Need some creative suggestions!

pmadams · Jun 23, 2009

Hello! I need some help from the great minds here!
I am putting together a nonfiction book that is a collection of real letters written by real people to those who have passed. The "working" title of the book is "Can You Hear Me? - A Collection of Letters To The Other Side". I have received a great collection of letters for the book, but my dilemma is that I need a creative way to carry the letters through the book, rather than just putting the letters one after one, chapter after chapter. The letters are the sustenance of the book, but I need something that will "support" the letters and move them through smoothly. I thought about trying to separate them into categories based on who they are writing to and then write something about each of those categories, but the letters are so diverse that it is not workable that way. Any really creative ideals out there? Thanks in advance!

Manix · Jun 23, 2009

pmadams said:
Hello! I need some help from the great minds here!
I am putting together a nonfiction book that is a collection of real letters written by real people to those who have passed. The "working" title of the book is "Can You Hear Me? - A Collection of Letters To The Other Side". I have received a great collection of letters for the book, but my dilemma is that I need a creative way to carry the letters through the book, rather than just putting the letters one after one, chapter after chapter. The letters are the sustenance of the book, but I need something that will "support" the letters and move them through smoothly. I thought about trying to separate them into categories based on who they are writing to and then write something about each of those categories, but the letters are so diverse that it is not workable that way. Any really creative ideals out there? Thanks in advance!

Not sure about the "great minds" part, but it did catch my eye

I was thinking something to do with angel wings on the pages or stages of a butterfly's metamorphosis. Perhaps some quotes about "faith" from various famous people, religions, inspirational literature at the top of each page?

pmadams · Jun 23, 2009

Thanks! I am doing some quotes throughout, I forgot to mention that. I love your suggestion about the angel wings, and the stages of metamorphosis would be sort of like stages of healing. You see, I told you there were great minds here!

Polly · Jun 23, 2009

I don't know how helpful it is, because I haven't had time to check the whole thing out yet, but I bookmarked this earlier today as a potential market:

http://ourunsentletters.com

Not all of the letters are to people who have passed away, but it might be worth a look for some inspiration. If nothing else, I guess you could cite it as a similar work in your proposal.

ETA: forgot to mention, love love love the butterfly metamorphosis idea as a symbol of healing.

Blue Sky · Jun 30, 2009

Nice metamorphosis idea!

In addition, how about framing the book as a "spiritual receiving house" for the letters of embodied loved ones? You could have an angel or spirit in charge. Deceased loved ones could read the letters to the delight of the other "dead" people--we remember them. After all, death is obviously not death--to them anyway.

Hmm. It would need to be handled with respect and love, in order to avoid offending contributors. Ask for help with this from the unseen and you will get it.

This could be a fantastic, satisfying book. I'd like to read it!

Please consider mentioning that perhaps passed loved ones can hear us when we speak.

pmadams · Jul 6, 2009

Blue Sky said:
Nice metamorphosis idea!

In addition, how about framing the book as a "spiritual receiving house" for the letters of embodied loved ones? You could have an angel or spirit in charge. Deceased loved ones could read the letters to the delight of the other "dead" people--we remember them. After all, death is obviously not death--to them anyway.

Hmm. It would need to be handled with respect and love, in order to avoid offending contributors. Ask for help with this from the unseen and you will get it. This could be a fantastic, satisfying book. I'd like to read it!

Please consider mentioning that perhaps passed loved ones can hear us when we speak.

This is a really nice ideal! This is kind of what I am looking for, a really creative way to frame and structure the letters. Thanks so much!

Blue Sky · Jul 16, 2009

Glad to help. I got goosebumps all over when I shared that with you. Lots of unseen support and excitement. I see you are a Reiki practitioner. I am as well. Most people I've met who work with Reiki experience many things well outside the accepted "box."

pmadams · Jul 17, 2009

Blue Sky said:
Glad to help. I got goosebumps all over when I shared that with you. Lots of unseen support and excitement. I see you are a Reiki practitioner. I am as well. Most people I've met who work with Reiki experience many things well outside the accepted "box."

That is so neat that you are a Reiki practitioner, too. And you are right about experiencing things "outside the accepted box" - it seems like my perspective on a lot of things is outside the box. Thanks so much for your support and for the unique and creative ideal - its just the kind of thing I was looking for!

marlawrites · Jul 21, 2009

You could organize the letters into parts, like a section of letters from children, letters to friend, letters to mothers or fathers.

Sorry. It's all I could think of.

pmadams · Jul 22, 2009

marlawrites said:
You could organize the letters into parts, like a section of letters from children, letters to friend, letters to mothers or fathers.

Sorry. It's all I could think of.

Thank you! That is one of the things I have thought about doing.

marlawrites · Jul 22, 2009

pmadams said:
Thank you! That is one of the things I have thought about doing.

Your welcome! If you have more letters, you can do really specific things like Goodbye letters or something...

Need some creative suggestions!

pmadams

Manix

Mutatis mutandis

pmadams

Polly

Back from the Brink

Blue Sky

pmadams

Blue Sky

pmadams

marlawrites

My wings are budding...

pmadams

marlawrites

My wings are budding...