My Book about Parenting with Art Won’t Leave Me Alone
Last week I told a friend all about a book about parenting with art that I had decided I wasn’t going to write, at least not anytime soon. I put it off because someone I trust was like but you don’t really write about parenting.
I’ve been working on another book that is in my lane. But I keep writing and writing and I can’t figure out what it’s *about.* I don’t even know what needs to be on page one.
Two days ago, I found myself in Durham, at the same dining table where the idea for the parenting book was born, and I realized that book won’t leave me alone. When I sat down yesterday morning to write, I wrote page one for my book about parenting with art. I started typing and the words flowed. I stopped writing when I had enough words to fill the first page of my next book.
The book begins with the perfect in medias res scene, and I know what needs to come next. I’m excited and relieved and delighted.
I haven’t written about parenting much over the years because I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. But the things I do know seem to be more than sufficient. Helping my kids engage with others’ art is one of those things.
Also. I didn’t need to write about parenting until I was sure what I have to offer can benefit others. My kids are old enough now (19yo & 17yo) for me to be 100% sure this book will benefit others.
Here’s an excerpt from the first page of my next book. This comes after I introduce the perfect in medias res scene:
No one told me to do this. None of the parenting books I read before I stopped reading parenting books suggested anything like this. None of the parenting experts who wrote those books would have this on their list of Seven Ways to Be a Good Parent During Your Child’s Mental Health Crisis… I want to put my daughter in the way of art to help her heal and thrive because art–all forms and genres of high art, low art, and all of the in-between art–has helped me heal and thrive since I was a child. I give my kids art to help them stay alive because I need art to help me stay alive.
So, I’m writing a book about parenting with art. And I’m going to put that other book off for a bit.
*This was originally posted on Instagram.
*Thumbnail image for this post by John Schnobrich on Unsplash.
Charlotte Donlon is a writer and a spiritual director for writers. Her current writing and work are rooted in noticing how art helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Her first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other, was published in November 2020. Learn more about Charlotte, her writing, and her work at charlottedonlon.com and ourfaithinwriting.com. You can also sign up for her email newsletter and connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.