Let’s Write Some Creative Nonfiction! Join me on Friday, March 20, 2026 for a Special Workshop!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Writers! I don’t know about you, but my webinar for Women on Writing, “Writing is for the Birds,” on February 17 sure made me ready for spring! We had a great session with students from all across the United States, and even 2 from the United Kingdom! I was so honored to be among such talented people — the fact that they loved birds as much as I did was the icing on the cake. (Make that the “suet” in the cake). 🙂

On March 20, I’m leading an encore presentation of my popular workshop, “Shaping Creative Nonfiction with a Narrative Arc,” where we’ll discuss my tried-and-true method of how to write a compelling nonfiction piece that readers simply can’t put down. And for all the bird lovers out there, at least one of our sample readings will feature some of our favorite avian friends — the ruby-throated hummingbird.

SHAPING CREATIVE NONFICTION WITH A NARRATIVE ARC with Ashley Harris

WEBINAR DATE: Friday, March 20, 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.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: So, you’re fascinated with backyard birds. Or breadmaking. Or growing figs. How do you write an essay that weaves your obsessions with larger questions such as joy, friendship, or even grief? It’s easy—employ the power of the narrative arc, a secret weapon that most writing courses never cover. In this class, we’ll use short writing prompts to help you identify your most urgent passion and then we’ll cover an easy technique that will bring your essay to life with narration. Finally, we’ll discuss tips for completing, polishing, and submitting your work for publication.

What other writers have said: “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

“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

“Ashley, thanks so much for a wonderful learning experience. Your prompts have given me ideas for multiple essays. I’m hoping to take your humor workshop, too.”—Diane Judge

“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

“Thanks so much for this seminar and for the readings you shared. I hugely enjoyed both essays, and not only was the class chock-full of practicable lessons, but your writing prompts ended up generating two full pages of really interesting material I had no idea was in me!” – Râna Campbell

“Shaping Creative Nonfiction with a Narrative Arc,” a live Zoom webinar. starts and ends on Friday, March 20, 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.

The class features special readings (optional advance readings and in-class excerpts), 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. 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 also critique your work provide a targeted submission recommendation within two weeks of the class.

Topics include:

  • Short writing prompts to identify your obsession
  • How to tease out the deeper meaning of your obsession—the main question of your essay
  • EXPOSED! The secret to a successful narrative arc that keeps the reader engaged, followed by sample arcs from published essays
  • How to develop an arc that weaves your obsession with your main question
  • How to supplement your essay with authority
  • Bringing it all together – elements of a satisfying ending that echo with the reader
  • Overview of the current market for essays, literary and commercial
  • Q & A

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:  Ashley Harris is a freelance writer and editor with countless obsessions, from cherries and gardening to cooking and fine art. With a career that includes more than 100 bylines, she has written on these topics and more for NBC News, Poets & Writers, Real Simple, Healthline and Food and Gardening Network, among many others. Twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize, most recently for The Summer of My Shoe Obsession (N.C. Literary Review, Summer 2024 Print edition), she is also a two-time recipient of the Doris Betts Fiction Prize. 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.

To register, please click here and scroll to the bottom of the page. Hope to see you there!

Wishing you a great week ahead of warmer temperatures and loads of writing inspiration!

Ashley

Waiting for Spring and Cherries

Posted on by Ashley Harris

As a reminder that spring is on the horizon, I’m reposting “Orchard #9,” my narrative poem about a mysterious cherry orchard first published in Coffin Bell. Enjoy!

Orchard #9

Welcome to Jessup Family Orchard
spells crude crimson letters on wormy plywood.
Cherries, says Joe to Lily. Wouldn’t that be nice?
But we came for a fresco, she reminds him

fanning herself with a map limp from worry.
She would have prayed to the Virgin
if the door to St. Ann’s hadn’t been barred.
We need a miracle.

Grim, Joe accelerates, the Wagoneer
groans as they climb the mountain.
Rhododendron heads sway then sneer
but in a glade flashes the face of a little girl.

When Lily looks again sycamore
and paulownia leaves fold to darkness.
Why, why, why ponders a crow,
arcing across a lavender sky.

Frank Jessup dribbles tobacco into a cup,
waves an arm toward Orchard #8.
The girl! cries Lily. Did I see a girl?
No, he snaps. Just me and Ma.

A woman in a wheelchair, hands macramĂŠd
with blue veins, turns a mug in her lap.
Sweet churries all froze out, she croaks.
Plenty of sour, make you a nice pie.

