Wonder and Loss: A Practical Memoir for Writing about Grief

by Sam Meekings

218 pages, Hardcover

Published October 30, 2025

About the author

Sam Meekings grew up near the south coast of England. He took an undergraduate degree in Modern History and English Literature at Mansfield College, Oxford University and, later, a Masters degree in Creative Writing at Edinburgh University. In 2005 he moved to China where he worked as a teacher and editor. He recently moved to Qatar with his wife and family to take up a post as Lecturer in poetry and creative writing at Qatar University. In 2006 and 2007 Sam was longlisted for an Eric Gregory Award for poets under 30.

Reviews

[Amorina Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you've spent a lifetime reading and writing like me, you're no stranger to fictional grief and loss. But, author Sam Meekings encourages his fellow writers to dig a little deeper and consider their real life losses. He utilizes the real-life, personal account of the death of his little brother to help make us better writers.

And his tips are great. The book, which is part memoir and part creative writing manual, is interesting. It's not some textbook account of how to write grief or how these ten steps will sell your character's grief. Personally, I'm a fiction writer, and this book focuses on memoirs (which maybe I'll write one day, who knows), but I can still learn a lot from it!

And, while the author encourages you to NOT utilize this as a substitute for therapy - another solid piece of advice - many therapists recommend journaling and writing as a therapeutic device. So, if you're unsure how to tackle writing about your grief, this is a great read! Honestly, whether you want to know how to write better or not, the memoir parts of the book are worth reading. If you're a writer, you're just getting some solid bonus material.

I really appreciate the opportunity to read this. It's amazing when people are so vulnerable and real, and then use that to help others. I appreciate the author's tutelage on writing as well. He's got some amazing educational chops, and I could tell that before I read his list of credentials.

[Jo Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Meekings has created a written workshop of tangible ways to write about your own feelings and experiences whilst staying on point and enticing the reader to follow you on your journey. This is done through sharing a personal memory, which really showcases how to do this well. Each one is followed by sections providing advice about preparation, writing, following up, reading, and finally trying.

But this isn’t just a writing guide; it also contains a wealth of research, sources and signposting to resources to empower someone to feel and understand their grief. I sat nodding so many times as I read about something Sam had experienced which made me feel ‘normal,’ acknowledging that each person’s grief is unique.

Through the vulnerability and rawness of memories of his own experiences following his brother’s untimely death, Sam Meekings has created a safe space, a blueprint, for examining our own grief, before using the written word as part of your rebirth.

[Daisy Hollands · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m lucky to have been able to read this book. Part memoir, part guidebook, part workbook, this book is a very unique and thoughtful meld. It’s a very personal book and the author has been very open and candid and I imagine the whole experience left him feeling very vulnerable and exposed but I’m guessing it was also cathartic. The writing prompts are very useful and thought provoking. I feel like I will return to this book time and again.