I Did it Again! Published a New Book: Collage for the Writer’s Soul!
Sharing what I’ve learned about SoulCollage® as a writing tool
When something works this well, I can’t not share it.
That something is how an intuitive, creative process called SoulCollage® enhances my writing. Especially, my creative writing.
If you’ve been reading my posts, you’ve probably come across one where I extoll the fun, insight, and value of Dr. Seena Frost’s brainchild, for me personally and for my writing projects, especially my characters.
Because SoulCollage® is both a visual and auditory process, it’s helped me not only envision my fictional characters but also hear their voices. And since we want our characters to be as verbally distinct as they are visually, this is no small gift.
So what the heck is it?
SoulCollage® is a process of allowing our souls to select and arrange images into collages, typically on 5 X 8-inch matte boards. It’s like creating our personal Tarot or oracle deck. In addition to being ‘read’ when created, we can do readings with one or more cards to answer specific questions.
But I don’t just use it for personal insights, as revelatory as those are. I make cards for my characters and read them in their voices.
Once I both saw and heard my pregnant pro-life minister, Silver Sterling, anti-hero of my novel, Man Pregnant! and my horny unicorny femme fatale of Long, Hard, & Twisted, Francesca Borgia, it was on!
Here’s the SoulCollage® card I made depicting Francesca:
When I ‘read’ this card, here’s what she says:
“You think you can get the best of me, but I got news for you, Shweetheart. I turned your big hunka PI partner into a mouse, and I can turn lil ol’ you into a rat — or a roach, and stomp on ya with my six-inch stelletos. But first, come over here and kiss me, Mr. Marsh Mellow Mann. Let’s see what you got…”
Now I could have kept this discovery to myself and just enjoyed the results. If so, my novels might be way closer to publication. But since SoulCollage® has helped me grow as a person as well as a writer, I couldn’t contain myself.
I just had to share the good news.
Starting with a series of blog posts on Medium.com, and progressing to a full-length book. It’s called Collage for the Writer’s Soul.
On the cover, you can see the actual collages I made for Silver and Francesca.
It doesn’t just cover using collage to enhance fiction. In it I share how it’s helped me write poetry, creative non-fiction, and blog posts as well as reveal my ideal readers and audience.
How can it do all that?
The answer may have something to do with how our souls are attracted to images. Significant images that speak to us at a deep subconscious level. And that’s the place I create from, whether my topic is setting stronger boundaries, recovery from sex addiction, or how prayer works in my life.
All soul-engaging topics.
All enhanced by making collages.
And all this to say, if it works for me, it can work for you.
In my experience, SoulCollage® can help beginning and seasoned writers:
Break through writer’s block
Plot stories and deepen characters, including their shadow sides
Tap into metaphor and emotion for poetry or lyrical prose
Generate fresh ideas and inspiration on demand
Hear and explore the inner voices clamoring for attention inside your characters
Enjoy deep wisdom and insights about our personal lives
And have fun while we do any and all of the above.
As I like to say, there’s gold in them, thar scraps of paper. Let me show you how to mine it!
A very special thank you to my right-hand woman, Meg Stewart, who held my hand and provided valuable tech support. And to Kate Rader, who designed my beautiful book cover. Bless you both!
Here’s your Collage to Poem Worksheet!
Note: SoulCollage® cards are not to be copied, sold, traded, or bartered. SoulCollage® cards are for personal use only.
Again, I’ve just released a book that goes deeper into this whole process — Collage for the Writer’s Soul. If this sounds like your jam or jelly, subscribe to SoulCollage® for Writers, and Stay in touch!.