Announcing the Read, Write, & Pray Series
Sometimes Writers of Faith Can Feel Stuck
Thirty-two people—most of whom are writers—responded to a survey I sent out several weeks ago about art, faith, and doubt. Their responses showed me that many writers want to establish regular creative and spiritual rhythms that will help them flourish, but they feel stuck and disconnected in various ways.
I also learned that more than 90% of respondents believe making art and engaging with art deepen their belongings to themselves, others, God, and the world.
It's not just me.
Making Art and Engaging with Art Deepens Belonging
In the dozens of spiritual direction sessions I've had with writers over the past several months, I've seen how my clients' experiences of making art are very much in line with their spiritual understanding and the ways they belong to themselves, others, and God.
When they feel an opening in their writing practice, there's usually an opening of some sort in their spiritual life. When they have growth in their spiritual life, there's usually growth in their creative work. When they feel resistance in one area, there's usually resistance of some sort in the other area.
I can't fix everything that makes you feel stuck and disconnected in your writing practice and faith experiences. But I can make space to help you look for the ways your art intersects with your faith and your doubt. And I can provide resources and opportunities that will help you navigate the openings and resistance in your writing life and spiritual life.
Spiritual Direction for Writers: Read, Write, & Pray with The Great Belonging
Each free Read, Write, & Pray series will feature work from one writer. I started with my first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, because why not. I put a lot of effort into writing that book, I've received great feedback from readers, and I continue to learn about the ways we belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world.
You don’t have to own a copy of The Great Belonging to use the Read, Write, & Pray resource. If you’d like to purchase the book, you can do so here.
I also created Read, Write & Pray with with The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. And more Read, Write, & Pray resources are coming in 2022 to all who register for the Spiritual Direction for Writers Conversation Series events. Learn more about the first event with Danté Stewart and Nefertiti Robinson here.
I'd love for you to join me as we Read, Write, and Pray with Our Faith in Writing.
I hope these free Spiritual Direction for Writers resources help you make more space to notice God’s presence in your life and your creative work. And I hope you discover how making art and engaging with art helps you belong to yourself, others, God, and the world.
Spiritual Direction for Writers Free Resources
Read, Write, & Pray with The Great Belonging
Read, Write, & Pray with The Great Belonging Part One
Read, Write, & Pray with The Great Belonging Part Two
Charlotte Donlon helps her readers and clients notice how they belong to themselves, others, God, and the world. Charlotte is a writer, a spiritual director for writers, and the founder of Spiritual Direction for Writers™ and Parenting with Art™. She is also the founder and host of the Our Faith in Writing podcast and website. Her essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Seattle Pacific University where she studied creative nonfiction with Paula Huston and Lauren F. Winner. She holds a certificate in spiritual direction from Selah Center for Spiritual Formation. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. To receive Charlotte’s latest updates, news, announcements, and other good things, subscribe to her email newsletter.