POETRY EXPRESS II: FIVE POEMS IN TWO HOURS with Ashley Harris
WEBINAR DATE: Wednesday, October 8, 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.
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 fall 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 Wednesday, October 8, 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 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.
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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 in the fall! 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 workshop [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
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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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, an encouraging “conductor” will share excerpts from notable published poems that will inspire you to write your own. She’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. She’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 by the instructor 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 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: $40, 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 ($80 total). Select from the drop-down menu.
BUY NOW: POETRY EXPRESS II with Ashley Harris (Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 2pm - 4pm ET) Limit: 25 students. Early registration is recommended.
This class is full. Please check out our current list of classes here.
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!
Questions? Email Marcia & Angela at:
classroom[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com
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