When Words Heal: Writing Through Cancer [Paperback]

Sharon A. Bray (Author), Martin L. Rossman (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 23, 2006

An insightful and useful book for anyone whose life has been touched by cancer, When Words Heal explores the power of words to heal. Dr. Sharon Bay provides step-by-step instructions for those wanting to lead a writing group for women living with cancer, or for those who simply wish to write through their experience of cancer. With her compassionate and informative manner, Dr. Bray structures each chapter as a writing session. Each chapter includes writing exercises, support resources, interviews with cancer survivors, and excerpts from a number of cancer survivors’ writings. By writing through cancer, readers discover the resilience of human spirit and create a supportive community. Writing and telling a story in a supportive environment releases something deeply vital that can heal each person, even when it can not cure. Readers can not help but be touched by the words of other cancer patients, and, in the gentle and encouraging voice of the author, be inspired to help others write their stories.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"When Words Heal provides a comforting voice for people dealing with cancer. Drawing on a wealth of experience, Sharon Bray offers a number of exercises that encourage people to translate their thoughts and emotions into words. This is a wise book that relies on both scientific and personal knowledge."
—James W. Pennebaker, Ph.D., author of Opening Up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotion

"When Words Heal is a practical yet sublime resource for anyone touched by cancer or intrigued by the intersections of healing and writing. Bray’s book is the definitive guide to creating and nurturing a cancer writing group."
—Audrey Shafer, MD, director of Arts, Humanities and Medicine Program, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Frog Books; 1 edition (August 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583941584
• ISBN-13: 978-1583941584
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Best known for her innovative work in expressive or therapeutic writing for those whose voices have been silenced by pain, loss or trauma, Dr. Sharon Bray has been leading expressive writing groups for cancer survivors for over a decade. Her two most recent books, When Words Heal: Writing Through Cancer (North Atlantic/Frog Books, 2006) and A Healing Journey: Writing Together through Breast Cancer (Amherst Writers & Artists Press, 2004) document her work. She co-edited, with Pat Fobair, LCSW, an anthology of cancer patients' writing, Learning to Live Again, published by the Stanford School of Medicine in 2007.

Sharon grew up in Northern California, completed her B.A. and a year of graduate study at San Jose State University and earned her doctoral degree at the University of Toronto. She has also studied creative writing and literary fiction at Humber School for Writers in Toronto, completed a certificate in literary fiction at University of Washington ext. Writers' Program and studied transformative language arts at Goddard College.

In addition to her most recent books, she has authored a children's book, poetry, memoir and personal essays. Her work has appeared in anthologies, journals and magazines, and she is featured on the DVD, Writing Alone and With Others, the accompaniment to Pat Schneider's book by the same title.

Sharon currently teaches creative nonfiction for UCLA extension Writer's Program, leads groups for cancer survivors at Stanford Cancer Center in Palo Alto and Scripps Green Cancer Center in San Diego and also leads the Writers' Workshop at Stanford Medical School. Each summer, she teaches a week-long course on writing & healing at Berkeley's Pacific School of Religion.

She offers weekly writing prompts for cancer survivors and others at www.writingthroughcancer.wordpress.com. Her personal website is: www.sharonbray.net.

She is now completing a novel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource for Individuals or Groups Concerned About Cancer, October 5, 2006

By 

Patricia Schneider "Pat Schneider" (Amherst, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Words Heal: Writing Through Cancer (Paperback)

Sharon Bray has created a wise, gentle, and very practical guide for using writing as a healing methodology in response to cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. She has prepared herself deeply for this work throughout her own experience as a cancer survivor, as well as in her study of psychology, writing methodologies, and the practice of leading groups as a writing facilitator.

The individual who is experiencing cancer, the care-giver, the medical practicioner and the writing group facilitator will all find here resources for living abundantly through the challenges of cancer. Each chapter presents one writing session, with specific and excellent exercises proven to evoke a healing response through writing.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideas you can really use, June 9, 2008

By 

June Pecchia ""junelagoon"" (Encinitas, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When Words Heal: Writing Through Cancer (Paperback)

Sharon Bray's book, based on groups she has lead, will lead you to see your cancer experience in a new way. Actually, you will be better able to look within and grasp the more difficult elements of the experience that you've been holding on to, perhaps even hiding from yourself. This will allow you to examine them. You can then learn from them and remold them to better suit your purposes, or simply let them go. Give it a try.