Live class on creative nonfiction!

Adventures in Vacuuming: Situational Humor Writing II - Live Zoom with Ashley Harris

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 from the instructor 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, Leanne Morgan, 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).

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 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

"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

"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, an encouraging teacher will share updated examples from humorous essays that will inspire you immediately. She’ll cover elements and forms of humor writing, along with writing prompts to generate your own pieces. She’ll also offer tips on beginnings and endings with an aim toward publication, along with an overview of current markets publishing humorous essays. She’ll also discuss the X-FACTOR, the secret ingredient of the best published humor. 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:

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

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Ashley Harris, writer and editor, is the self-anointed “Mishap Maven.” She’s written about misadventures such as a DIY vacuum cleaner repair in The Monster and Other Commonsense Solutions, a disastrous dinner party, shoe-buying binge, and the delusion that she owned a Rembrandt for outlets such as WOW, Pine Straw, North Carolina Literary Review, and more. Twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize, she is a two-time recipient of the Doris Betts Fiction prize and the author of the comic novel, Naked and Hungry, which was a finalist for the James Jones First Novel Fellowship. 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: Adventures in Vacuuming: Situational Humor Writing II with Ashley Harris (Friday, September 18, 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:

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

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

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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