Writing to Save Your Life: How to Honor Your Story Through Journaling

by Michele Weldon

Michele Weldon understands the healing power of words. Written words. Words that come from deep within ourselves. Unedited thoughts. Uprooted recollections. Unsettled feelings.
She introduces the process of "scribotherapy" as a method of using one's own words to honor life's difficulties and blessings. It is a regimen Weldon expertly practices and shares in this instructive and very entertaining book--offering essays, exercises, and encouragement to awaken the writer in you.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Self Help, Journaling, Mental Health, Reference, Art

220 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2001

About the author

I am emerita faculty in journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University where I taught for 18 years. I am a senior leader with The OpEd Project since 2011, editorial director at Take The Lead since 2016 and author of six nonfiction books: I Closed My Eyes (Hazelden, 1999), Writing to Save Your Life (Hazelden, 2001); Everyman News: The Changing American Front Page (University of Missouri, 2008); Just Me And My Three Sons (SheBooks, 2011); Escape Points: A Memoir (Chicago Review Press, 2015); Act Like You're Having A Good Time (Northwestern University Press, 2020). I live in the Chicago area, have three grown sons and have recently started to paint again. Writing is my first love.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I abandoned this book because it's not what I expected, but it was very interesting for what it was. Lots of good tips and exercises and examples of life themed essays.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5.0

I really enjoyed reading through, definitely a good pep talk. I did half the exercises, but intend to go back through. I'm also excited to give this another read through sometime. I hadn't heard of Weldon, but I'm interested in picking up her memoir.

[Pia Bergqvist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journaling is such an important tool for me to stay present and intentional in my life. This is a great resource to deepen the practice of journaling for mental health.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is seriously so good. I've read a few books she referenced throughout which was fun. Michele is very inspiring and encouraging in the pages from start to finish. There are writing exercises in every chapter and a personal article that she has had published somewhere over her years.
Each chapter offers something to think about. Highly reccomend for anyone, not just aspiring authors. It's not about becoming a published author, it about writing to heal and process life and all the experiences we go through.

[Deepak Imandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too good, not too bad. Its a breeze of a read, highlighting the importance of the original voice & the story in its utter honesty.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have noticed a pattern in my own life. During those periods of my life when I am journaling, I am much more focused and willing to examine those parts of myself that need healing or parts of my life that need to be revamped. Therefore, I wholeheartedly agree with the author that writing is a healing process that can save a life or can help recreate an unhealthy one.

Writing to Save Your Life takes the reader through various exercises to get them started with the journaling process. It provides tips on how to get to the crux of the real problem in order to reduce unnecessary distractions and to quicken the healing effects of the process. The author also provides various strategies and general themes to start journaling as well as strategies about how to deal with the raw emotions that will come up when exploring the past and present issues.

I have to say that the part of the book that I found most relevant and useful was the story about the pillows. Basically, the author had been making countless pillows to fill her time so she never actually had to deal with her pain. We all have our pillows. There is always some excuse why we can't face ourselves or follow our dreams. What is your pillow?

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please don't be thrown off WRITING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE: HOW TO HONOR YOUR STORY THROUGH JOURNALING by Michele Weldon by the fact that I only give it 3 stars. Michele's book is definitely worth the read; I truly am very glad that I read it. I gave it only 3 stars, though, because there were parts of the book where I felt that she could have used a lot fewer words (examples) to make her point. Interestingly enough, I have exactly the same issue! I know my own students often wish that I would just state my point, maybe 1 example--if that many--and move on, but like Michele, I tend to go around my arm to get to my elbow! Isn't it often what we see in ourselves that we criticize in others?! Regardless, WRITING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE is well worth the read.

I am still working on some of the exercises in the book. Some of them are ones that need some real ruminating and time while others are quick and easy to get through.

One of my favorite passages comes in the last chapter "Enjoy the Music in You": "'To love what you do and feel that it matters, how can anything be more fun?' Katherine Graham, the author and businesswoman who steered the helm of the WASHINGTON POST for decades, said it and lived by it. It is joyful to write when you believe what you are writing matters" (227).

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book. This friggin' book.

I am a huge proponent of journaling and writing stuff out. I like helpful journaling books and books that drive me to write.

This is not one of those books.

I had to stop halfway through after a million trite examples of how life sucks when your relationship ends. I was tired of hearing about women in writing workshops struggling to pick out a story to write or exercises about writing lists of ideas or fears or whatever else. I couldn't read a page without rolling my eyes. It's painful because it makes out people's individual issues to be everyone's Everest. Instead of trying to impress upon me the significance of making pillows and how it relates to your divorce, give me tools to journal about MY stuff or strategies to journal more effectively.

Perhaps that comes in the latter half of the book, but I won't be finding out. No thank you.

[Sam Tocchini · Rating 4 out of 5]

writing and journaling as a way to work through the deep emotions.. the ones you can't always verbalize and don't want to... when you don't want a response to a story you just want to get it out. I find this book to be a unique and amazing gift with direction for those of us who love to write, but don't want to be published. fantastic. eye opening. and a deeper understanding of yourself. I love the pillows story. This unending list of things to get done before you can allow yourself to dig deeper and work on the important things. The title to me was a little too dramatic, but hey, what's in a title anyway? enjoy!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall there were some really good insights and exercises for writing and I enjoyed her essay examples. I think the formatting wasn't the best; each chapter was broken down into sections when they didn't really need to be.

[~mad]

I am so trying to journal better than the usual "got up, had breakfast, went to work, went to bed" - TEASING!
But I trying to "go deep".

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book combines her personal story of abuse and how journaling helped save her. Very good, very inspiring, very helpful

[booklady]

This isn't a 'possible' purchase. Going to get this one next time at the bookstore! Thanks Mary Alice!

[Lisa Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book about writing in a journal. This book says that writing about your life is hard but rewarding and it gives examples.

[M. Jane Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, solid piece to help a reluctant journalller get started.