One Quote + One Note + One Question January 2, 2024
One Quote
“There are old people who only think about the past, but it’s not like that around here.” She leaned her cane on a rock. “You have to do things,” she reflected. “There’s always a future, even if it’s very small.”
- Beatrice Monti della Corte, The New York Times
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One Note
Did you see The New York Times piece about Beatrice Monti della Corte and her fancy and exclusive writing residencies? (The title is “A Tuscan Retreat Where ‘Literature is the Primary Value’” if you want to read it.)
So dreamy.
The quote above inspires me to do the work I want and need to do by helping me have a hopeful view of time and the future, but I firmly believe writers and artists can flourish in ordinary places, plain surroundings, at home, sitting on a park bench.
I love that last sentence, “There’s always a future, even if it’s very small,” but I also value the very small writing life. The very small mothering life. The very small barista life. The very small life that The New York Times will never feature.
Small is good. Plain is good, too.
I’m sure the writers who have benefitted from Monti’s hospitality, art, books, swimming pool, meals, wine, and conversations have received an abundance of nourishment and so many good things for their bodies, minds, and souls. But we can all receive nourishment and good things in our homes and places close to home—local parks, libraries, bookshops, cafes, etc.
I genuinely believe this. I have to believe this. It makes zero sense for us to be called to make art right now that can’t be made in the places we inhabit right now.
It’s wonderful to go away to someplace lovely to write. I’m a huge fan of writing in hotels and other Not-My-Home spots during staycations and traveling. I’m a fan of all sorts of Solo Writing Retreats in locations far from home. But I don’t want people to think the best creative things only happen when they are away from the places where their mundane lives typically unfold. The best creative things can happen at home, too. My guess is most of the best creative things happen at home or close to home.
And there’s this: It takes less time to stay close to home. I have more time to make my art when I stay close to home. I have more time for all those other things, for which time can be a container.
Also, this morning, I read a science fiction short story exploring themes of time. I don’t read much science fiction, but this story ringed more true than so much of the nonfiction and creative nonfiction I’ve read over the years. I might tell you more about this story later. I’m keeping it for me for now.
Then I started reading a nonfiction book about time. I read a few different articles on time, too. None told me anything I haven’t already thought about. Maybe those words will be new and good for some people. Not me. Which is fine.
The book and articles didn’t give me what I wanted, but sometimes discovering what we don’t want helps us know what we do want. So, at One O’Clock Central, this afternoon, I’ll take some time to think about how I don’t want formulas or equations for redeeming time. How I don’t want my relationship with time to depend on me doing certain things the right way. I want all of time to matter. I want to belong to all of time, not just some of it.
Until next time,
Charlotte
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One Question
Where will you be when you make some art or do good work today or tomorrow or one day soon?
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One At-Home Solo Writing Retreat
One List of 15 Tips for At-Home Solo Writing Retreats While Other People Are Home
One Interruption That Took More of My Time Today Than I Prefer
Another Spiritual Direction for Writers® trademark infringement. It’s fine. It’s part of the gig. I honestly don’t understand why people are so defensive and difficult about it, though.
One Thing Too Many People Are Really Bad At
Apologies
Charlotte Donlon’s writing and work are always rooted in helping her readers, audience, and clients notice how art and other good things help them belong to themselves, others, the divine, and the world. Charlotte is the founder of Thoughtful Books Etc.™, One O’Clock Central, Spiritual Direction for Writers® , Spiritual Direction for Belonging™, and Parenting with Art™. Her first book was The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. Her next book on Spiritual Direction for Writers will be published by Eerdmans in 2024 or 2025. Charlotte’s essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and a certificate in spiritual direction. To receive Charlotte’s latest updates, news, announcements, and all kinds of good things, subscribe to Thoughtful Readers Etc. + Five Good Things.