Ashley Renselaer
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Ashley Renselaer is the founder and editor-in-chief of Words & Whispers Literary Journal. She is a Southern California based writer and poet and has recently been recognized by the New York Times, the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards, and the Live Poets Society of New Jersey. Her work is either forthcoming or has been published in the Lily Poetry Review, Passengers Journal, Lunch Ticket, and The Loud Journal, among others. Ashley believes in the cathartic and transformative power of poetry and storytelling, creating a vision for the future while changing hearts and minds and deepening our connection to the world.
Alyssa Goodenow
Social Media Manager
Alyssa Goodenow is a current Sophomore at Ohio University studying Journalism-Strategic Communication with a certificate in Social Media. When she’s not busy learning about the world of PR and Advertising, you can likely find her reading a book, singing in treble choir, playing with her emotional support cat, Hank, or writing. While she is just getting into the world of literary journals, poetry has always had a special place in her heart; they speak to her in indescribable ways. Her own poems often explore themes of childhood, grief, passion, and romanticizing ordinary aspects of life.
Julia Vu
Web Design Manager
Julia Vu is a 16-year old student from the Bay Area. Having struggled with mental illness, Julia is a passionate mental health advocate and founded an international advocacy organization called Operation Dopamine in 2020. She documents her cycles with decline, relapse, and recovery through her poetry. Julia hopes to empower others and embrace the beauty of her own mental illness by sharing the letters she never intended to send. Julia has a fascination for the medical sciences and is currently conducting individual research on dacarbazine (DTIC) chemotherapy drug resistance in melanoma.
Available Positions
Calling all readers, writers, artists, and literary enthusiasts: WE’RE HIRING! Apply for a volunteer position as an editor or artist today! No experience required! See details and applications below.