Gnarled trees scabbed with lichen huddle
on the hill like knock-kneed wizards.
Lily shudders while Joe shimmies up
a ladder, tousles branches until

hard red-orange orbs plop
like stones into a bucket.
Lily’s teeth pierce flesh so sour
her cheeks dimple, tongue curls.

Jam, says Joe, spewing.
They’ll make good jam.
Notes of Little Deuce Coupe
his favorite whistle, drift below.

Let it go, he’d snarled at breakfast, slashing
toast with cold butter. We’re too old for a baby.
You don’t know what it feels like, she’d spat,
grazing her elbow on the hot griddle.

Garroted by spider silk, Lily trudges on,
ripping cherries from low branches.
An empty bucket pops against her hip
as she strews her pickings to squirrels.

Legs lashed by briars, weary with thirst
eyes blinded by sun, she crumples.
The crow arcs again, teases. Make a pie …
pie, pie, pie, before dipping over the hills.

Numb, Lily follows, as if in a trance.
The hills roll into a valley, studded with trees,
sinewy and lush, rising like nosegays.
They bulge with red-violet cabochons

so plump they crackle, ooze juice.
Beside Lily stands the girl. Hello.
Half-sprite, half-waif, she curtsies.
My name is Alunda.

A plait of brown hair swishes across a shoulder
puffed with lace, a ragged hem bobs along the grass.
A tangle of clover and thistle crowns her head,
sticky fingers offer cherries.

Ravenous, Lily sucks them into her mouth.
Honey, notes of mint, melancholia.
Did she whisper it or did Lily just know
Sweet cherries always grow in #9.

Silver eyes water but do not blink.
Take all you like, Alunda says.
Lily, once sated, drops to her knees.
Alunda sighs, weaving clover with thistle.

Are you lonely too? Lily asks.
Alunda, somber, presents a garland
she threads through Lily’s hair.
Take me home, she murmurs.

Leaves crimp, feathers crunch
as the crow floats from the tree.
He fixes an ice-blue eye on Lily,
tilts to Alunda, then coos My, my, my.

Lily lays her head on moss, closes her eyes.
Could that gurgle be a brook in the glen?
A cool hand strokes her forehead.
Take me home, Alunda says again.

The sound of her name falls like a hammer
cracking the peace of her reverie.
When she opens her eyes, Joe hovers,
his hand on hers. Where have you been?

Number 9, Lily says, touching her hair.
But the clover is gone, her bucket empty,
Dehydrated, says Joe. That’s all.
He tugs at her lips, offers water.

Only 8 orchards here, grunts Frank.
He snubs the money offered by Joe,
instead pulls Lily to her feet.
You’ll be on your way now.

In the Wagoneer three heads bounce
down the mountain. Alunda! cries Ma.
Hush, says Frank. For the best...
But the old woman sobs on.

The crow circles round, pulsing higher and higher
through whip-stitched clouds, a final sally.
Frank’s voice cracks, an echo of the old bird.
Good-bye, he mumbles. Bye, bye, bye.

#####

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

You’re Invited to Hop Aboard the WOW Poetry Express on May 14, from 2 – 4 pm ET!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

POETRY EXPRESS: FIVE POEMS IN TWO HOURS with Ashley Harris

WEBINAR DATE: Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Do you long to write poetry but have always been intimidated? Or maybe you’re an experienced poet who just needs a little extra zoom. Either way, you’re invited to hop aboard the “Poetry Express” (exclusively offered through Women on Writing) where you’ll learn a nifty technique for writing an engaging free verse poem on the spot, followed by four additional prompts to generate even more. 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 Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

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 class will be recorded available for anyone who would prefer to view it at a different time and date.

CLASS AT A GLANCE:

Live Webinar: Poetry Express: Five Poems in Two Hours

Duration: 2 Hours

All aboard! In this express two-hour class, I’ll share excerpts from notable published poems that will inspire you to write your own. I’ll introduce you to the 3-step “Poetry Express” prompt guaranteed to bust through inhibition and help you generate an instant poem, followed by four equally inspirational prompts to write even more. I’ll then offer 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, you can have your work critiqued me and receive 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 ME:  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.

POETRY EXPRESS with Ashley Harris (Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 2pm – 4pm ET) Limit: 25 students. Early registration is recommended.

COST: $40, which includes one two-hour webinar with a 15-minute Q&A with me.

OPTIONAL CRITIQUE ADD-ON: A personal critique from me of two poems (one-page limit each) plus submission recommendations for $40 ($80 total).

I’d love to see you there! Interested? Register here.

Enjoy Your Spring Writing “To-Do” List!

