How to Use Collages to Help Write a Novel

Authors use all kinds of tips and tricks to help them write their novels. One method that helps with plotting and inspiration is using a collage. Here are a few tips for creating your own "novel collage."

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pictures from magazines, newspapers and the Internet
• Poster board or bulletin board
• Pins, glue or tape

1. Find pictures of your novel's setting. Travel magazines and the Internet are great resources. You can also contact a local travel agency and request brochures and posters.

2. Find pictures of models, actors or regular people who physically resemble your characters. These can be pictures of their faces or their entire bodies. Fashion magazines and the Internet are good resources for these images.

3. Find words that describe the setting, story and characters. You can find them in magazines or create your own by typing them on the computer and enlarging them before printing them out.

4. Cut out the pictures and words and collect them together along with the other supplies.

5. Arrange the pictures and words in a collage on a piece of poster board or on a bulletin board.

6. Attach the pictures to the poster board or bulletin board using pins, glue or tape.

7. Display the collage where you write. Make sure to display it so you can look at it as you write.

8. Draw inspiration from the collage. Use the images to help you with description, plotting and characterization.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use objects in your collage, such as postcards, maps and matchbooks.
• Don't get too caught up in creating the collage. Spending too much time on a collage will take up valuable writing time.

[Alisiane]

on 9/12/2008 Wow, this is such a good idea. I do something similar to this when I write. I love your warning about not getting too focused on the collage because I have that creative and perfectionist personality which can leave me searching ALL DAY for the picture that's "just right" instead of getting back to what's really important.

What a cool article!