Self-Authoring: What It Is, Does It Work, and 4 Free Alternatives (2026)
Self-Authoring is Jordan Peterson's $29.99 writing program with proven results (25% grade boost). Learn what it includes, the research behind it, and free alternatives like Life Note.
📌 TL;DR — Self-Authoring Guide
Self-Authoring is Jordan Peterson's $29.99 structured writing program with 3 parts (past, present, future). Research shows 25% grade improvement and reduced dropout rates at McGill and Erasmus universities. Life Note offers similar guided journaling for free with AI trained on 1,000+ mentors.
Self-Authoring has become one of the most discussed personal development programs since Jordan Peterson rose to fame. But is it worth $29.99? And can you get similar benefits for free?
In this guide, I'll break down exactly what self-authoring is, the research behind it, and how to get the same transformative benefits without paying—whether through AI journaling or DIY methods.
What Is Self-Authoring?
Self-Authoring is a structured online writing program developed by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson (University of Toronto), Daniel M. Higgins (Harvard), and Robert O. Pihl (McGill University). The program is based on Dr. James Pennebaker's expressive writing research at the University of Texas, which demonstrated that structured writing about emotional experiences improves both psychological and physical health.
The core premise is simple but powerful: by writing in a structured way about your past, present, and future, you can process difficult experiences, understand yourself better, and create a clear vision for where you want to go.
The 3 Self-Authoring Programs
The Self-Authoring Suite contains three distinct programs, each targeting a different time dimension of your life:
Past Authoring: Process Your History
Past Authoring helps you systematically process your formative experiences—both positive and negative. You divide your life into 6-10 "epochs" (like childhood, high school, college) and write in detail about significant memories from each period.
The goal isn't just nostalgia. Research shows that unprocessed negative experiences continue to affect us until we articulate them clearly. As Peterson explains, you're essentially "closing the books" on the past so it stops haunting you.
Key exercises:
- Identify 6-10 epochs of your life
- Write about significant experiences in each
- Analyze how events shaped who you are today
- Process unresolved emotions and regrets
This is similar to what therapists call "narrative therapy"—and what you can explore through shadow work journaling.
Present Authoring: Know Yourself (Faults & Virtues)
Present Authoring is split into two parts: analyzing your faults and recognizing your virtues. Both are based on the Big Five personality model.
Faults Module: You identify your weaknesses across dimensions like conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability. The point isn't self-criticism—it's honest assessment so you can improve.
Virtues Module: You identify your genuine strengths. Many people struggle to recognize what they're actually good at. This module forces you to articulate your positive traits and think about how to develop them further.
Key exercises:
- Rate yourself on personality dimensions
- Write about specific examples of each trait
- Identify patterns and their consequences
- Create improvement plans for weaknesses
Future Authoring: Design Your Ideal Life
Future Authoring is often considered the most impactful module. You create a detailed vision of your ideal future 3-5 years from now, then work backward to identify goals and potential obstacles.
The program asks you to write about:
- Your ideal future in detail (career, relationships, health, habits)
- What your life would look like if you let your bad habits run wild (the "anti-vision")
- Specific, measurable goals
- Obstacles and how you'll overcome them
- Implementation plans
This connects directly to the concept of writing a letter to your future self—a practice with similar benefits.
Does Self-Authoring Work? The Research
One thing that sets Self-Authoring apart from most self-help programs: it actually has peer-reviewed research behind it.
| Study | Sample | Key Finding | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| McGill University | Struggling students | 25% grade improvement, dropout reduced from 30% to 0% | Peterson et al. |
| Erasmus University Rotterdam | 1,200+ business students | Significant academic performance improvement | Peterson et al. |
| 700-Student Longitudinal | Diverse undergraduates | Ethnic/gender achievement gaps nearly eliminated | Peterson co-authored |
| Freshman Orientation Study | New students | Dropout rate 14% vs 27% control group | Published research |
| Pennebaker Original | General population | Physical + psychological health improvement | UT Austin |
The most striking finding is from McGill: students who were on academic probation showed a 25% improvement in grades after completing the program, and the dropout rate fell to zero. That's not a small effect.
The mechanism seems to be twofold:
- Processing reduces cognitive load: Unexamined experiences take mental bandwidth. Writing about them frees up that bandwidth.
- Goals provide direction: Students who complete Future Authoring have clearer motivation and better time management.
Self-Authoring Review: Pros and Cons
After analyzing user reviews and the research, here's an honest assessment:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Research-backed with published studies | Costs $29.99 for full suite |
| Comprehensive, structured approach | Time-intensive (10+ hours total) |
| Covers past, present, and future | Can be emotionally difficult |
| Text-based (no AI, no surveillance) | No ongoing support or feedback |
| One-time purchase, lifetime access | Dated interface |
| Can pause and resume | Some find it overwhelming |
Common user feedback:
- "Emotionally draining but worth it" — Many users report the past authoring module brings up difficult feelings
- "Future authoring changed my life" — This module gets the most praise
- "Wish it had more guidance" — Some users want more hand-holding through difficult sections
Free Self-Authoring Alternatives
Not everyone wants to pay $29.99 or spend 10+ hours on a single program. Here are free alternatives that provide similar benefits:
1. Life Note (AI-Guided Self-Authoring)
Life Note offers free AI journaling that covers the same territory as Self-Authoring—past reflection, present awareness, and future visioning—but with several key differences:
- AI trained on 1,000+ mentors: Including Carl Jung (who literally invented shadow work), Marcus Aurelius, Maya Angelou, and modern psychologists
- Ongoing support: Unlike Self-Authoring's one-time exercises, Life Note provides daily guidance and follow-up questions
- Adaptive approach: The AI adjusts to your needs rather than following a rigid structure
- Free to start: No upfront cost
A licensed psychotherapist called Life Note "life-changing," and users have credited it with helping them through grief, career transitions, and relationship challenges.
