--- title: Writing & Reflection Resources | Writing With Shay description: Explore a curated collection of insightful writing resources and memoirs that inspire creativity, personal growth, and resilience through powerful narratives and practical advice. --- [Skip to main content](https://www.writingwithshay.com/resources#main-content) [![Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final-White](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hubfs/Brand/Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final-White.svg) ![Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hubfs/Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final.svg) ![Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final-White](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hubfs/Brand/Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final-White.svg) ![Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hubfs/Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final.svg)](https://www.writingwithshay.com?hsLang=en) - [Blog](https://www.writingwithshay.com/blog) - [Resources](https://www.writingwithshay.com/resources) - [FAQ](https://www.writingwithshay.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Community Login](https://restorytive.circle.so/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Blog](https://www.writingwithshay.com/blog) - [Resources](https://www.writingwithshay.com/resources) - [FAQ](https://www.writingwithshay.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Community Login](https://restorytive.circle.so/) - Search - [Register Now](https://www.writingwithshay.com/sign-up) [Register Now](https://www.writingwithshay.com/sign-up?hsLang=en) Search # Writing & Reflection Resources An ever expanding list of recommended minds and their meanderings, enjoy!  ## Becoming a Better Writer ![On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/On%20Writing%20-%20A%20Memoir%20of%20the%20Craft%20by%20Stephen%20King.jpg?width=200&height=305&name=On%20Writing%20-%20A%20Memoir%20of%20the%20Craft%20by%20Stephen%20King.jpg) #### On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King Part memoir, part masterclass, King shares his personal journey as a writer alongside practical, no-nonsense advice on the tools of the trade. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Writing-10th-Anniversary-Memoir-Craft/dp/1439156816) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/143949) ![Bird by Bird](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Bird%20by%20Bird.jpg?width=200&height=308&name=Bird%20by%20Bird.jpg) #### Bird by Bird by Ann Lamont A beloved guide that encourages writers to tackle large projects "bird by bird," offering wisdom on overcoming writer's block and the importance of "shitty first drafts." [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Some-Instructions-Writing-Life/dp/0385480016) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/457082) ![Seven Secrets to the Perfect Personal Essay](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Seven%20Secrets%20to%20the%20Perfect%20Personal%20Essay.jpg?width=200&height=309&name=Seven%20Secrets%20to%20the%20Perfect%20Personal%20Essay.jpg) #### Seven Secrets to the Perfect Personal Essay: Crafting the Story Only You Could Write by Nancy Aronie A warm and humorous guide to crafting unforgettable narratives, teaching writers to use vulnerability and self-reflection to connect with readers. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Secrets-Perfect-Personal-Essay/dp/1608689301) ## Shay’s Favorite Memoirs and Non-Fiction ![A Piece of Cake](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/A%20Piece%20of%20Cake.jpg?width=200&height=302&name=A%20Piece%20of%20Cake.jpg) #### A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown A harrowing yet moving memoir detailing Brown's journey from an orphaned child facing addiction and homelessness to transforming her life against all odds. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Piece-Cake-Memoir-Cupcake-Brown/dp/1400052297) ![Educated](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Educated.jpg?width=200&height=304&name=Educated.jpg) #### Educated by Tara Westover An unforgettable memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/3441378) ![Can’t Hurt Me](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Can%E2%80%99t%20Hurt%20Me.jpg?width=200&height=309&name=Can%E2%80%99t%20Hurt%20Me.jpg) #### Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins A raw and intense memoir of Goggins’ transformation from a depressed, overweight young man into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and elite endurance athlete. He shares his "40% Rule"—the idea that most of us only tap into a fraction of our true potential—and provides a blueprint for building an unbreakable mindset. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Hurt-Me-Master-Your/dp/1544512287) ![Me Talk Pretty One Day](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Me%20Talk%20Pretty%20One%20Day.jpg?width=200&height=300&name=Me%20Talk%20Pretty%20One%20Day.jpg) #### Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris A collection of hilarious personal essays, notably chronicling Sedaris's attempts to learn French in Paris from a uniquely sadistic teacher. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Me-Talk-Pretty-One-Day/dp/0316776963) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/87791) ![Im Glad My Mom Died](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Im%20Glad%20My%20Mom%20Died.jpg?width=200&height=302&name=Im%20Glad%20My%20Mom%20Died.jpg) #### I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy A raw and unflinching look at McCurdy's struggles as a child actress and her complex, abusive relationship with her mother. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Im-Glad-My-Mom-Died/dp/1982185821) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/7454561) ![In Pieces](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/In%20Pieces.jpg?width=200&height=310&name=In%20Pieces.jpg) #### In Pieces by Sally Field An intimate account of Field's lonely childhood, her celebrated acting career, and the complicated influence of her parents' "unlived lives" on her own. