WHY ADD PAPER TO CLAY?
Adding paper or fiber pulp to your clay body turns your clay into a great new substance.
The fibers make the clay stronger while you are using it and lighter after it is fired.
If it cracks you can easily repair it and your can work very large without worrying about the clay collapsing or drying out.
It is also easy to make. Soak your paper or fiber overnight, strain in the morning and knead the fiber into your clay … or use it to turn your clay into a slip and drying the clay to the moisture level you want. You can add a bit of dishwashing liquid to it at the end to prevent the fibers from growing moldy and smelly.
There is a ton of information on the Web about making and using paper clay. One site to start from is Graham Hay a potter from Australia who is active and at the forefront of the evolution of using fibers in clay.
https://www.grahamhay.com.au/paperclay.html#.Ype1IWDMJBw