2. Clearful (Free Guided Journaling)
Clearful offers structured journaling prompts similar to therapy workbooks. It's more limited than Life Note (no AI guidance) but completely free and provides good structure for beginners.
3. Grid Diary (Question-Based)
Grid Diary uses a question-based format that's similar to Self-Authoring's structured approach. You answer the same questions daily to track changes over time.
4. Day One (500+ Free Prompts)
Day One includes over 500 journaling prompts covering self-reflection, gratitude, and future planning. The base version is free with premium features available.
Self-Authoring vs Life Note: Comparison
| Feature | Self-Authoring | Life Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $29.99 one-time | Free to start |
| Format | Text exercises | AI conversation |
| Support | None | AI guidance |
| Time commitment | 10+ hours one-time | 5-10 min/day ongoing |
| Approach | Structured program | Flexible exploration |
| Best for | Deep one-time processing | Daily growth practice |
| Foundation | Pennebaker research | 1,000+ mentors including Jung, Aurelius |
When to choose Self-Authoring: You want a one-time deep dive with research-backed structure and don't mind paying.
When to choose Life Note: You want ongoing AI guidance, prefer conversation over workbook-style exercises, or want to start for free.
How to Do Self-Authoring for Free
If you want the Self-Authoring experience without paying, here's a DIY approach using Life Note or pen and paper:
Past Authoring DIY (1-2 hours)
- Divide your life into 6-8 chapters (childhood, middle school, high school, etc.)
- For each chapter, write about:
- 2-3 significant positive experiences
- 2-3 significant negative experiences
- What you learned from each
- Identify patterns across chapters
Life Note shortcut: Ask the AI to guide you through your life story. It will ask follow-up questions a therapist would ask.
Present Authoring DIY (1 hour)
- Rate yourself 1-10 on: conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, emotional stability, extraversion
- For each, write a specific example of how this trait shows up
- For your lowest scores, write what you'd like to improve and why
- For your highest scores, write how you can leverage them more
Life Note shortcut: Use self-discovery prompts or ask the AI directly about your strengths and weaknesses.
Future Authoring DIY (1-2 hours)
- Write a detailed description of your ideal life in 3 years (career, relationships, health, habits, finances)
- Write the "nightmare" version—what happens if you let your worst habits win
- Identify 3-5 specific goals from your ideal future
- For each goal, list obstacles and your plan to overcome them
Life Note shortcut: Use the letter to future self tool or ask the AI to help you create a vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is self authoring?
Self-Authoring is a structured online writing program created by Dr. Jordan Peterson and colleagues. It includes three modules—Past Authoring (processing your history), Present Authoring (understanding your personality), and Future Authoring (designing your ideal life). The program costs $29.99 and is based on Dr. James Pennebaker's expressive writing research.
Is self authoring worth it?
Self-Authoring has strong research support showing 25% grade improvement in students and reduced dropout rates. Whether it's "worth it" depends on your situation: if you prefer structured workbook-style exercises and want a one-time deep dive, the $29.99 is reasonable. If you prefer ongoing AI guidance or want to try before paying, free alternatives like Life Note offer similar benefits.
What are free alternatives to self authoring?
The best free alternatives are: (1) Life Note—AI journaling with guidance from 1,000+ mentors including Jung and modern psychologists, (2) Clearful—structured journaling prompts, (3) Grid Diary—question-based daily journaling, and (4) Day One—500+ free prompts. You can also DIY self-authoring using pen and paper following the exercises outlined above.
How long does self authoring take?
The full Self-Authoring Suite takes approximately 10-15 hours to complete properly. Past Authoring typically takes 4-6 hours, Present Authoring takes 2-3 hours, and Future Authoring takes 3-4 hours. You can save your progress and return over multiple sessions.
Does the self authoring program work?
Yes, multiple peer-reviewed studies show Self-Authoring improves academic performance, reduces dropout rates, and helps eliminate achievement gaps. A McGill study found struggling students improved grades by 25%, and dropout rates fell from 30% to 0%. The effects appear strongest for the Future Authoring module, which helps clarify goals and motivation.
The Bottom Line
Self-Authoring is a legitimate, research-backed program that can help you process your past, understand yourself, and design a better future. The $29.99 price is fair for what you get.
But it's not the only way to get these benefits. If you want AI-guided journaling that covers similar ground with ongoing support, Life Note offers that for free. The AI is trained on actual writings from history's greatest minds—not internet summaries—so you're getting genuine wisdom from Jung, Aurelius, Angelou, and 1,000+ other mentors.
Whether you choose Self-Authoring, Life Note, or a DIY approach, the key insight is the same: structured writing about your life is one of the most effective psychological interventions available. The research is clear. The only question is which method suits you best.
Start Free AI Journaling with Life Note →
Last updated: February 2026
