Telling Our Stories: Creative Spiritual Journaling

When the world feels chaotic and you're seeking quiet in the storm, a spiritual journal can help process feelings and thoughts. A journal can also be a path to nurture your faith through interactive prayer. Participants will explore many ways to journal going beyond the written word to use images, color and other collage techniques. This participatory workshop will inspire attendees through guided prompts and images to start their own spiritual journal or renew their own writing practice.

MATERIALS: Journal, pen or pencils, scissors, glue, collage material

Harriet Riley is a free-lance writer focusing on creative nonfiction. She publishes primarily short nonfiction pieces in magazines and on-line publications. Harriet holds Bachelor degrees in English and journalism, and a Master's degree in print journalism.

Before moving to Houston in 2007, Harriet taught undergraduate writing classes at the University of West Florida in Pensacola. She has also worked as a non-profit director, hospital marketing director, and newspaper reporter.

She is in her tenth year with Writers in the Schools and is honored to teach in a variety of settings with WITS. She also teaches an adult creative writing class through the Spring Branch Community Education program and has recently led writing workshops in North Carolina at Montreat Conference Center and Georgia for the PW Synod Gathering.