:::National Grief Support Services:::

Now that you are experiencing your own grief or helping someone you care about through a loss, there are things to be told, feelings from inside or a life story that needs to be known. Sometimes the words start to form themselves into phrases, but these often break apart before you can capture them. You may even want to share your sense of loss as a way to give and get comfort, in a way that is eloquent and more composed than you are feeling.

Only you can know your feelings from the inside. But for your benefit, we have assembled writers, songwriters and poets whose portfolios reflect remarkable sensitivity and an ability to infuse the passions of others into their own work. Working with you, they can absorb the essence of what you give them and reflect it in a tone that represents your best thoughts presented very well.

Paul Alexander is a singer, songwriter, and a certified social worker who has shared his music and message of hope throughout the United States and Canada. His recordings are resource tools being utilized by Church Groups, Funeral Homes, Hospices, and Hospitals as well as bereavement support groups and individual caregivers. Learn more at www.GriefSong.com. Paul's contemporary style combined with his compassionate lyrics and compelling vocal delivery touch the heart and soul of the listener and provide healing and upliftment. Paul's music has been inspired and enriched through his work as a Psychotherapist and Hospice Social Worker. His unique integration of his artistry and sensitive awareness to the hurting heart is what brings meaning to Paul Alexander's voice and music.

Writing Sample

Michael is a spiritual educator using music for healing. An award-winning songwriter and recording artist, his music consistently weaves insights of universal spiritual principles with the melodic and harmonic styles of contemporary culture. He is artist/founder of Inner Harmony/Medicine Music, Wisdom of the World, and the creator of SongCare, a personalized therapeutic artistry developed for hospice and the healthcare community. Born from this experience, the recording “Graceful Passages: A Companion For Living And Dying” was developed to respond to the challenging questions of mortality from a multi-faith perspective. A pioneer in the fields of American folk chant and intuitive song, he facilitates collaborative musical expression in schools, churches, and community centers. He has served as an international music ambassador for over 20 years. Learn more about Michael’s work at www.InnerHarmony.com.

Writing Sample

Bob has been “getting inside” people’s feelings and passions for more than 25 years as a feature writer and editor for New England newspapers. Intimate with the mission of National Grief Support Services, he has also written copy for this website. As an editor, he deeply enjoys taking the essence of one’s own style of expression and enhancing it where possible and desirable.He is currently proprietor of datzmedia (www.datzmedia.com), where he employs writing and visual design to printed and online projects to reflect the worthy endeavors of nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Writing Sample

The portfolio of award-winning journalist Karlene Hale carries a certain intimacy, an ability to make you think you actually know the people she writes about. She has been recognized for her work involving people with mental illness, which includes a Pulitzer prize nomination, and issues surrounding veterans. Readers also love her feature stories about people and their battles to overcome the odds – whether it’s a high school athlete’s brief time in the spotlight or an older person’s struggle with terminal illness – all portrayed with insight, compassion, wisdom, clarity, depth, and humor. Karlene is the author of three books, including Profiles of Mental Illness, Hometown Champs: The Jonesport-Beals Basketball Legacy, and Tap Dancing and True Confessions, a collection of some of her weekly newspaper columns aimed at people over the age of 55 who still remember car-hops, drive-in movies, small town life, and the conflicts that confronted so many of us as we moved from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Writing Sample

Allison has been writing poetry for four decades and is now a professional poet. Her framed prints are published and sold by Home Interiors and Gifts nationwide. Allison has created countless custom poems to fit any and all occasions in life, especially related to the grieving heart. Her poetry may be read by category at her website, Allison's Heart. http://www.allisonsheart.com/pagelist.html

Writing Sample

For Eulogies, Tributes, Remembrances, Healing, Recovery, Heartbreak, Life Stories, Legacies, Condolences, Hope, Inspiration, Dying, Funerals and Memorials, Life Stories, Legacies & Condolences:

$35 per page, double-spaced ( up to 450 words)

For Eulogies, Tributes, Remembrances, Healing, Recovery, Heartbreak, Life Stories, Legacies, Condolences, Hope, Inspiration, Dying, Funerals and Memorials, Life Stories, Legacies & Condolences:

$45 per poem

For Tributes, Remembrances, Healing, Recovery, Heartbreak, Life Stories, Legacies, Condolences, Hope, Inspiration, Dying, Funerals and Memorials:

$200 per song. The writer retains the copyright, but you have permission to use the song for non-commercial, personal purposes

First you select a writer. Be aware that the limited number of samples on our site does not mean we are providing set formulas. Each custom piece is individually crafted, so try to gain overall comfort with the individual you select.

The writer will spend approximately a half an hour with you by telephone, to enable them to become familiar with your subject and any particular desires about style or substance you may have. If you do not feel comfortable communicating by phone, (which is recommended), you may do so in writing. Along with your phone interview, you may also wish to provide additional material for the writer to draw from. This might include newspaper or magazine clippings, memorabilia or ideas. For writing other than poetry and song, you may want to rough out a few of your own words.

By using this service, however, you understand that you are engaging a creative professional who has your desires in mind and his or her own ideas as to particular ways to convey the spirit of what you are seeking. Make the most of that opportunity by gathering your thoughts and any materials you wish to refer to ahead of time. Your chosen writer may wish to call you back to check an original idea with you to be sure it is appropriate.
The writer will forward a finished draft for your comment based on these good-faith efforts.

At that point the overall style and approach have been agreed upon, however you may respond with minor revisions that do not disrupt the piece or major portions of the piece.

Except for pieces included in Private Thoughts, the writer has free, unlimited use of pieces submitted to you, even though you retain the copyright both for the draft and the piece as revised and delivered for poetry and prose. For songs, the copyright remains with the songwriter. If one is interested in owning the copyright to a song, the fees are substantially greater. Examples of a writer’s use would be inclusion on a writer’s website, within printed works or periodicals and in promotional material for the writer appearing in any medium.

This is a creative service for people experiencing grief and loss. Both of those emphasized words guide the terms of service outlined above. Creators are given faith that they return through their compassion. And people receiving service are what we at National Grief Support Services are all about, and never want to lose. This is truly a meeting of hearts and minds.

If you still have questions before you select your writer, you may contact them through our form below.

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Type of Writing Ordered