Writing to Heal the Soul: Transforming Grief and Loss Through Writing

Susan Zimmermann experienced a devastating loss when her first child, Katherine, developed a neurological disorder that left her unable to walk or talk. Faced with her daughter’s disability, Susan struggled with fear, denial, guilt, bitterness, and despair. She began to heal only through writing. Working through conflicting emotions with paper and pen enabled her to transform her sadness into acceptance and even joy.

Writing to Heal the Soul is Susan’s gift to others—everyone, not just writers—who are suffering any kind of grief or loss, whether the injury, disability, or death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship. Lyrically illustrated with true stories from the author and others, the book offers simple yet inspiring writing exercises to help you resolve your pain as you transform your grief into words of hope and healing.

Susan Zimmermann is the author of the memoir Grief Dancers, a finalist for the Colorado Book Award, and coauthor of Mosaic of Thought, a book on reading comprehension. She speaks throughout the United States on the healing power of writing and ways to deepen reading and writing experiences for adults and children. Susan lives in the foothills west of Denver with her husband and four children.