BECOMING WHOLE: Writing Your Healing Story [Paperback]

Linda Joy Myers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2003

"Becoming Whole" is an important contribution to the literature of memoirs and writing. With elegant, lively prose, Linda Joy Myers demonstrates the power of a memoir to bridge, integrate, and heal the past. At the same time, she offers proven lessons in the art and craft of memoir-writing. She reveals the profound process by which memoirs express both personal and universal meaning.

Becoming Whole includes insights into the healing that comes from reliving, expressing, and sharing life experiences; samples of writing that illustrate each chapter; exercises to help writers craft powerful prose; dynamic prompts to help bring forgotten memories to the surface; a thorough bibliography of writing resources and published memoirs; and a special section for therapists who apply memoir-writing in their own practices.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a thoughtful and important book...a compelling case for the power of words as a form of healing and growth. -- James W. Pennebaker, Professor of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin

Beautifully written and organized. Practical, inspired, accessible..."Becoming Whole" gives you excellent tools to make writing a healing experience. -- John Fox, author of "Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-making

About the Author

A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Berkeley, California, Linda Joy Myers, Ph.D., holds an MFA in creative writing from Mills College. She maintains her own private practice, teaches classes on memoir-writing, and offers workshops and trainings in Autobiography and Therapeutic Healing to therapists.

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Silvercat Publications (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893067017
• ISBN-13: 978-1893067011
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,582,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linda Joy Myers, Ph.D. is the president of the National Association of Memoir Writers. and the author of the prize-winning memoir Don't Call Me Mother: Breaking the Chain of Mother Daughter Abandonment. Her new book The Power of Memoir--How to Write Your Healing Story was released in 2010 through Jossey Bass publishers.

Linda has been a therapist in Berkeley for the last thirty years, and received her MFA at Mills College.

Through her workshops, online coaching, and speaking engagements, Linda integrates the principles of healing and creativity in presenting the powerful healing process of writing true stories. Her first book Becoming Whole: Writing Your Healing Story was used as a text by therapists, ministers, and writing coaches, and was a finalist in the ForeWord magazine's 2008 Book of the Year Award. Linda's prize-winning nonfiction and poetry has been published in various literary journals. Her novel excerpt, Secret Music, a novel about the Kindertransport, music, and redemption was a finalist in the San Francisco Writing Conference contest.

Linda is past-president of The California Writers Club, Marin branch, and former Vice-President of the Women's National Book Association, and has served on the board of Story Circle Network.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Healing, August 6, 2004

By 

Neil Fiore (Albany, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BECOMING WHOLE: Writing Your Healing Story (Paperback)

Any writer, in any genre, can benefit from reading Becoming Whole. Dr. Linda Myers has written a wonderfully readable guide to accessing our deep, intuitive wisdom by using exercises that break through writing blocks. Her use of student writing samples demonstrates to all of us that shyness and lack of confidence are not impediments to writing from our authentic self. Dr. Myer's own writing speaks with the authenticity of someone who's been there and who generously offers her hard won wisdom to her fellow travelers in ways that are both practical and healing.
- Neil Fiore, PhD, author of "The Now Habit: Overcoming Procrastination While Enjoying Guilt-Free Play" and
"It's Your Life - Who's In Charge? Your Guide to Inner Peace, Greater Joy & Less Stress"

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and practical, January 10, 2005

By 

Magz (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: BECOMING WHOLE: Writing Your Healing Story (Paperback)

What I liked most about Dr. Myers' book was her combination of inspirational words and practical exercises. I've read other books on how to write memoirs and not been as impacted as I was by this one. The author concludes each chapter with suggested writing exercises, which is a great way to make the lessons real. It also helped me get past my reluctance to present my truest self on the page. I got what I needed from your book, thank you Linda Joy Myers!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming Whole: Writing Your Healing Story, May 17, 2003

By 

Doreen Hamilton (Larkspur, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BECOMING WHOLE: Writing Your Healing Story (Paperback)

Linda's book has been like stepping stones into my own life. I am using the exercises after each chapter to ask myself the kinds of questions that will bring forth my memories and the truth of my experiences. In this way, I can write in bits and pieces and let my stories find each other. I don't have to take on the project of writing an entire book. I can let the book grow, one story at a time. It is an amazing process of self-discovery. Linda's book guides me into revealing more of what is already there.