bio
Frances Story *formerly Poet Jen Harris (she/her) is a writer based in Kansas City, Missouri.
A seasoned performance artist, Story is the founder and host of The Writing Workshop KC, whose mission is to nurture creative curiosity and inspire confidence within prompt-based writing workshops. She hosts weekly classes and offers creative coaching to private clients. Additionally, Frances is one half of the artist-to-artist hit indie podcast Confessing Animals.
After 5 explosive years of growth, The Writing Workshop KC is evolving into Salt Tooth Writers, LLC.
Featured on Washington Post, Netflix Queer Eye, TEDx, NPR, Creative Mornings, Story is the author of 3 books of poetry and the recipient of numerous accolades including Advocate Magazine’s Champions of Pride award 2021. Story was voted The Pitch Kansas City’s Best Poet 2019 - 2021, with feature performances on Button Poetry and Write About Now Poetry. Her firstborn community love child, Kansas City Poetry Slam, sold out monthly 2014 - 2020.
You can find her online at iamfrancesstory.substack.com and on instagram @iamfrancesstory.
Photo Credit: Tiffany Marie Buckley
Residencies & Authorship
2019 - 2018, Writing residency, The Drugstore KC
2017 -2016, Writing residency, Charlotte Street Foundation
2019, Unconfirmed Certainties, author
2019, Slammed, 2nd edition, author
2017, Slammed 1st edition, author
Photo Credit: Travis Young
Photo Credit: Kelcie McKenney
a further account
Harris graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in May 2015 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts, emphasis in Communication Studies, English Language and Literature. She is the recipient of:
2021 The Advocate, Champions of Pride award
2021, 2020, 2019 & 2017 Winner: The Pitch Magazine's Best Poet in Kansas City & Featured Performer at annual Best Of gala
2019 Artist INC graduate
2018 - 2014 The Pitch Magazine's Top 3 Poets in Kansas City nomination
2018 Gift of Faith Award, The Drugstore KC
2017 Spoken Word Host of the Year Nomination: National Spoken Word Awards
2017 TEDx fellow, University of Kansas "Spoken Word Poetry Saved My Life," Spoken Word Poetry as a form of mental health advocacy
2015 UMKC Jim Wanser Pride Award for outstanding LGBT community activism in Kansas City
2009 ACP Kansas Journalist of the Year