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Sally-Field/dp/1538763028) ![Wow No Thank You](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Wow%20No%20Thank%20You.jpg?width=200&height=308&name=Wow%20No%20Thank%20You.jpg) #### Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby A riotous collection of essays on the unglamorous reality of modern womanhood, from the pains of aging to the absurdity of "adulting." [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Wow-No-Thank-You-Essays/dp/0525563482) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/4876337) ![Quietly Hostile](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Quietly%20Hostile.jpg?width=200&height=308&name=Quietly%20Hostile.jpg) #### Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby In her fourth collection of essays, Irby trains her signature self-deprecating and hilariously cynical eye on the absurdities of modern life. She covers everything from the "glamour" of red carpets to the realities of aging, pandemic pet adoption, and her obsession with QVC. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Quietly-Hostile-Essays-Samantha-Irby/dp/0593315693) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/9190558) ![Coming Clean](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Coming%20Clean.jpg?width=200&height=301&name=Coming%20Clean.jpg) #### Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller Miller reveals the secrets of growing up in a home dominated by her father's extreme hoarding, exploring family loyalty, shame, and resilience. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Clean-Memoir-Kimberly-Miller/dp/0544320816) ![When Women Were Birds](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/When%20Women%20Were%20Birds.jpg?width=200&height=310&name=When%20Women%20Were%20Birds.jpg) #### When Women Were Birds: 54 Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams A meditative exploration of voice and silence, sparked by the discovery that Williams's mother left behind three shelves of completely blank journals. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/When-Women-Were-Birds-Fifty-four/dp/1250024110) ![Eat-Pray-Love](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Eat-Pray-Love.jpg?width=200&height=307&name=Eat-Pray-Love.jpg) #### Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert This celebrated memoir chronicles Gilbert's year-long journey of self-discovery following a difficult divorce. She travels to Italy to explore pleasure through food and language, India to find devotion through spiritual practice, and Bali to seek a balance between the two, ultimately finding love again. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Pray-Love-Everything-Indonesia/dp/0143038419) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/203429) ## Do the Work ![The Trauma Tool Kit](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/The%20Trauma%20Tool%20Kit.jpg?width=200&height=300&name=The%20Trauma%20Tool%20Kit.jpg) #### The Trauma Toolkit: Healing PTSD from the Inside Out by Susan Pease Banitt, ICSW A comprehensive guide for healing PTSD, offering holistic tools to address trauma from physical, mental, and spiritual perspectives. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Tool-Kit-Healing-Inside/dp/0835608964) ![How to Do the Work](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/How%20to%20Do%20the%20Work.jpg?width=200&height=300&name=How%20to%20Do%20the%20Work.jpg) #### How to Do The Work by Dr. Nicole LePera A holistic approach to healing that teaches readers to recognize childhood patterns, regulate their nervous systems, and reclaim their authentic selves. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/How-Do-Work-Recognize-Patterns/dp/0063076810) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/5537180) ![Women Living Deliciously](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Women%20Living%20Deliciously.jpg?width=200&height=313&name=Women%20Living%20Deliciously.jpg) #### Women Living Deliciously by Frances Given A vibrant guide encouraging women to rediscover joy and self-expression while rejecting toxic wellness culture and patriarchal expectations. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/3441378) ![Atlas of the Heart](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Atlas%20of%20the%20Heart.jpg?width=200&height=246&name=Atlas%20of%20the%20Heart.jpg) #### Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown Brown maps out 87 emotions and experiences, providing the language and framework needed to build meaningful connections with ourselves and others. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Educated-Memoir-Tara-Westover/dp/0399590501) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/3441378) ![How to Love](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/How%20to%20Love.jpg?width=200&height=300&name=How%20to%20Love.jpg) #### How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh A gentle guide to cultivating compassionate relationships through mindfulness, presence, and deep listening. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Love-Mindfulness-Essentials-Thich-Nhat/dp/1937006883) ![Kick Ass with Mel Robbins](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Kick%20Ass%20with%20Mel%20Robbins.jpg?width=200&height=200&name=Kick%20Ass%20with%20Mel%20Robbins.jpg) #### Kick Ass with Mel Robbins by Mel Robbins Robbins coaches eight individuals through raw, real-life challenges to help listeners disrupt self-sabotaging patterns and take action. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Kick-Ass-with-Mel-Robbins-audiobook/dp/B07BZVL8PJ) ![Youre Not Listening](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Images/Book%20Covers/Youre%20Not%20Listening.jpg?width=200&height=307&name=Youre%20Not%20Listening.jpg) #### You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy A fascinating look at the "lost art" of listening, arguing that truly hearing others is the key to deep connection and personal growth. [Buy on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Not-Listening-Missing-Matters/dp/1250297192) [Support Libraries!](https://share.libbyapp.com/title/4739630) [![Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final-White](https://www.writingwithshay.com/hubfs/Brand/Writing-with-Shay-Horizontal-1-Final-White.svg)](https://www.writingwithshay.com?hsLang=en) If not now, when? If not you, who? - - ©2026 Writing with Shay. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.writingwithshay.com/privacy-policy?hsLang=en) | [Terms & Conditions](https://www.writingwithshay.com/terms-conditions?hsLang=en) DISCLAIMER:  This workshop is educational and creative in nature and is not a substitute for therapy.