Poetry and Belonging
Using poetry rituals to feel more connected
This summer I spent a month attending co-writing sessions offered by
at Spiritual Direction for Writers. I used this concentrated time to create a poetry manuscript and two chapbook manuscripts.Creating a Poetry Manuscript
These poems have been banging around for quite a while, and it felt like a good time to spread my net a little wider. So a few times a week throughout July I joined Charlotte in lighting a candle, taking six deep breaths, and getting to work in 40 minute chunks. First thing to note—40 minutes is the outside edge of my attention. I was very much done by the end of our sessions. Charlotte recommends taking notes on each writing session, leaving a few breadcrumbs so that you can find your way back into the work during the next session, and that was a fruitful addition to my practice.
By the end of the July I had a full manuscript; August was all about submissions. I’ve already gotten 2 manuscript rejections with 3 more publishers that I am waiting to hear back from. Wonder of all wonders—both chapbooks got picked up for publication.
Creating Rituals of Belonging
I sort of jumped into Charlotte’s work without knowing much beyond the evocative name of Spiritual Direction for Writers. It just sounded very much like an offering that I needed. I purchased Charlotte’s book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other for this year’s Jolabokaflod reading. But I was also so intrigued by her ritual to feel less alone. It’s a simple ritual focused on poetry.
Find a comfortable seat
Light a candle
Take 6 deep breaths
Read a poem
Blow out the candle
Yeah, that’s Charlotte using the chapbook that I created in her co-writing sessions to do the ritual. Talk about feeling more belonging! Here are the poems she read.
Elemental is available directly from Bottlecap Press. Wonderfully, Bottlecap offers pdf versions of the poems in case you want to get your DIY fix.
You can also order from me and then I can sign your book.
And I’d love to hear about rituals you are creating, poetic or otherwise.
So glad to have your writing here Kortney! This is just the spiritual practice I needed today 💙
Kortney, this gave me such a soft landing today. I love how gently this piece threads ritual into creativity—not as performance, but as presence. The simplicity of Charlotte’s candle + breath + poem ritual feels like a kind of poetic liturgy. And the fact that your chapbook became part of that sacred rhythm? That gave me chills. Thank you for this reminder that the work—and the way we arrive to it—matters. I’ll be borrowing that ritual.