Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life

by Charlotte Donlon, Ashley M. Jones (Foreword)

What if the writing life isn’t about daily word counts―but about daily attention to your whole self?

You don’t need to write every day to be a writer. You don’t need perfect conditions, endless hours, or a life free from doubt. What you need is permission to bring your whole, imperfect self to the page―and practices that nourish your soul as you write.

All of life is the writing life.

Drawing on her experience as a spiritual director working primarily with writers, Charlotte Donlon offers something rare: a book that honors both the craft of writing and the care of the soul. Through contemplative practices, personal stories, and wisdom from writers like Toni Morrison, Margaret Walker, and Kaveh Akbar, she invites you to discover how rest, doubt, grief, and joy all become sacred ground for creative flourishing.

Structured around five essential movements―“Begin,” “Belong,” “Become,” “Behold,” “Bestow”―this book offers practical rituals and gentle companionship for the real conditions of your life. Whether you’re navigating resistance, recovering from burnout, or simply longing for a more sustainable practice, you’ll find permission to write from exactly where you are.

Writers of all backgrounds are welcome here. People of deep faith and profound doubt. Those who write every day and those who write in stolen moments. Published authors and private journalers. This is a sanctuary, not a system―a space where your creative identity isn’t measured by output but nourished by attention.

Spiritual Direction for Writers doesn’t promise to make you more productive. It promises something better: to help you become more fully yourself, on and off the page. Because when writing helps make you a kinder, wiser, and more generous human being―when it opens you to what matters most―you’ve already succeeded.

“Charlotte’s book makes space, supports readers, writers, and listeners, and truly cares about the people who encounter its pages. It is a place to land and rest, a place to be curious, to experiment, to pray, to breathe, to feel, and to embrace the truth of your identity as a writer.”
―Ashley M. Jones, poet laureate emerita of Alabama

Genres: Writing, Spirituality

301 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2026

About the author

Charlotte Donlon is a writer, spiritual director, and gatherer whose work centers on helping people explore themes of belonging, artful encounters, and spiritual growth--even when life is full, busy, or chaotic. Her work has woven together themes of belonging, art, and soul exploration for more than 25 years. With a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing (2015-2018) and a certificate in spiritual direction (2018-2020), Charlotte guides writers and other creative souls in developing sanctuaries of acceptance and connection.

In 2020, Broadleaf Books published Charlotte's first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life is slated for release by Here Below Books in September 2026. Three volumes of Charlotte's "Guidebooks for the Soul"—Take More Retreats, The Great Belonging Project, and Belonging Through Art—will also be published in 2026.

Her essays have been featured in publications such as The Washington Post, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, and The Millions, among others. A new essay about art conservation, Joan Mitchell, and mystery is forthcoming with Image journal.

Reviews

[Hallie Waugh]

Charlotte does one of those miraculous writerly things in this book, which is this: she manages to be soulful and practical in equal measure, and she makes it all an absolute delight to read. This is the kind of book you take in in bits—and then you find it has colored your days, your interactions, your creative choices. Charlotte is a champion of the creative spirit, and I found every word of this book to be buoying and bolstering toward the creative life in ways we desperately need right now.

[Sarah]

I wish I had Spiritual Direction for Writers when I was drafting my first book! I struggled to integrate writing into my life and my life into my writing, and felt very anxious about any time I spent away from the craft. I learned some of the lessons in Charlotte Donlon's beautiful book the hard way. Charlotte brilliantly braids together her wisdom in the notion that "all life is the writing life," and colors in this idea with anecdotes from a wide range of writers and artists. I felt inspired, nourished, and rejuvenated by these pages. I will be recommending this to all my writing friends!

[Cara Meredith]

The book every writer needs to read and then return to, again and again, when the writing gets tough. Bravo, Charlotte Donlon.

[Vijaya Bodach]

This first half of the year has been busy with babies and music and travelling, so I am relishing the quieter pace this summer to read and write. I feel like I am returning to myself. Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life by Charlotte Donlon came on my radar at just the perfect time. Although I rushed through it to write a review, I will be getting my own paper copy to mark up, to accompany me. Those who've not had spiritual direction might wonder what it is--it is to invite the Holy Spirit into a holy conversation, to affirm, to clarify, to raise questions, to listen. It is creating a sacred space for attentive presence. Although Donlon writes from the Christian perspective, writers of all faiths should be able to relate to her spiritual direction and apply it to their writing lives. I found it fascinating that when my writing isn't going well, I'm also struggling spiritually.

