A Look at the SDW Insiders First Monthly Zoom Gathering
All SDW Insiders receive invitations to seven(7) Zoom Q&A/Ask Me Anything/Group Coaching gatherings. This offering is exclusive to SDW Insiders.
The first call was last Monday night and one SDW Insider joined me live so we got to have a lovely 1:1 conversation. She asked some questions that I was able to answer about her writing life. And we talked a bit about our beginnings with Spiritual Direction for Writers®. It was a really lovely conversation that was such an honor to have.
Here’s the transcript for the video above that shows about five minutes of the first 60-minute SDW Insider Zoom gathering:
“And now we're gonna look just a little bit of the beginning of the book.
The, the very first section is “Before We Begin.” Let me see if I can go back. Yeah. And I, I love this quote from Kaveh Akbar. “Of the beginning of the beginning. Who spoke the tale. You did. You did.” Like, I feel like I could free write for 30 minutes about that. So if you're watching this video, you can pause now and free write in response to that quote if you like.
So the sections of the book, if you haven't started reading yet, are: Before We Begin, Begin, Belong, Become, Behold, Bestow, and Begin Again in, and each section has an epigraph. And then one of these sort of lyrical meditations on that section's theme.
And I won't read this because it's a lot and I want us to have a little bit more conversation. But one of my beginnings is Toni Morrison, just as a, writer and soulful writer. A writer who helps me connect with myself, and God and others in the world. I look to her as a sort of spiritual guide.
She's not the only writer I look to for that, but she's one of the main ones. And when I was doing research about her and how she started writing. I was fascinated to learn that the reason she started writing the real reason was that she had gone to this writer's group and, I don't remember the year, but she had brought an essay that she had written as an undergraduate.
And they were fine. Like the people in the group were fine and, they were kind to her, but they pretty much told her she needed ,to write more and like bring something new, not something she had written in college.
And what she loved most about the writers group was the food .
It wasn't that she had an idea for a book, although she did have an idea for a book, and she eventually started working on that book. But the main driver was getting back to that writer's group with the delicious food that she had had. And my guess is also the, the sense of community and feeling less alone as a writer.
So. It was going to that writer's group wanting to return, that made her finally start writing The Bluest Eye, which she had an idea for, but that's what made her sit down and do it. Another place I began in this book is with what I call , the intersection of the spiritual life and the creative life and the rhythms of belonging, becoming, beholding, and bestowing.
And so I take some time to explain that here in this “Before We Begin” section because it does repeat throughout the book along with ideas like All of Life is the writing life and well, and it's the sections of the book, obviously, but I tie them all together and view each of these verbs as doorways into the creative life and the spiritual life.
And that's one thing that I'm hoping this book will do for readers—is to help people see that one reason all of life is the writing life is because we are always belonging, becoming, beholding, or bestowing. And beginning or beginning again. And maybe we're doing those things all at once.
Maybe we are doing them one at a time, but if we think we've removed ourself from the creative process somehow, I encourage you if you ever have that thought to stop and be like, well, based on today and how I use my time today and how, like my experiences, whether I wrote or not.
How was I belonging, becoming, beholding, and bestowing? So it's a more specific way to think about how all of life is the writing life and the creative process and the spiritual life and how those things intersect and just sort of a framework
—now, this isn't the only way to think of those things, right?
This is just the language I'm using to get us through this book and to wrap words around what I think is happening when I meet with clients one-on-one or in groups spiritual direction, or even for a retreat or something like that. So , that's one reason I started with these words was to just establish why they're important and what kind of work they're doing for the reader throughout the whole book.”
More about SDW Insiders Monthly Zoom Gatherings and Other Preorder Perks:
All SDW Insiders are welcome to submit questions for each of our Zoom gatherings about writing, creativity, spiritual direction, spiritual formation, or any combination of those topics.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS USING THIS GOOGLE FORM
Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life comes out on September 3, 2026, but all SDW Insiders get access to the NetGalley digital book.
