Lappin departs from the classical concept of the Genius Loci,
the indwelling spirit residing in every landscape, house, city, or
forest--to argue that by entering into contact with the unique energy and
identity of a place, writers can access an inexhaustible source of
creative power. The Soul of Place provides instruction on how to evoke that power.
The
writing exercises are drawn from many fields--architecture, painting,
cuisine, literature and literary criticism, geography and deep maps,
Jungian psychology, fairy tales, mythology, theater and performance art,
metaphysics--all of which offer surprising perspectives on our writing
and may help us uncover raw materials for fiction, essays, and poetry
hidden in our environment.
An essential resource book for the
writer's library, this book is ideal for creative writing courses, with
stimulating exercises adaptable to all genres. For writers or travelers
about to set out on a trip abroad, The Soul of Place is the perfect road trip companion, attuning our senses to a deeper awareness of place.
"Invaluable advice for the writer and traveler, deeply thoughtful."
--Lavinia Spalding, author of Writing Away, editor of The Best Women's Travel Writing
"Insightful exercises help creative writers of all levels attune themselves to the power of place in order to churn out evocative prose that jumps off the page."
--The Intelligent Traveler, National Geographic Traveler
"An inspiring buy for writers, lovely...explorative,"
--Book Riot
"A workbook for all creatives."
--Wewanted2bwriters.com
"A conscious way to explore the power of place."
--Lipstick and Wanderlust
"The proven exercises that billow from this remarkable craft book reveal the mystery of how place affects human souls, and help writers to find the meaning and stories that emanate from any given spot on earth."
--Serving House Journal
"There are always writing instructional books out there, and they
can be hit or miss- choosing one that works with you can be a tricky
affair. I am impressed with Linda Lappin's The Soul of Place,
for one. The tone here is lovely and explorative. I am fond of any book
that asks me to become an eyeball. This is a very exercise-oriented
book, so be prepared to follow instructions and check out further
reading in this one. It's a nice option to have."--Book Riot