” when you are published. Writers have a long tradition of supporting each other, and I am so fortunate that at least a handful will show up at my readings. They will also write reviews for you, an action that is absolutely immeasurable.

And finally, as you probably know, the publishing industry is undergoing radical changes, with the advent of e-books and the tragic closure of so many bookstores. Printing is an expensive business, which is why the big name publishers rarely take on new writers. However, the upside is that there is more opportunity for the little guys, at least those who are willing to work at it and pursue new markets for their work. Self-publishing should be strongly considered, especially for those writers with an entrepreneurial instinct. If you believe in your work, I would probably explore the idea of self publishing a small book of it and offering it for sale on Amazon. It would be an interesting experience and well worth the exploration, especially if you are doing all you can to develop a following.

In conclusion, due in large part to all the changes in the publishing world, there is no clear-cut path to success. Every writer has their own journey and unique story to tell. It’s tempting to stress about how hard it is when you’re not a big name like John Grisham. But look at the flip side. Think about the freedom that comes with NOT being a big name like Grisham. Can you imagine what it would be like if your publisher had the authority to dictate to you what you should write? Or told you where you had to go and what you had to do to promote your work?

When times are tough, I always find comfort in the words of another writer, yes, a poet, the legendary Maya Angelou. She once wrote:

“The world owes you nothing. Accept that and you are truly free.”

Believe in yourself, blaze your own trail, and have fun!