You do not have to read the book before you attend the SDW Insiders monthly Zoom sessions. Just come as you are.
Not an SDW Insider yet? Become one here.
If you've already preordered a copy of the book, you can still become an SDW Insider and send your SDW Insider gift copy of the book to a friend or donate it to a prison library ministry or high school writing program that I partner with. Just email me at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com with any notes about where you'd like your gift copy of the book to go. All mailing addresses must be in the contiguous US.
If you want to become an SDW Insider but don't live in the contiguous US, I can gift you the ebook version on the book on September 3 as your book gift. Please email me at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com to set this up.
I will answer all submitted questions in some capacity.
Most questions will be answered during the monthly Zoom calls. Some might have to be answered on IG Lives. All questions will remain anonymous, but I'll send you a note with the link to the Zoom recording (or IG Live) if you weren't in attendance while I answered your question.
>>> Your questions can be directly connected to the book. (I highly recommend you jot down questions as you read the NetGalley ARC or your copy of the book once you have it.)
>>> Your questions don't have to be connected to the book.
>>> Your questions don't have to correlate to the upcoming month's book section/topic.
>>> Your questions can describe a specific situation or obstacle that you personally want help with that's somehow connected to your writing life/spiritual life.
> > > You are welcome to submit up to 5 questions/situations per google form submission. You can submit this google form as many times as you like.
All SDW Insiders will receive the Zoom link 24 hours before each gathering.
Here are the dates/times for each Zoom call. All calls will be recorded for any SDW Insiders who can’t attend live.
Monday, March 30 from 6-7pm CT -- "BEGIN" (The full recording will be available soon to all SDW Insiders.)
Monday, April 27 from 6-7pm CT --"BELONG"
Monday, May 25 from 6-7pm CT -- "BECOME"
Monday, June 29 from 6-7pm CT -- "BEHOLD"
Monday, July 27 from 6-7pm CT -- "BESTOW"
Monday, August 31 from 6-7pm CT -- "BEGIN AGAIN"
Monday, September 28 from 6-7pm CT -- "CYCLES & SPIRALS"
Each Zoom gathering will have 5-7 Minutes of teaching/review focusing on one section/topic from the SDW Book. Then we'll jump into Q&A/AMA/Group Coaching. Please send questions ahead of time through this form so I can be organized(ish).If there's time to respond to additional questions during each Zoom gathering, I'll take more questions live during the call.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS USING THIS GOOGLE FORM
What is SDW Insiders?
SDW Insiders is a special pre-order circle for readers who want a front-row seat as the book makes its way into the world.
Registration starts at $25, and it comes with several gifts as a thank you for your support.
Please review the different options here to see which SDW Insider perks are the best fit for you.
Thanks so much for supporting my writing and work.
Book pre-orders are a huge factor in a book’s success, so I appreciate you joining me on the path to getting this book into the world. What a huge honor to be in this with you.
As an SDW Insider, you’ll receive:
Reserved, Signed Copy of the SDW Book
I’ll set aside a signed copy of Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life just for you, reserved for SDW Insiders in the contiguous US.All SDW Pre-Order Perks
We’re putting together a few preorder bonuses for everyone who preorders the book and sends in their proof of purchase between March and September. As an Insider, you’ll automatically receive everything in that preorder stack—no extra steps required.First Look Access (within 24 hours of registration)
You’ll get an early peek at the book cover and the book foreword—both currently under wraps—before I share them anywhere else. (Please don’t share this information with anyone else!)Exclusive Coupon Codes and Invitations for Other Offerings
You’ll receive coupon codes and specials for several of my other offerings (like courses, retreats, and spiritual direction sessions) as another way of saying thank you for your early support.Additional Perks Depending on Which SDW Insider Tier You Register For
Please note the Gold and Platinum tiers are only available for registration through April 30. You must register before April 30 to receive those perks.
Please contact me at charlotte@charlottedonlon.com if you have any questions about anything mentioned above.
💚Charlotte