Spiritual Direction for Writers Book Conversation with Don Pape and Pape Commons

In August I was invited to have a conversation with Don Pape of Pape Commons and several of the writers he represents. This was my first official book event, and it was delightful for many reasons. I appreciated how much Don loved Spiritual Direction for Writers: Everyday Rituals for Your Writing Life. I also appreciated that he read and liked The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other when it first came out. He’s been one of my readers for several years which is just really cool. He’s an attentive reader and wonderful conversation partner. During this Zoom gathering, he asked good questions that allowed me to elaborate on some things that are in the book and share extra stuff, as well.

You can watch the full video below.

Here are some spots in the video that I think are interesting, if you’d like to just watch a few clips:

Rhythms and Rituals
At the 14:06-mark I begin discussing rhythms and rituals and the differences between the two.

On Honoring Your Creative Soul and Writing Life
At the 22:57-mark a fiction writer mentions the feelings of guilt and selfishness that he feels when he wants time to write. In my response, I mention the importance of honoring his creative soul, his writing life, and his calling.

On Being a Neurotic Writer
At the 24:52-mark Don asks about the chapter titled “Become a Little Neurotic” about Teresa of Avila and how she was a neurotic writer like the rest of us.

On Being Formed by God Through Writing
At the 28:16-mark a writer asks my thoughts on how God formed me through the writing of this book.

There’s a lot of other great stuff in there too! Those are just a few topics and time stamps in case you want to dip in a bit and see how the water is.

Many thanks to Don Pape for having this conversation with me and the writers he represents. I really enjoyed our time together!

Here’s more about Pape Commons from their website:

Here at Pape Commons, we’re more than a literary agency seeking to represent authors and sell their books.

We’re a collaborative, creative community that leans into each other and embraces one another’s giftedness. We select and organize a writer’s work into a proposal, provide feedback, and align them with the publishing house that will best serve them. And at each step of the journey, we encourage and care for our talent, building and strengthening a community of likeminded creatives in the process.

Commons founder Don Pape brings more than thirty years of publishing experience from such houses as Doubleday, Tyndale House, and NavPress. Throughout his career, he has long championed the essence of the Commons: celebrating the individual and stewarding their resources in and through community.

From warehouse packer to agent and publisher, Don has worked alongside countless sales and marketing experts, literary agents, and authors. He’s had the privilege of guiding fiction and non-fiction titles to bestselling status, serving such notable authors as Madeleine L’Engle, Louis Giglio, Eugene Peterson, and Liz Curtis Higgs. “My greatest pleasure is in seeing great content become reality on the page—in a physical or digital book,” he says.

At Pape Commons, we desire to curate beautiful words through a convivial gathering of winsome writers and thoughtful creatives.