I loved the premise: that all of life is the writing life. Donlon organizes the material into four parts: Belong, Become, Behold, Bestow. And even before we begin, there is silence. Before silence, breath. Before breath, being! The blank page waiting to be filled. A sacred space full of possibility. Isn't that just beautiful? She writes gently and with great insight. Some examples: Begin where you are, begin with 15 minutes, begin with prayer. Belong to yourself, belong to your desires, belong to a poem. Become friends with time, become more at peace with uncertainty, become a writer who writes in the dark. Behold through contemplation, behold the ordinary, behold your own writing. Bestow through words and objects, bestow through story, bestow through intercessory prayer. And then to Begin Again. I loved the concept of how we return in cycles and spirals, how it reinforces connection to our own selves, others, God, and our creative efforts. This is a great gift for writers. Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy.

Spiritual Direction for Writers made me think of Henri Nouwen's Life of the Beloved, in which he explicates how much we are loved by God, and when we realize it, how our lives change. We recognize that we are Taken, Blessed, Broken, Given. So much of the writing life is about receiving and abundance of blessings and then transforming them--our experiences and insights--as gifts, for readers.

[Seawitch]

First I will say that I spent a year under spiritual direction completing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. This was a life-changing experience that still impacts my spiritual practice 5 years later. It also helped in my ability to relate to this book.

I’ve loved to write my entire life and although I’ve never called myself a writer, I’m inspired by this author to start doing so! I do have some writing ideas I’m percolating.

Charlotte Donlon takes on a big task in trying to weave together the writing life and spiritual direction. At first I felt the connection was a bit forced. But her voice is so wise and her writing so inspired I continued on - gathering snippets of wonderful observations and inspiration as I went.

About halfway through I realized that the tight format of the ARC was distracting me and so I went back to the TOC and re-oriented myself. This changed my impression and seeing the trajectory made the wisdom of this book more accessible. Also, I was trying to finish this somewhat quickly in order to review it, and I think it deserves a much more leisurely engagement.

I recommend a paper copy of this book that could be digested a little at a time and perhaps not always in a linear fashion. Like Bird by Bird and The Artist’s Way this might be a steady companion for writers who have, or hope to develop, a spiritual practice along with their writing practice.

There is a strong Christian thread throughout this book which I’d classify as in the spirituality genre. It’s not Christian Nationalism, but more traditional and I’d describe it as “Jesuit” (Ignatian) in style. Thus, it is welcoming to all and without rules and rigidity. Nonetheless, if talk of Christ, prayer, worship is not comfortable for the reader this might not connect.

I suppose this is a bit of a niche book and I do hope it finds its way into some hands and hearts who are hungry for its encouragement and guidance.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Cory May]

Charlotte Donlon offers a very insightful perspective on how writers view and can view their craft as a part of their spirituality. The interesting element that I gravitated to was Donlon’s approach to the writer’s being. She articulates the writer as existing somewhat between what Christians may view as their “calling” and what others may perceive as a natural talent. Writers embody the craft of writing; it is central to who they are. In this, Donlon organizes her teachings within four major categories. They are Belong, Becoming, Beholding, and Bestowing. Within these categories are various aspects of our lives that center on ourselves, humanity, and God. Donlon presents a work that the reader should engage with patience and a desire to consider how some writers view their identity, passion, and being in this world.

[Kelly Brill]

I will be returning often to Spiritual Direction for Writers, now at home on my shelf with other books that inspire me for the writing life. Donlon's wise book is full of well-chosen quotes, words of encouragement from writers, and writing exercises. Her major sections are "Begin", "Belong", "Become", "Behold", "Bestow" and "Begin Again." Within each section are several short chapters -- they would be super useful as morning devotional readings before one's writing practice. A brilliant and perfect combination of practical and deep. Highly recommend, and I am grateful for this resource!

[Charlotte Donlon]

This is the best book about Spiritual Direction for Writers that I've ever read or written.

Please let everyone know you want to read this book here and elsewhere. And if you preorder it, you can get super fast access to an exclusive All of Life Is the Writing Life online course AND the digital ARC. (That means you can start reading it ASAP.)

Track me down via my website if you have any questions.

Highly recommend this book for any writer who doesn't want to lose their soul.

Publication date is 9/3/2026, but I've been hanging out with it for years!

[Rikki Seal]

"We come as we are, standing in the presence of whatever bright spark ignites our creativity." Pg.1
I have a feeling this book is one I will come back to over and over as a writer. The gifts this book gave my heart are abundant. Thank you Charlotte for guidance, wisdom and discernment.