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Writers, I hope that you’re as inspired by spring as I am! For April, I was honored to write the newsletter introduction for the acclaimed Women on Writing community. I’m reprinting it here below with a link to the complete edition at the end.

While we never had more than snow flurries where I live, it’s been a long winter—wet, gray, and cold. So last week when I brushed away the dead leaves from my hydrangeas, I was thrilled to see new shoots emerging from the roots.

And since we’ve had a warm spring so far, my strawberry plants and roses have also sprouted new leaves. Hallelujah! It made me wonder—what writing inspiration longs to spring up from my dormant imagination?

With my knees in the dirt, prepping flower, berry, and vegetable beds for another busy year of gardening, I couldn’t help observing even more parallels to writing. Just for you, I’ve compiled a special list of chores to stimulate your own writing “buds” for a productive literary “spring” of your own. But no worries, very little physical labor is required. These are fun chores.

Rake. Clear away the winter detritus and make way for sunshine! If your desk is covered by a blanket of odds and ends—old sticky notes, tattered magazine clippings and unopened junk mail—it’s time to rake them to the recycle bin. Or maybe the files on your laptop need a little organization—consolidation, deletion, or migration to a thumb drive. Whether it’s your physical or virtual space, leave plenty of room for fresh new files to sprout and grow.

Sow. Now the real fun begins! You’ve cleaned your literary “garden” and you’re ready to “sow” your own seeds of inspiration. Look out the window and observe the natural world. Or better yet, stroll outside. Take a few moments to describe the swelling leaf buds of the trees. Sniff the nascent flowers of fruit blossoms such as peach or plum. Observe the acrobatic feats of the squirrels. Record these impressions as you make them and be sure to note any themes that come to mind—such as rebirth, recovery, new beginnings. Ask yourself how these ideas might influence your own writing—the motivations of yourself (nonfiction) or your characters (fiction).

Fertilize. I look forward to many new blooms this year from my favorite roses, both old and new, such as “Summer Romance,’ “Scepter’d Isle,” and “The Poet’s Wife.” But unless I deliver a healthy dose of food, such as aged cow manure and alfalfa, they’ll be late to flower and they may never truly flourish. The same goes for writers. Are you as healthy as you can be? I’ll admit to indulging in some major comfort food during the winter doldrums, but now it’s time to fortify myself with healthier fare. More greens, less sugar, and more fiber. And in order to energize myself for writing, I need to get more rest. Take some time to set (or recommit to) habits that strengthen your mind and body.

Water. For the first time, I’m planting perennials such as chives, verbena, and armeria. These tender plants will require regular watering to establish firm roots and truly thrive. Humans, like plants, require the most basic element of all to exist—good ole H20. Are you properly hydrated? Last year, I didn’t drink enough water and the brisk winds and sun exposure dehydrated me, leading to a nasty eye infection and the inability to write for two weeks. I’m not letting that happen again! It should go without saying, but since I’m the worst offender, I’ll say it again. While writing, whether you’re thirsty or not, do yourself a favor and keep a tumbler of water nearby and sip frequently.

Nurture. This year I’ve planted more roses than I should, but as you can probably tell, I’m more than a little obsessed with them. Tending these notoriously difficult bushes, which are subject to a host of diseases in the South, will be challenging, but I remind myself that nothing of value comes easy. In terms of writing, I must keep the commitments I make to myself, whether it’s to finish that poem, start that essay, or meet the deadline to write that blog entry! In other words, keep the faith. Believe in yourself. Don’t let the demands of the external world interfere with your writing.

Share. Last year, I was blessed with so many strawberries that I frequently invited my friends over to pick all the fruit they wanted. Later, I divided the plants, potted them, and shared them with my fellow gardeners. Giving away the bounty of nature made me so happy. This act reminds me of the importance of submission. Nurture the world with your writing and send it out for others to savor. In a similar spirit, comment on the writing of others and encourage them in their work. Just like my strawberries, I promise that the rewards will only continue to multiply!

Repeat. Now that you’ve raked, sowed, fertilized, watered, nurtured and shared, it’s time to repeat all of the above! The first frost is months away, so make the most of the spring (and summer) to cultivate your own “literary” garden. I predict that you’ll enjoy “blooms” for not just months, but for many years to come.

For more writing advice, along with a “wheelbarrow” full of submission markets, check out the complete April 2024 WOW newsletter.

