345. Writing for Personal Growth with Maureen Murdock

If you are someone who finds comfort and healing in writing, you’ll already be familiar with the therapeutic benefits of journaling. But, have you ever thought about exploring memoir writing? You may think, ‘What have I got to write about?’ or wonder if your life experiences are worth sharing. That's where our guest, Maureen Murdock, is here to prove you otherwise. In an episode where we talk about her latest book, Mythmaking: Self-Discovery and the Timeless Art of Memoir, Maureen inspires and guides us in discovering the untold stories of our lives through the craft of memoirs with the help of original writing advice and creative prompts. 

Listen and Learn: 

• How can writing be therapeutic and help us with healing and growth?
• The difference between memoir writing and journaling 
• Mythological themes and archetypes: How do they come into play with individual memoirs?
• What was it like for Maureen to study under American writer Joseph Campbell? 
• What is the heroine's journey, and how is it unique and specifically important?
• Where to begin with memoir writing 

Resources 

• Maureen’s website: www.maureenmurdock.com 
• Mythmaking: Self-Discovery and the Timeless Art of Memoir,
• Connect with Maureen on social media:
• https://www.facebook.com/maureenmurdockauthor/ https://twitter.com/murdockmaureen
• Jill’s essay about her brother: https://www.scarymommy.com/brother-pedophile-oblivious-trust 
• Writing groups, workshops, and communities: 
• Maureen’s upcoming memoir workshop in Santa Fe in April
• A writing group (You Belong Here, Now: A Wholehearted Writing Group) offered by our previous guest, Dr. Meg McKelvie
• Writing Down the Soul
• International Women’s Writing Guild
• Writing Class Radio

About Maureen Murdock, Ph.D.

About Maureen Murdock, Ph.D. is the author of her new book Mythmaking: Self-Discovery and the Timeless Art of Memoir and the author of the best-selling book, The Heroine’s Journey, which explores the rich territory of the feminine psyche and has been translated into twenty languages. Maureen is also author of Unreliable Truth: On Memoir and Memory; Fathers’ Daughters: Breaking the Ties that Bind; Spinning Inward: Using Guided Imagery with Children; and The Heroine’s Journey Workbook. She is the editor of an anthology entitled Monday Morning Memoirs: Women in the Second Half of Life and teaches memoir for the International Women’s Writing Guild and in Pacifica Graduate Institute’s program, Writing Down the Soul. Maureen was Chair and Core Faculty of the M.A. Counseling Program at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She has written pieces for the Huffington Post on the criminal justice system. 

Related episodes 

• 199. Belonging From the Inside Out with Meg McKelvie 
• 336. Mindfulness and Living Expansively with Sharon Salzberg 
• 116. Building a Meaningful, Values-based Life with Jenna LeJeune
• 138. Exploring Existence and Purpose: Existentialism with Robyn Walser
• 285. What Do You Want Out of Life? Values Fulfillment Theory with Valerie Tiberius 
• 274. Quarterlife: The Search for Self in Early Adulthood with Satya Doyle Byock 
• 37. Post-Traumatic Growth with Diana and Debbie 
• 195. ACT Daily with Diana Hill and Debbie Sorensen

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