RESOURCES

Below are listed some of my favorite references on memoir writing, storytelling, and expressive writing. While it is not an exhaustive list of great reference, these are the ones I have personally read and used in workshops and my own personal writing. The books are listed in no particular order, so I hope you will explore them all to further expand your interest in skill building regarding storytelling and expressive writing.


*** When you purchase any of the references listed in on this resource page using the following links, proceeds of the purchase from Amazon go toward fundraising for the next set of films, so if you leave the site and decide to purchase the book at a later date, please come back and use the links below in support of the BREATHE: Honoring The Voices of Healthcare Initiative.

Books:

*   The Story You Need To Tell

by Sandra Marinella

*   Opening Up By Writing It Down:How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain

by James Pennebaker and Joshua M. Smyth

*   Choose Your Story, Change Your Life: Silence Your Inner Critic and Rewrite Your Life from the Inside Out

by Kindra Hall

*   Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

by Matthew Dicks

*   The Healing Power of Storytelling: Using Personal Narrative to Navigate Illness, Trauma, and Loss

by Annie Brewster, Rachel Zimmerman, Robin Young and Rushika

*  How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth

by Megan Bowles, Catherine Burns, Jennifer Hixon, Sarah Austin Jenness, Kate Tellers, Chenjerai Kumanyika, and Padma Lakshimi

*   The Art of Memoir

by Mary Karr

*    The Forever Letter: Writing What We Believe For Those We Love

by Elana Zaiman

*    You: The Story: A Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory 

by Ruta Sepetys

Writing Alone Together: Journalling in a Circle of Women for Creativity, Compassion and Connection

by Ahava Shira, Wendy Judith Cutler, and Lynda Monk

*   The Artist's Way

by Julia Cameron

*   The Complete Artist's Way: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice

by Julia Cameron

*   It's Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond 

by Julia Cameron

*   Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story

by Christina Baldwin

*   Memoir as Medicine: The Healing Power of Writing Your Messy, Imperfect, Unruly (but Gorgeously Yours) Life Story by Nancy Slonim Aronie

*   The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better

by Will Storr

* Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

by Natalie Goldberg

* NICU Nursing Stories: A Day in the Life of a NICU Nurse

by Valerie Wright

* Long Story Short: The Only Storytelling Guide You'll Ever Need

by Margot

* What Doctors Feel: How Emotions Affect the Practice of Medicine

by Danielle Ofri

*   Writing Hard Stories: Celebrated Memoirists Who Shaped Art from Trauma

by Melanie Brooks

*   Narrative Coaching: The Definitive Guide to Bringing New Stories to Life

by David Drake

*   Healing Through Your Story: Workbook and Journal

by Shani Womack and Todd Womack

*   Thriving After Burnout: A Compilation of Real Stories and Strategies to Reduce Female Physician Burnout

by Sharon McLaughlin

Emotional Intelligence and Coaching Resource List:

*     2 Books Collection Set: Emotional Intelligence, Focus 

by Daniel Goleman

    Becoming a Resonant Leader: Develop Your Emotional Intelligence, Renew Your Relationships, Sustain Your Effectiveness

by Annie McKee, Richard Boyatzis, and Fran Johnston

    Resonant Leadership: Renewing Yourself and Connecting with Others Through Mindfulness, Hope and Compassion by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee

   Transformational Journaling for Coaches, Therapists, and Clients 

by Lynda Monk and Eric Maisel

*    Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life

by Martin E.P. Seligman

*   How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen 

by David Brooks

*   Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself  

by Kristin Neff

*   Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive

by Kristin Neff

*   Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

by Brene Brown

*   The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

by Brene Brown

*   I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough"

by Brene Brown

*    Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts

by Brene Brown

*    Character Strengths Interventions: A Field Guide for Practitioners 

by Ryan Neimic

*    The Strengths-Based Workbook for Stress Relief: A Character Strengths Approach to Finding Calm in the Chaos of Daily Life

by Ryan Neimic

*    The Mindfulness and Character Strengths

by Ryan Neimic

*    Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Character Strengths and Well-Being

by Ryan Neimic and Danny Wedding

*    Mindfulness and Character Strengths: A Practitioner's Guide to MBSP

by Ryan Neimic

*    Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence--The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice

by Daniel Siegel

*    The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind

*    Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation

by Daniel Siegel

*    Wake Up Grateful: The Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted 

by Kristi Nelson

*    The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

by Jonathan Haidt

*    How People Matter: Why it Affects Health, Happiness, Love, Work, and Society

by Isaac and Ora Prilleltensky

*    The Wise Warrior's Guide: A Men's Journal, Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Life

*    At a Journal Workshop: Writing to Access the Power of the Unconscious and Evoke Creative Ability

by Ira Progoff

*    How Doctors Think

by Jerome Groopman

*    The Empathy Exams: Essays

by Leslie Jamison

*    Boundaries For Women Physicians: Love Your Life And Career In Medicine

by Tammie Chang

*    Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well

by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen

*    The Thin Book of Trust, Third Edition: An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work

by Charles Feltman

Elan Consulting Services. All rights reserved. 2025