Just in Time for Halloween – My Haunted Lamp

Posted on by Ashley Harris
Our little lamp in its new home

In 2018, my husband J.P. and I bought a used lamp that turned out to have a rather macabre history. It entered our lives at a pivotal time, and for a while, I actually thought it might be haunted. Of course I had to write about it. And I did, using this experience as the subject for an essay I wrote for a Women on Writing class with the extraordinary teacher Naomi Kimbell in January 2021. Writers among you may find the story of my essay as interesting as that of the lamp. It is truly a story of how many a “no” will eventually turn into a “yes.”

Because this work was so unusual, I felt that it might be a contest piece. I like contests because they’re usually open to all themes and for the price of the submission fee you often get valuable feedback. Over the past year and a half, I entered an essay I called “The Perfect Lamp” into a number of contests, and while it didn’t win, it was named a finalist in two places, the Lit/South competition and the Barry Lopez Nonfiction Award. Along the way, I also received a tremendous amount of feedback, from contest judges as well as that of my classmates and my faithful Mem-Warriors, Ang and Marilyn (whom I first met in another WOW class). Additionally, other friends read it and contributed their advice.

And I continued to submit, submit, submit……from pitching it to commercial magazines (yes, even the BIG one) to literary publications. I had never thought about it as a podcast but when I saw a market listing for PenDust Radio, a project of Rivercliff Books and Media, I started to think of my essay in a different way — not just as words on a page, but as an experience in sound. Because of the many nuanced elements in the story, it occurred to me that a podcast might be an interesting approach. Lucky for me, Lisa Duff, Rivercliff’s talented editor and publisher, agreed. She also helped me tweak the title, and just in time for Halloween, “The Perfect Lamp” has been reborn as “My ‘Haunted’ Lamp: Murder, Mystery and Remodeling” and is now live as a podcast.

The lesson for us writers is one we know all too well but still bears repeating. Submit, submit, submit! The practice of thinking about our work in its published form opens the door for continuous tweaks and improvements that might never happen without the inevitable rejections and feedback. And the act of sending our revised work out into the world yet again brings powerful rewards all its own. To do so acknowledges that we writers are capable of growth and development, lessons that will bear fruit in the next (and the next and the next) piece that we write.

With the approach of Halloween, I wish my fellow writers all the best in the metamorphosis of their own work. After all, revising and submitting again is very similar to donning a new costume, isn’t it? As my experience proves, I have no doubt that you, two, will see a “yes,” even it leads you somewhere you never expected. Enjoy the ride!

Nothing Ever Happens Around Here

Posted on by Ashley Harris

When I first moved from an urban area to the wilds of Randolph County, what I believed was the middle of nowhere, I admit to being a little concerned. Would I make new friends? What about my favorite chain restaurants, not to mention the malls? What about the silence? The scenery? What if the all the green fields just blended together into monotony? And most importantly, what would I write about? What if nothing ever happens around here?

Six years later, I can truly say that none of my worst fears came to pass. I’ve made plenty of friends, many of whom are farmers, and I’ve learned just what these fields can do. One of my friends even raises donkeys, and recently I held my first 5-day old donkey jack! I also keep in touch with cherished friends from far away as New York City through Zoom and other platforms.

Meet Baby Copper–just 5 days old and 25 pounds!

It is not quiet in the country. Oh no. The birdsong here is deafening, from the wood thrush to the pileated woodpecker soaring overhead with his eerie primeval cry. We’re close to the local airport, so there’s always a new whir circling overhead. A special thanks to Mom, who introduced us to the terrific flightradar24 app, so now we know that the Boeing overhead came from Atlanta and is on its way to Liege, Belgium! So much for being in the middle of nowhere. My pilot grandfather would definitely approve.

Meet Max, my new work-out routine!

Boredom remains the least of my worries. In fact, I was more bored in the city! We’ve had at least one fugitive in the woods, two rattlesnakes (this year alone), a stranded racoon, and just recently, a stray Siberian Husky pup came our way.

I don’t miss the malls at all, which is a good thing since the pandemic seriously altered the world of shopping. And nobody here cares about fashion anyway — it’s more about comfort! As for the fancy restaurants, I’d rather live three miles from from my beloved niece, who sends me a text such as “Hey, can I come over and make pumpkin cheesecake cookies with you?”

Cooking is just one of the things I’ve found to write about, and there’s been so many more, from sewing and building to gardening and butterflies. In fact, if there were any more going on around here, I wouldn’t have time to sleep!

For the next few months, I’ll be concentrating on my memoir, a project that I hope will blend together many of my experiences through the years. So for this reason, I hope it slows down here just a little bit.

