Creator Corpus: A Look Into Michael Snellen's Creative Journey and Projects
- Michael Snellen
- Jun 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 23
Featuring completed works, unfinished pursuits, and unsuccessful attempts
This article is shared to showcase my own path, in the hopes of inspiring, warning, and encouraging you in your own creative journey.
As always, I’m always willing to share advice. Just ask. If you see room for collaboration, let me know!
If you would like to submit a feature about yourself in the Creator Corpus series, send us a message.
Completed
Catholicism for the Modern World Writing Publication (Medium):
Before I was Catholic, in April of 2022, using some former writing experience, I started a blogging publication to put my own articles on. The vision took a different turn when I started to invite writers on the fragmented blogging website to join me. In less than one month, the publication had gained over 60 writers, from both personal invitation, sharing a vision of a united front, and traction. Overall, on Medium, it noticeably increased the publication of Catholic articles and reached a lot of the Catholic audience on the site. It is still running today, but I believe it reached the peak of its success. Medium, by its nature, is limited, and so all other media work I have done grew from this.
Catholicism for the Modern World Podcast (Christian Nexus):
This podcast grew from a desire to interview the writers of the original blogging publication. Over the course of one year, around 40 episodes and interviews were recorded. Guests ranged from local friends, to Catholic speakers, business people, and more.
Saints of a New Age Mini-Book:
While planned and marketed to be on a much grander scale, I recognized that it would be much better to finish this project as it stood. Still, around 40 random people from across the world answered questions that were beyond a topical survey. Instead of “Who is your favorite saint?”, the questions were aimed at revealing a deep layer of their spiritual life: “What saint has inspired you the most?”
Disciples of All Nations & All That I Commanded You (Documentary Films):
From amateur footage and audio recordings taken at World Youth Day, I put together an hour long video project. When I was invited to help film sacred music concerts for the Dominican Province of Toulouse in France, I knew that I would use that trip to attempt another video project. The result was a film of much higher quality, filmed on my phone across Italy and France.
Agency Work:
Websites:
Ongoing
With research starting around December of 2023, this is a project that became bigger than I first imagined. Not only is the story one of immense depth and history, but the locations in the Kentucky Holy Land area itself (and throughout Kentucky) were more vast than I imagined. Most of the filming is done, but now I would like to go back and film some standup commentary. As for the book, I have at least 10 books to read before I seriously finish writing it.
Kentucky Catholics has goals of fostering online participation and awareness of the mission of the local Church, supporting events, and creating engaging media as well as systems of becoming more involved in community. Its website and social media pages serve all in Kentucky. Through its Flaget Report media branch, it shares the stories of Kentucky Catholicism with the world.
Building off of the works of Kentucky Catholics, this historical society hosts in-person events, creates digital media, hosts an interactive online community and more.
This initiative has a goal of uniting creators—artists, people in business, and leaders. It will be a global fraternity that creates small local chapters in union with one another.
For young people and all who are interested in becoming an intentional digital disciple of Jesus, by imitating the virtues of St. Carlo Acutis. This confraternity has a daily prayer for all members.
Christian Creators Community:
This community platform has gathered hundreds of people from across the world for friendship, collaboration, feedback, and support. Live events and prayer is a goal for the future.
Christian Creators Academy:
In connection with the Christian Creators community, this media branch will produce videos and articles, both educational and entertaining.
With a growing archive of public domain music represented in an engaging YouTube format, this branch also seeks to include music from new and independent artists.
Sacred Heart Christian YouTube Channel:
The home of the Christian Nexus podcast, this channel also features vlogs and other video content.
Unsuccessful
Solace is a Discord server that allows people to communicate in a relaxed digital environment. With capabilities of live prayer calls, video chat, and voice chat, there is also the possibility of connecting people across the world in localized channels, by state or region. This has been attempted, though, it requires more members for it to become active.
This creative agency offers global services by connecting clients with members of the Christian Creators community. To get this network off the ground with success, much time and organizational preparation is needed, though some projects have been completed so far.
Not Attempted
Cathedu (Catholic Education) Teacher Community:
As a Catholic school teacher myself, I would like to have a community platform, perhaps on Mighty, that allows Catholic teachers to talk with one another, and share advice and resources.