Start with one word.

End with your story.

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.

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.

If handling every aspect of publishing isn't your cup of tea, partnering with a traditional publisher is a viable alternative. Opting for a third-party publisher can lend more prestige to your work, though it doesn't necessarily mean less effort on your part.

How It Works

1. You begin with 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.

2. You freewrite without editing or judgment – This is the ‘messy middle’—the part where emotion meets the page before logic catches up. It’s raw. Honest. Unfiltered.

3. You reflect – What came up during the writing? What memories resurfaced? What themes are asking for attention?

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

5. You 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.

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.

Is This for You?

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 (Click on each), and start transforming your words into something that heals.

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.

Pricing Overview

Transcription and formatting for SoulWord Story Method projects start at $500. Your exact investment will depend on:

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

Full pricing options are COMING SOON! Stay tuned...