Abstinence Makes The Writing Heart Grow Fonder

Posted on by Ashley Harris

As a busy freelancer, wife, inveterate reader, dog owner, and caretaker of a cherry orchard, I’m frequently asked how I find time for personal writing. Well, I’m about to let you in on a little secret.

I don’t schedule it. That’s right. I used to make appointments with my muse, sit down at my desk, and just prayed she showed up. Sometimes she did, and trust me, I was duly grateful. But these planned events felt a little forced. The muse, after all, depended on me. And I had to be in the moment to make it work.

As a former manager, I built a career around appointed times, calendars, meetings. So scheduling time to write just made sense. But now, since leaving the traditional work place, I’ve taken the liberating step of letting my muse schedule herself.

WHAT?

I can hear the protests, the murmurings around the world. I can even feel the wobble of the Earth at these words. I’m sure you’re wondering how I can possibly make time to write without a formal reservation.

Here’s what I do. Now I’m driven solely by the creative instinct. I write only when I have something to say. And when I do have a new idea, sometimes, brace yourself, I actually refuse to let myself write.

WHAT, WHAT, WHAT?

I know it sounds nuts. Even perverse. But in the words of the great poet Ovid: “What is allowed has no charm; what is not allowed we burn to do.” (Amores, II, xix, 3). The act of abstaining from writing actually fans the flames and lets my idea stew inside my head. When I finally do sit down to write, the words stream onto the page with new vigor. I encourage you to try this approach yourself. Next time you feel as if you “should” be writing, do something else instead, such as pull weeds, walk the dog, or even do the dishes. You might be surprised at the results.

Over the past few months, I’ve been fortunate enough to serve as a regular columnist for Healthline, and my most recent piece, M.S. Can’t Stop Me From Gardening, appeared last month. I also recently learned that my long-form essay, “Private History of Deviled Eggs” earned honorable mention in the 2022 Alex Albright Nonfiction Contest and will appear in The North Carolina Literary Review in 2023. Another long-form essay, “My ‘Haunted’ Lamp” will be released as a podcast on Episode 3 of PenDust Radio in September, so please stay tuned.

Wishing you a happy summer of writing – and abstinence as needed!

Celebrate the Twelve Days of Editing

Posted on by Ashley Harris

Writers, what does your true love say to you?

First Day: Alone in your cozy writing nook, a partridge in a pear tree, you love every word of your new essay. It’s just perfect. Then you realize you’re 500 words over the limit for the contest you want to enter. Yikes!

Second Day: Like those two turtle doves, your initial love for your essay has migrated to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter, maybe forever. You hate your essay now. As you read over it, you realize it’s not very good at all. Is there anything worth keeping?

Third Day: Absolument! Your three French hens remind you of the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Give yourself a break. Besides, there’s no time to start anything new.

Fourth Day: Or is there? The four “calling birds” in your backyard clamor for a new tune. Start over, the blackbirds sing. Start over! Start over! START OVER!

Fifth Day. You have no energy to begin something new. Your five golden rings may be just brass, but your essay is the best you’ve got, so you decide to polish it up the best you can.

Sixth Day. Okay, so you won’t actually cut anything. You’ll just trim the hedge a teeny bit, taking care not to disturb the six Canada geese-a-laying. You gently prune a few words here and a few words there. But is it enough?

Seventh Day. It is not. However, you refuse to cut the most precious part of your essay. Even if they say that all writers eventually “murder their swans.” Well, that’s for other people to do. Their swans are not as precious as your swans.

Eighth Day. Your cereal milk has soured, and doubt sets in. Wallow in your pity for a while and then get back to the barn with the other maids. You’ve got serious work to do.

Ninth Day. Cutting is actually easier than you thought. The delete key clicks like Ginger Rogers’ heels, and your heart dances with delight. You don’t miss those swans at all.

Tenth Day. Your essay isn’t the same. Now you fear it’s terrible. Ten lords leap in and take it away. You’re happy to see it go.

Eleventh Day. The pipers bring your essay back, and they’re not playing a dirge. When you read your essay again with fresh eyes, you realize it may be better. Leaner, more concise, and more compelling. Hurray!

Twelfth Day. Take a deep breath and submit your revised essay. The world may not love it, but who cares? You do. In your mind, it’s just perfect. And in the end, that’s all that matters. After all, new ideas drum on and on…..

Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a very productive New Year of writing! As you look ahead to 2022, consider joining me on Tuesday, January 11 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. via Zoom for How to Move from the Slush Pile to the Rush Pile. In this special class hosted by Charlotte Lit, 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 talk about 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.

Cost: $45 Charlotte Lit members, $55 non-members. Register here online.