Start with one word. End with your story.

The SoulWord Story Method™

What is The SoulWord Story Method™?

The SoulWord Story Method™ is a writing process that starts with one emotionally charged word—what I call a SoulWord. It’s a word that holds weight, a word that pulls something up from deep within you.

From that single word, we freewrite, reflect, and begin uncovering the personal stories that want to be told.

It’s not about being a perfect writer.

It’s about being honest.

The method guides you step-by-step—from raw emotion to meaningful narrative—so you can process your experiences, connect with your truth, and ultimately write a story that could heal yourself and others.

For some, it becomes a book.

For others, it’s a deep personal journey.

But either way, the method gives you permission to finally speak what’s been buried inside.

A Personal Note from Emmy, the Creator

When I finished writing my memoir, I realized that if I could place one word on the entire process, it would be love.

Love for my daughter.

Love that broke me.

Love that healed me.

The book started as an attempt to make sense of my adoption experience as a birth mother. But along the way, it became about far more... navigating grief, trauma, emotional abuse, religious control, and the slow unraveling of who I thought I had to be.

Looking back, had I not already been deep into the process, love would have been the first word I started with. That one word held every layer of my story—grief, hope, pain, and joy. It pulled me through the pages even when it was almost too hard to keep going.

That’s the power of a SoulWord. It’s not “just a word.” It’s the key that unlocks the stories you didn’t even know were waiting to be written.

How It Works

Choose Your SoulWord

A gut-punch word that holds meaning for you, often tied to something you’ve lived through, buried, or are still healing from.

FreeWrite with No Editing

This is the ‘messy middle’—the part where emotion meets the page before logic catches up. It’s raw. Honest. Unfiltered.

Reflect on What Came Up

What came up during the writing? What memories resurfaced? What themes are asking for attention?

Sketch Out a Detailed Scene

Turning emotion into story starts by capturing a moment—using sensory detail to make it real and tangible.

Name What You're Carrying Forward

This part is about clarity—what did this word, this writing session, reveal to you.

Once you’ve moved through several of these SoulWord Cycles, the method helps you spot patterns, themes, and narrative threads. You begin to see how these emotional entries can become chapters.

Why I Created This

The SoulWord Story Method™ was born from a place of loss, resilience, and a deep desire to give others the tools I wish I’d had when I started my own story.

My healing journey began long before I realized I was writing a book. At first, I was simply trying to make sense of my life. But as I wrote, I discovered something unexpected: writing wasn’t just documenting my story, it was transforming me.

I’ve walked through adoption as a birth mother, the ache of grief, the wounds of emotional abuse, and the unraveling of a belief system I’d been raised in. I know what it feels like to lose your voice… and I know the power of finding it again.

This isn’t about writing the “perfect” book.

It’s about starting where you are.

It’s about honoring your story.

It’s about creating something that outlives you.

The Story Development Stage

This is where we turn emotion into structure. You’ll be guided through:

Identifying core turning points in your journey
Mapping a timeline of your lived experience
Outlining scenes, sketches, and chapter structure
Discovering your voice as a narrator
Preparing your manuscript for self-publishing

It’s not about perfection, it’s about permission. Permission to speak what’s been buried, and then craft it into something that could help you heal… and maybe help someone else, too.

Who It’s For

The SoulWord Story Method™ is for the person who’s said, “I want to write my story, but I don’t know where to start.” Well… this is where.

Whether your goal is to self-publish or simply explore your truth on paper, this method creates a pathway from pain to purpose.

Some people write a book.

Some write to heal.

Either way—your truth deserves to be on the page.

I know firsthand how powerful it is to have a place to begin, and these tools were created to give you exactly that.

Whether you start with one or both, the Workbook and Companion Writing Journal are here to guide your words, your healing, and your story.

Your story matters—and these are the tools to help you tell it. Explore the Workbook and Companion Writing Journal, and start transforming your words into something that heals.

The SoulWord Story Method™ is meant to be experienced, not just read about. If you’d like to move fully through the program, The SoulWord Story Method™: Workbook and The SoulWord Story Method™: Companion Writing Journal (available on Amazon) are wonderful tools to guide you. They give you space, prompts, and structure to bring your story to life at your own pace. You can use the links below to grab your copies whenever you’re ready to begin.

Your Next Step: Turning Your Words into a Manuscript

Once your SoulWord Story content is complete, I can help you:

Transcribe handwritten or typed SoulWord entries into a clean, editable manuscript.
Lightly format and structure your content so it’s easy to navigate.
Prepare it for the next stage in your publishing journey.

Important: I do not provide developmental editing for this service. Developmental editing focuses on the structure, flow, and big-picture storytelling elements of your manuscript. If your story needs that level of revision, you’ll need to have it completed after transcription and before any final formatting or publishing steps.

Transcription and formatting for SoulWord Story Method projects start as low as $650. Your exact investment will depend on:

Page count
Whether your material is handwritten or typed
Whether you choose basic formatting or additional manuscript preparation

Not sure which package is right for you?

That’s okay—every story and every publishing journey is unique. If you’re feeling unsure, start with a free discovery call. We’ll talk through your goals, where you are in the process, and what kind of support will help you most. No pressure—just clarity so you can move forward with confidence.

Schedule Your FREE Clarity Call Now