Category: Writing

Posted in Creative Journal Writing, Writing, Writing exercises, Writing Retreats, Writing Workshops

A Creative Journal Writing Workshop, Nov. 21, Unity of the Hill Country

Posted on by Rhonda Wiley-Jones

Grit, Grace, and Gratitude 

  • How do you pursue grit, the resilience to keep moving forward when sliding backwards feels more natural?
  • Do you freely give undeserved consideration to others and equally receive the grace that is offered to you by others and especially by God?
  • Have you developed a habit of joyfully being grateful for the things in life that arrive, whether wanted or not?

Gratitude is not a passive response to something we have been given, gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us. (David Whyte, poet and essayist) 

Discover the Power of Grit, Grace & Gratitude

Join me for a meaningful morning of reflection, creativity, and self-discovery at Unity of the Hill Country, November 21, 10-noon! Workshop Setting

Grit, Grace & Gratitude is a guided creative journal writing workshop. Through thoughtful writing prompts, we’ll pay attention to and explore three powerful themes:

  • GRIT: The resilience that carries us forward when the road gets hard.
  • GRACE: The goodness we receive freely from God and the people around us—and the grace we extend to others.
  • GRATITUDE: The practice of slowing down to recognize and appreciate the beauty and blessings in everyday life.

Journal Writing to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.Select a prompt for each theme and let your pen lead the way. There are no right answers—only honest ones. Whether you’re an experienced journal writer or simply curious about exploring your own story, this workshop offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. This can be one of the most powerful ways to pay attention to life. You may leave knowing yourself a little better—and one step closer to a grateful heart.

 

Workshop Details

Saturday, November 21, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Unity of the Hill Country
1016 Jefferson Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028

Questions?  info@unityhillcountry.com  or Call 830-896-7575

Registration: $25 per person

Space is limited. Register today to reserve your place!

MY INVITATION TO YOU: Come with an open mind, a willing heart, and a little curiosity. Discover what happens when grit, grace, and gratitude meet on the page. I look forward to seeing you there.

Posted in Anthology, Submission of writing, Submitting for Publication, Travel Writing, Women's Fiction, Women's Fiction, Women's Nonfiction, Writing

What’s an Anthology?

Posted on by Rhonda Wiley-Jones

I pose the question, “What’s an anthology?” because I suspect some people may not know. For those who don’t , it is a book of stories, fiction or nonfiction, that have been compiled typically based on a theme, so that various writers can write to the theme.

I just have to share with you that two of my nonfiction writing pieces have been published in an anthology by the Story Circle Network this week. The Network is “by, for, and about women, where women become the authors of their lives. Women’s life stories matter. We’re committed to helping you tell yours.” For all women writers, I wholeheartedly recommend joining this talented and dedicated group of serious women writers.

Just published this week.

The book, Real Women Write: Seeing Through their Eyes, can be found on Amazon. My two stories are “Paying to Pee” and “A Letter to our Insolent Server.” I had fun writing these two stories from my time spent in Mexico. They are self-reflective pieces of trying to be a better world citizen, though I fail at it more often than I want to admit.

The book cover of Seeing Through their Eyes is lovely with soulful stories written by women who are members of the Story Circle Network. The stories are insightful, redemptive, and inspiring. They are also short, life-narrative stories (2-3 pages long) based on the theme of empathy. This book would make a lovely gift for your girlfriends, sisters, moms, and daughters for Christmas.

I am proud to share the pages of these books with the other women writers from the Story Circle Network.

 

 

Posted in Craft of writing, Submitting for Publication, Writing

WOW! Women on Writing publishes my essay: Finger Gone Rogue, Writing Gone Mute

Posted on by Rhonda Wiley-Jones

Some of you will recall me sharing with you last year that I almost lost a finger but saved it by getting Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Good news came from that unfortunate experience.

Life often gives us our stories. We bring them to life for others by writing them.

Continue reading “WOW! Women on Writing publishes my essay: Finger Gone Rogue, Writing Gone Mute” →

Posted in Craft of writing, fiction, Writing, Writing exercises

Revision: Ways to Improve my Writing

Posted on by Rhonda Wiley-Jones

REVISION 

Editing a paragraph from my book-in-progress illustrates the kind of work entailed in revision. This is the “line edit” kind of editorial work that I do on an ongoing process with my writing partners and for myself.  Continue reading “Revision: Ways to Improve my Writing” →

Posted in Craft of writing, fiction, Travel Writing, Writing

Conduct Research for Scenes in Your Fiction

Posted on by Rhonda Wiley-Jones

via How to Research a Location You Haven’t Actually Been To

This blog post above by fellow writer, Helena Fairfax, has been wonderfully helpful to me in writing my novel set in India and on a ship in the Pacific and Indian oceans.  As an example, I wrote a scene in the book of slaughtering a sea turtle for eating aboard ship after watching a YouTube by today’s Aboriginal Australians.

Read the scene below from my book in-progress, Salwar Kameez. I’ve added a few notes to the reader to be able to grasp who the characters are in the scene, because it is out of context for you.

SCENE from BOOK on Butchering a Sea Turtle  Continue reading “Conduct Research for Scenes in Your Fiction” →