Mastering the Art of Being Broken

ISBN: 979-8-234-06348-9
By: Erickson, Lee

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mastering the Art of Being Broken is a collection of poems and lyrical prose that explores grief, loss, silence, and the enduring work of survival. Blending memoir with reflective writing, the book traces one life shaped by family trauma, the death of a sibling by suicide, and the long process of making meaning in the aftermath. Organized as an emotional progression—from inheritance and fracture through catastrophe, reconstitution, and continuance—the collection examines what is often left unspoken: internalized shame, emotional neglect, and the struggle to remain present in the face of profound loss. Written from both personal experience and the perspective of a licensed therapist, these pieces offer an intimate and unflinching account of grief as it is lived rather than resolved. Mastering the Art of Being Broken invites readers to consider what remains when healing is incomplete, and how a life can continue to take shape around what cannot be undone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Erickson

Lee Erickson is a writer and licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) whose work explores grief, trauma, identity, and the long arc of healing. His writing blends poetry and prose, drawing from both personal experience and his work with individuals navigating loss and emotional recovery. He is the author of Mastering the Art of Being Broken, a hybrid collection that reflects on family dynamics, suicide loss, and the enduring process of making meaning in the aftermath of trauma. Erickson lives in Minnesota.LL