SHAPING CREATIVE NONFICTION WITH A NARRATIVE ARC with Ashley Harris
WEBINAR DATE: Friday, June 20, 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. 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 an analysis of voice, structure, and reader engagement, along with a targeted submission recommendation.
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.
This live Zoom webinar starts and ends on Friday, June 20, 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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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: Shaping Creative Nonfiction with a Narrative Arc
Duration: 120 minutes
In two stimulating hours, an encouraging teacher and writer with over 100 bylines will inspire you to write a creative and engaging essay that editors are hungry to publish. 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. The instructor will 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, you can have your work critiqued by the instructor and receive 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 echoes with the reader
- Overview of the current market for essays, literary and commercial
- Q & A
Materials Needed: The instructor will provide links to three sample essays you may read in advance or after class. These are optional but recommended. Short excerpts from these and other essays will be provided during class.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Ashley Harris is a freelance writer and editor with countless obsessions, from cherries and gardening to cooking and fine art. She has written on these topics and more for NBC News, Poets & Writers, Real Simple, Healthline and Green Prints magazine, 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.
BUY NOW: Shaping Creative Nonfiction with a Narrative Arc with Ashley Harris (Friday, June 20, 2025, 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). Select from the drop-down menu.
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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