Finding Beauty in the Broken

The Story of

Sea Glass Writing

Writing is a powerful thing. It can create or narrate; investigate or explore. It can also express passions and emotions that might otherwise be kept inside.

As a lifelong writer and newly bereaved parent, writing was my lifeline. It gave me a place to express and words to define both the love and the grief that surrounded me. It was a means of honoring, and room to breathe.

If you find yourself drawn to writing as a means to explore your love and grief, this course is for you. As part of the Sea Glass Parenting family, Sea Glass Writing is a forum for bereaved parents to come together to write, reflect, and find community. We welcome all levels of writers, from beginner to professional and everything in between.

Sea Glass Writing was built for you.

Your love and grief are welcome here, now and always.
Miranda Hernandez, Adrian’s Mother

Free Sea Glass Writing Prompts for Bereaved Families

When we talk about journaling or writing about child loss and grief, one of the most common responses we hear is, “I don’t know what to write about.”

If you feel this is true, this section is for you. Below, you’ll find several writing prompts with a sample beginning sentence. Click on the image and you will find a new page with additional questions to help stimulate a response.

While you can write from this first sentence, you are by no means required to—these prompts are all designed as free-writing exercises. You can start with the phrase or questions listed, or with anything these questions prompt in your mind. You can even go in a different direction entirely; write what feels right for you.

When finished, you can share your responses in the Sea Glass Parenting Facebook group, on your own social media account or blog, or even in the comments of the individual prompt’s page. We’d love to hear from you.

When we talk about journaling or writing about child loss and grief, one of the most common responses we hear is, “I don’t know what to write about.”

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: In life after loss, I feel torn between… The bereaved often feel as if they are torn between different aspects of their lives after loss. If you feel torn, what aspects are pulling at you? Do you find yourself conflicted between happiness and grief, or between moving forward and standing still? What feelings are you torn between? What thoughts? What dreams?

In life after loss, I feel torn between… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: One day I would like to… How do you feel about the future? Is it something you look forward to, or something you'd prefer to avoid? How do you see yourself in the future? Is there anything you'd like to accomplish, or anywhere you'd like to see? What is one thing you would like to do or be or feel or see?

One day I would like to… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: Of all the memories we missed out on making, the one that aches the most is… One of the hardest parts of losing a child in their youth is all of the memories that never got to be. What memories are you missing with your deceased child? What dreams did you have for them that you didn't get to see? What moment aches the most when you realize it will forever be missing?

Of all the memories we missed out on making, the one that aches the most is… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: One of the most comforting messages I received after my child's death was… Friends and family may misstep at times after loss, or struggle with saying the 'wrong' thing. But sometimes, we find someone who gets it right. Who was that person for you? What did they do or say that brought you comfort? How did that make you feel? How does it make you feel today?

One of the most comforting messages I received after my child’s death was… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: If I could write a letter to anyone at all, I would say… The bereaved sometimes keep thoughts and feelings inside, worried that what they have to say will be perceived as negative, or hurtful, or will simply be misunderstood. If you could write a letter to someone who you've struggled in communicating with, who would it be? What would you say? What do you think their reaction would be? What keeps you from sending this letter today?

If I could write a letter to anyone at all, I would say… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: I wish the world knew… What is the one thing you wish you could share with the world about grief or loss or tragedy? If the world knew this one thing, how would your life be different? How would theirs?

I wish the world knew… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: A symbol that reminds me of my deceased child is… Like parents of living children who decorate their child's nursery or bedroom in a theme, bereaved parents often associate a specific symbol or theme with their deceased child. What is this symbol for you? Do you associate your child with a specific animal? Cartoon character? Song? Color? How did you choose this item? How do you use or honor or incorporate this symbol into your life today?

A Symbol that reminds me of my deceased child is… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: After loss, ordinary life feels… Living in life after loss, the world feels different. There are new goals; new lenses; new priorities. In this new life, what is it like when you see others who still live in the 'ordinary' world? What feelings come up for you? What thoughts? Do you ever wish you could join them, or do you feel you've left the ordinary world forever?

After loss, ordinary life feels… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: Sometimes I imagine… It's common to imagine or dream about the life that could or should have been. What do you imagine? Would you like to go back in time and somehow prevent the death of your child? Do you think about future events that will get to be? Or does your imagination touch on different places? How do you feels about these dreams?

Sometimes I imagine… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: The biggest difference between my life Before and After the death of my child… The bereaved often speak of life being divided into Before and After the death of their loved one. In your life after loss, what do you see as the biggest difference between today and the Before? What physical changes do you see? What emotional changes? What changes to your surrounding and scenery? How do you feel about these changes? How does this affect you?

The biggest difference between my life Before and After the death of my child… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: This time last year… Think back to where you were, this time last year. What were you doing? Who were you with? What were you thinking about? What were you feeling? How do all of these things compare to where you are today?

This time last year… (SG Writing Prompt)

Sea Glass Writing Prompt for bereaved families: Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder… What do you wonder about when you think about your deceased child? Is it the color of their eyes? What profession they would have chosen? What their favorite color or toy or food would be? Do you imagine these things today, or do you find pleasure in the wondering?

Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder… (SG Writing Prompt)

The Formal Sea Glass Writing Course

General Description

The formal Sea Glass Writing course is a 26-day course open to all bereaved parents, but with a special focus on miscarriage, infant loss, and perinatal death*. The prompts in this course go deeper than the sample prompts above, and may feel heavy for some. Please know that every prompt is optional, and also that rough drafts are valid. Like sea glass itself, perfection isn’t a requirement for beauty.

Participants will receive a writing prompt each morning, Monday through Friday, and will have the option to share their response to that prompt in a private Facebook group created specifically for the course. Participants will also receive an optional weekend activity.

Within the Facebook group, the group will utilize a unique type of workshopping technique, focused on responding to the emotions evoked by a piece instead of critiquing style or technique. This will allow parents to more fully explore their thoughts and experiences without worry for the mechanics of writing. Editing can always come later, if desired.

To facilitate dialogue and community, each session will run with a minimum of 10 participants, and a maximum of 20. We find this number allows for sufficient participation while maintaining a community atmosphere. Participants are never required to share their responses to the prompts, but we do encourage everyone to read and provide feedback to their group-mates.

Although participants will receive prompts nearly daily, there is no requirement to keep up with any specific pace. Each session’s Facebook group will remain open for anyone who wishes to share after the conclusion of the course. There is also an alumni group where participants may share responses and any other child-loss-related writing with the larger Sea Glass Writing community.

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*While many of the prompts are focused on pregnancy and infant loss, there will be modifications available for parents whose child(ren) died at a later age. If you have a specific concern, please contact me.

Dates and Cost

The first official course, #001, launches 21 February 2022, and is open for sign-up now via the Adrian’s Elephant account on Ko-Fi.

Future sessions will be based on interest, but are currently planned for April and August.

While course tuition is normally $26, this first session is discounted to $10. All proceeds from the course go back into supporting Sea Glass Parenting and the Adrian’s Elephant website. For those with financial difficulties, a limited number of scholarships are also available.

To apply for a scholarship or for questions about the course, please email me at [email protected].

I hope to be writing with you soon,
Miranda