The Soul Tells a Story: Engaging Creativity with Spirituality in the Writing Life

by Vinita Hampton Wright

There is a reason artists tend to feel a sense of the sacred in their work. It's the same reason those on the path of spiritual formation find that creative exercises lead them into a deeper, more authentic experience with God. Creative work is soul work, and soul work is always creative work. Feeding one while neglecting the other will leave you restless and unsatisfied. Nurturing them both will lead you to new places of self-discovery and God-discovery. "I believe that spirituality and creativity are intricately connected, yet they are rarely nurtured and talked about that way," contends Vinita Hampton Wright. In these pages she leads you through the process and practice of integrating the worlds of Christian spirituality and creativity. You will find both inspiration and practical help for The Soul Tells a Story helps you to turn frustrated longings into satisfying growth.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Christian, Spirituality, Faith

260 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2005

Reviews

[Lashawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't take too well to The Artist's Way, mainly because the language was too New Age for me to apply it to my life. "The Soul Tells A Story" is better for those who wish to have a more Christian bent to the writing lifestyle. It's not a Bible study though. Wright does a wonderful job in dealing with issues all writers face. I like her term of "creative formation". I found this book at the Cedar Campus library, continued reading it from our work library, and itching to add it to my own library.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very helpful for me -- especially since I was unable to attend any writers' conferences or workshops this year. It has helped me better understand my own writing process, and confirmed some of my "instinctual" choices as a writer. I did many of the writing exercises and these were also helpful. This was a great book to end my year's reading.

[Sharon Hughson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is aimed for people just starting their creative journey, I think. It earns 3.2 out of five stars from me.
The writing style didn't engage me as much as I need from my "before bed" self-improvement titles. Also, I'm still not certain I see the link between creativity and spirituality after finishing the entire book.
It does have lots of self-reflection prompts that will help seekers discover their writing path, but I'm already along that road.

[Matilda Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Loved the exercises and encouragement. Very helpful in getting me to start working on my own book

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially found the second half of this book very engaging.

[Tere · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much good stuff here for those of us who are interested in sharing our own faith journey.

[D.L. Beddoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished a reread of this book (Feb 2024) for a writing class, and I was reminded of how transformative for my writing life it was when I first read it (Sept 2019). I wish I’d read it long before publishing my first book, and it’s one I know I will return to again and again. The creative life (the life of an artist, writer, musician, etc) is full of obstacles and discouragement. Vinita Hampton Wright is a trustworthy guide through the spiritual process of becoming a writer and sustaining a writing life. She asks soul stretching questions, offers practical insights from her experience as both an author and an editor, and guides the reader toward practices that will nurture their creative souls and produce a satisfying creative life. I’ve read dozens of books on writing and the creative life—maybe a hundred—and this book is at the top of my recommendations list. Every writer eventually finds an author/book mentor or two with whom they resonate and whose wisdom speaks straight to their core struggles. This book/ this author speaks straight to mine.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about creativity and spirituality and saying YES to your creative gifts. She coins the phrase "creative formation." Because she's a writer, she focuses mainly on writing as a creative gift and has exercises at the ends of chapters that are beneficial to help other writers connect more deeply to the material. Great read.

[dthaase · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle says it all...also contains practical writing prompts after each chapter. One thing I really appreciated about this book is her distinction that everyone might not be an artist but everyone is creative.

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that I stop and start, write for a while, stop, and read some more. I can't always write but the prompts she gives have enabled me to go farther at times than I have before, and I look forward to it as a book. I go to again and again.

[Lori Neff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a helpful, practical resource for artists. I was deeply moved and inspired as an artist and in my art appreciation. Vinita delves into the soul of the work - the deeper issues of creativity.

[Marie Butson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good with encouragement for the new writer. My only issue is if I'm not writing fiction, I’ve wondered all along how and where I fit. The exercises will stretch your abilities, but at times i got lost in the esoteric goals.

[Roxanne Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this a few weeks ago and don't remember much of it - which in itself is review, I guess.

[Mary Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first met Vanita at a workshop on this topic about ten years ago. Never hurts to go over the material again. In fact, VERY HELPFUL!

[Joel Griswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book, very worthwhile read for anyone in the creative arts and a Christian

[Laurie Mcclary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book encouraging and reaffirming in regards to creativity. It also presented some ideas I had not thought of before in regards to the part your soul plays in your life. Interesting.

[Susan Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Inspiring! A must-read for every Christian author.

[Betsy Tompkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once was lucky enough to take a writing class with Vinita Wright, and refer to this book to recapture some of the numerous things she taught us.