The Spiritual Practice of Preparing for a Book Launch by Noticing Your Ego and Returning to Your Soul Again and Again
Preparing for a book (or any art!) to come into the world can undo your soul. Yesterday my spiritual director told me what I’ve told hundreds of people: it’s good to notice and honor your desires and your ego.
And one way to respond to those noticings is to return to my soul and remembering what matters most to me. And during some seasons we need this sort of soul check in multiple times each day (each hour?).
Much love to everyone who is preparing to bring their art into this world. May we remember who we are. May we embrace our desires while checking in with our preferred order of our desires.
I personally want to love God and people more than I want my books to be best sellers, but it would be very cool for my books to be best sellers!
May we flourish anyway, even when our creative neuroses are at their peak.
(And let me know if you want more info on Group Spiritual Direction for Creative Souls—a safe place to explore your various creative neuroses with others who care about art + faith + mystery.)
💚Charlotte
Charlotte Donlon is a writer, spiritual director, and gatherer whose work centers on helping people explore themes of belonging through art, spiritual growth, and how to Flourish Anyway™, 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 fostering sanctuaries of acceptance and connection—her approach warmly welcomes people from all backgrounds, regardless of faith tradition or spiritual inclinations.
A Christian in the Episcopal church who believes the tenets of the Nicene Creed, Charlotte employs a universal framework of belonging and connection in her spiritual direction work that’s welcoming to all and fosters meaningful, soulful conversations.
In 2020, Broadleaf Books published Charlotte's first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. Her book, Spiritual Direction for Writers, is slated for release by Eerdmans in September 2026.
As the founder of several initiatives, including Flourish Anyway™, Thoughtful Books Etc.™, Belonging through Art™, Spiritual Direction for Writers®, Spiritual Direction for Belonging®, and Parenting with Art®, Charlotte has established herself as a thought leader and an authentic presence at the intersection of creativity and spirituality. Her essays have been featured in prominent 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.
For those interested in staying updated on Charlotte's latest work, news, and insights, subscribe here and visit Flourish Anyway™, Charlotte’s online hub for all of her writing, spiritual direction, small press, gatherings, and other offerings.