Write Your Memoir: The Soul Work of Telling Your Story

by Allan G. Hunter

Drawing from more than 25 years of literary know-how and modeled after a 15-week college course, this manual provides guidance for seekers wishing to delve further into self-exploration through writing. Extending beyond the idea that memoir writing intends to put past events into a more understandable current perspective, the guide maintains that keeping a document of one’s life is actually the basis of a psychic process called “soul work,” which manifests as a desire to experience the state of being alive to the fullest. This unusual approach to memoir writing aims to generate more honest and genuine results that come from inner needs rather than outer expectations. Intended to clarify a writer’s developmental path, this resource emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the need for dealing with difficult material that actually alters the writer in the process, resulting in significant growth of the soul.

Genres: Writing, Memoir

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I'm a professor at Curry College. Massachusetts, and a counselor. My doctorate is from Oxford University, in English Literature, and I'm fascinated by literature and by the way it explores the deep structures of the psyche.

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this book, going back and forth to it throughout the writing process. While I was not writing a memoir, I found it helped me re-engage in writing during moments I felt particularly stubborn and inclined to resist lifting a finger. If you enjoyed Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird and are looking for for a similarly insightful, patient, and supportive read or resource, this is it.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book as both the author Allan Hunter and his inspiration with his content promoted me to write my memoir!

[Arvo Zylo]

I have read the book, but I haven't followed through on all of its suggestions yet, so I wouldn't feel inclined to write a proper review. I would just say that after reading the book, which is based on a college course that the author teaches, I'd take the course.

There wasn't anything here that isn't already somewhat familiar to me, at least conceptually, but until I've written that memoir, "The Soul Work" of writing and self-reflection will be elusive and nebulous. It is nice to have a book like this which doesn't emphasize novelizing and selling to a publisher, rather it focuses on creative challenges.

There is a fair amount of talk lately about "showing up" for oneself in times where inspiration is not there, or when burn out is at its peak, and writings like these are helpful for such a process.

[Kimberly Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great manual for memoir writers. It was meant for older people and included a lot of exercises that I didn’t do. But the stages of memoir writing he lists out are SPOT ON. So helpful to me right now. I would like to use this book as a reference as I continue to write.

[Kylie Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful but uninteresting. It lost my attention several times, took away some helpful prompts however.