Live class on faith writing!

From Mustard Seeds to Mountains: Writing About Faith - Live Zoom with Ashley Harris

FROM MUSTARD SEEDS TO MOUNTAINS: WRITING ABOUT FAITH with Ashley Harris

WEBINAR DATE: Thursday, November 12, 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 writing within two weeks of the class. This includes at least one submission recommendation will be provided.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Truly I say to you,” said Jesus (Matthew 17:20) “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” If you believe in a higher power beyond this world, you are in good company. From Rumi, King Solomon, and William Shakespeare to Countee Cullen, Gail Godwin and Jane Kenyon, to name just a few, some of our most cherished authors have drawn from their faith to explore humanity’s greatest challenges. In this special workshop, we’ll cover ways we can weave spiritual beliefs into our poetry and prose and how practicing faith can actually improve our writing and help us meet our goals. We’ll also discuss publication and the many opportunities available to publish faith-based work.

This live Zoom webinar starts and ends on Thursday, November 12, 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.

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)

Writing is for the Birds was fabulous! I loved hearing everyone’s work. So inspiring! I am also interested in any future classes – Lisa Sukenic

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

I really enjoyed the presentation (Writing is for the Birds)! Your enthusiasm for birds is contagious and makes me want to try my hand at including birds 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

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

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

Thanks so much for this seminar (Shaping Creative Nonfiction) 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

I loved your examples, the prompts, and your generosity in sharing your experiences and resources with us (Shaping Creative Nonfiction). 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. Your review didn't meet my satisfaction, it EXCEEDED it 1,000 fold! As for the trust and faith I have in you, it's infinite. – Laurie Miller

CLASS AT A GLANCE:

Live Webinar: From Mustard Seeds to Mountains: Writing About Faith

Duration: 120 minutes

In two short hours, this encouraging teacher will share faith-based excerpts from authors that will inspire you immediately. She’ll cover the many ways that faith can elevate our poetry and prose and offer tips on writing about faith, along with three writing prompts to generate your own work. She’ll also offer a selection of markets and other unique ideas for publishing your spiritual work. For an extra fee, you can have your work critiqued by the instructor and receive a targeted submission recommendation within two weeks of the class.

Topics include:

Writer as believer: the connection between faith and imagination
Excerpts from faith-based writing through the ages to inspire you
Discussion of the connection between faith and themes such as love, sorrow, wonder, grief, grace, even doubt.
How practicing our faith can improve our work – be it through prayer, meditation, journaling, service to others and more
How faith can help us work through writer’s block and other obstacles
Three prompts to generate poetry and prose on your own
Overview of outlets (and unusual avenues) to publish your work
Recommended books featuring faith to continue to inspire you
Q & A

Materials Needed: A pen or pencil, a writing pad, and your imagination

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Ashley Harris is a writer and teacher who credits her spirituality for helping her write and live with chronic illness. An experience in the forest turned her life around and inspired her faith-based poem, “Waiting for the Wood Thrush,” which led to a collection by the same name. She has since written about faith for a number of publications, such Bezzy M.S.(How Spirituality Helps Me Cope With MS and the Rest of My Life), Asheboro Courier Tribune(A Tale of Two Churches Renewed), and the N.C. Literary Review(A Private History of Devilled Eggs.) 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.

BUY NOW: From Mustard Seeds to Mountains: Writing About Faith with Ashley Harris (Thursday, November 12, 2026, 2pm - 4pm ET) Limit: 20 students. Early registration is recommended.

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.

Notes: Upon successful completion of payment, your name and email address will be submitted to your instructor. She will send you a welcome email with everything you need to know prior to class. Before class begins, we will email you a Zoom link. Happy writing!

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Additional Testimonials for Ashley Harris:

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 an inspiring discussion (The Pet Project). This was my first WOW class, and I will certainly be joining more." -- Alice Elaine Slaton

Writing is for the Birds was fabulous! I loved hearing everyone’s work. So inspiring! I am also interested in any future classes – Lisa Sukenic

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

Thank you, Ashley, for sharing so much valuable information and for leading such an enjoyable webinar. By the way, I really enjoyed the prompts, too. —Carol Raitt

This was excellent! Thanks so much, Ashley! Thank you for your generosity in sharing so much information.—Diane Angelucci

Thank you, Ashley. Your ideas were very helpful. I’m eager to put them into use! —Jo Prouty

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

I have taken multiple classes with Ashley and have also worked with her one-on-one. She is a generous teacher, a thoughtful editor, and heck of a lot of fun to be around. As an often-published writer herself, she has a knack for knowing what readers want. And as a "submission queen," she was my first call as I finished my MFA and sought homes for my essays. Thanks Ashley! ~ Cathia Friou

This is a giant candy-coated “Thank You” for your lovely and generous critique of my story “The Wanderer” in the Summer 2024 WOW! Women On Writing contest. My story was selected as a finalist (in a huge field of finalists). Your kind words and comments were a true prize to me! Again, thank you for giving me a real boost and inspiration to keep on scribbling. ~ Anna “A.K.” McCutcheon

Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful critique of my short story, “I Dropped the Turkey.” As you suggested, I gave more of a backstory for Blina and her family and filled in the history of Joe Montero. I always appreciate your spot-on input. ~ Susan Strauss

Ashley is an amazing teacher and editor! I’ve workshopped my creative nonfiction, fiction, and lyric prose with Ashley over the years and her advice is always spot on and chock-full of encouragement. She is one of the most positive and inspiring people I know! Her market recommendations are gold, and I’ve landed quite a few publications from her suggestions. If you’re looking for a true partner who wants the best for your work, I highly recommend working with Ashley Harris. ~ Angela Mackintosh

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Questions? Email Marcia & Angela at:
classroom[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com

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