We recently connected with Charlotte Donlon and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Charlotte thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

So much business advice circulating today urges creatives to “find your niche” and stay in one lane. But I’ve always had a constellation of interests and ideas, and I’ve consistently turned away from that advice whenever it’s offered. My work—whether it’s Spiritual Direction for Writers®, Parenting with Art®, Belonging through Art™, or custom retreats and gatherings—centers on helping people explore the deep themes of belonging through art and spirituality.

Some might not immediately see the thread connecting my projects. Still, every initiative I’ve launched since 2020 traces its roots back to the ideas I explored in my first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. I prefer to travel along many lanes, changing directions and taking the scenic route—discovering new back roads and unexpected stops along the way.

My work with writers, parents, and anyone grappling with loneliness shares a common purpose: I help people move toward greater integration and freedom, in ways that ripple into every area of life. Just last week, during a Spiritual Direction for Writers® session, a poet had a profound “a-ha” moment about detaching from others’ opinions—not only about her poems, but also about how she inhabits her creative process. As she reflected, she realized this same wisdom could transform her relationship with her young adult children. Her eyes lit up as she moved from perceived limitations into a new sense of expansiveness.

I often remind the writers I work with that “All of Life Is the Writing Life.” I believe we are constantly being shaped for the writing we’re meant to do—even during seasons when we’re not writing as much as we’d like, or when life’s interruptions pull us away from our creative practice. Everything is connected. Everything matters.

But this idea extends beyond writing. We are always being formed to belong in new ways, to parent in new seasons, to show up as fuller versions of ourselves. “All of Life Is the Writing Life” becomes “All of Life Is the Connected Life,” “All of Life Is the Parenting Life,” “All of Life Is the Painting Life,” and so on.

My creative journey doesn’t fit the mold of picking a single niche and staying put. I let go of that expectation a long time ago, and it’s a joy to help others find greater integration for themselves. Maybe the experts are right—maybe I’d have a bigger audience or more income if I focused on just one thing. But I’m not a one-trick pony. I’d rather embrace the fullness of life and belong more deeply to my whole self, and help others do the same.

Charlotte, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a writer, spiritual director, creative guide, and gatherer whose work revolves around cultivating sanctuaries of exploration, acceptance, and connection. My journey into this field began with a deep curiosity about belonging and the ways art and spirituality shape our lives. After earning my MFA in creative writing and a certificate in spiritual direction, I realized my calling was to help others find meaning and connection through creative and spiritual practices. My first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, published in 2020, set the foundation for much of my work by exploring how our experiences of loneliness can lead us into deeper relationships with ourselves, others, and the divine.

Through my various initiatives—Spiritual Direction for Writers®, Belonging through Art™, and Parenting with Art®—I offer resources, courses, retreats, and one-on-one sessions designed to support people as they navigate the complexities of creativity, parenting, and personal growth. My services include spiritual direction for writers, solo writing retreat guides, online courses, and hybrid classes for parents who want to integrate artful encounters into their family life. Each offering is crafted to help individuals develop sustainable practices that nourish their souls and foster a sense of belonging, whether they are writers seeking inspiration or parents hoping to enrich their children’s lives through exposing them to visual art, film, music, and more.

What sets my work apart is its holistic approach. I don’t believe in strict boundaries between creativity, spirituality, and daily life; instead, I help clients and readers integrate these aspects so they can flourish in every area. For example, in Spiritual Direction for Writers®, I guide writers to develop practices that honor their unique life circumstances, encouraging them to see all of life as part of the writing journey. Similarly, Parenting with Art® invites parents to “put their kids in the way of art,” enhancing their children’s emotional and spiritual development while nurturing curiosity and connection within the family.

The problems I solve are deeply human: disconnection, creative resistance, loneliness, and the struggle to balance responsibilities with personal growth. My clients often come to me feeling depleted or stuck, unsure how to move forward in their writing, parenting, or spiritual lives. Through compassionate listening, practical tools, and a posture of curiosity, I help them rediscover their creative spark, deepen their sense of belonging, and move toward greater integration and freedom. I’m especially proud of the moments when clients experience transformative insights—whether it’s a poet figuring out what’s keeping them from completing the manuscript they’ve been working on for several years or a parent discovering new ways to connect with their child through a museum visit.

Ultimately, I want readers, clients, and followers to know that my work is about more than just writing or parenting tips—it’s about creating spaces where people can belong more fully to themselves and each other. My brand is rooted in inclusivity, curiosity, and the belief that everything is connected. Whether you’re seeking guidance for your creative practice, support in your parenting journey, or simply a place to explore life’s big questions, I’m here to walk alongside you. I invite you to join me in exploring the many ways art and spirituality can help us all find our place in the world.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Last fall, two colleagues and I announced our plans to launch a nonprofit dedicated to Belonging through Art™. We met regularly, brought a grant writer on board, and made thoughtful decisions about how our organization could make a meaningful impact. However, as we began to navigate the current landscape of arts funding, we couldn’t ignore the significant cuts to support for arts nonprofits. This challenge prompted us to reevaluate our approach.

Rather than moving forward with our original nonprofit model, we decided to pivot and embrace a more collaborative vision. Now, we are working to create a vibrant network of arts organizations and businesses that share our belief in the transformative power of art to foster belonging—to ourselves, to each other, to our communities, and the wider world. In addition, we plan to provide resources to those who want to expand their Belonging through Art™ efforts and establish a foundation that will provide direct funding to individual artists, musicians, filmmakers, and writers engaged in this vital work.

This experience taught me the value of flexibility and the importance of responding creatively to obstacles. While the path forward looks different from what we initially imagined, I’m energized by the opportunity to build a broader coalition and support a diverse community of creatives who are helping people find connection and belonging through art.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is witnessing the genuine growth and transformation that others experience through my work. Whether someone encounters my first book, participates in one of my workshops or retreats, or simply engages with my writing online, I am deeply moved when I hear that these offerings have sparked new insights or opened up fresh possibilities in their creative or spiritual lives.

There’s a unique fulfillment that comes from knowing my work has helped someone move past creative resistance, find their true voice, or approach their relationship with the divine with greater honesty and intimacy. These moments of transformation—when someone tells me they finally feel free to make the art they’ve always longed to make, or that they can connect with themselves and others in more meaningful ways—sustain me, even when the external rewards of income or recognition are modest.

Doing this kind of work with authenticity and integrity isn’t always easy. The creative and spiritual paths can sometimes feel lonely, especially when the world measures success in numbers and accolades. But what matters most to me is the quiet, often unseen impact: the stories of individuals living more fully, creating more bravely, or exploring their spirituality with renewed openness. Knowing that my work has played a small part in someone’s journey toward wholeness and belonging makes every challenge and sacrifice worthwhile.

Ultimately, I believe that art and spirituality are about connection—connecting more deeply to ourselves, to each other, and to something greater than us. Facilitating those connections and witnessing the ripple effects in people’s lives is a gift I never take for granted. That is, without question, the greatest reward of all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://charlottedonlon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlottedonlon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlottedonlon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@charlottedonlonwriter
• Other: My new podcast, All of This & More: https://www.allofthisandmore.com/
  My first book: https://www.thegreatbelonging.com/buy-the-great-belonging-book
  Spiritual Direction for Writers®: https://www.spiritualdirectionforwriters.com/
  Parenting with Art®: https://www.parentingwithart.com/
  Belonging through Art™: https://www.belongingthroughart.com/

Image Credits

All photos: Hillary Hudson