I Can't Change The World (A Love Letter)
But maybe my writing can
It helps me enormously if you drop a heart on this newsletter, forward it to a friend, or share it on social media. Or subscribe to get me in your inbox! And I adore comments! I love hearing from you, so you can hit reply and email me any time. Writing these newsletters is part of how I make a living as a writer, so I welcome paid subscriptions, too. It’s not too late to join the Artist’s Way class—we had our first gathering yesterday and it was a lively inspiration!
Hi lovies,
Tomorrow is a big day.
And it likely heralds big changes. Twists and turns.
I can’t do anything about any of it. I’m not a politician, I’m not a reformer or a demonstrator. (One of my wise teachers once told me, “Not everyone is an activist.” She’s right. And I felt such relief hearing that from her.)
But I am a writer. I’m a writer who writes to engage emotion, to see beauty, and to seek connection. And I do believe that writing can and does change the world. But I don’t just mean your words influencing somebody (which is important to be sure). I mean the act of doing it, the process of writing.
Writing is creation and creation saves the world. I believe that. (It’s one of the reasons I’m offering the Artist’s Way course.)
And writing is also a cup of comfort.
And that is what I offer you today. A cup of comfort for the road ahead. It’s cold here, and since it’s January, it’s likely chilly where you are, too. And so I offer you the cozy drink of your choice, a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, a glass of wine?
I offer you encouragement to take to the page. Or go throw paint at a canvas. Collage in an art journal. Stitch or knit. Pore over a seed catalog and plan a garden. Pull a tarot card to inspire you. String some beads together for a bracelet. Bundle up and go for a walk while pondering your writing. (There will be a nice, hot cup of comfort waiting for you.) Whatever it is you love to create, go do it.
It’s what will heal us. It’s what will change the world. I have to believe that.
You’ll not find me watching any news tomorrow.
Instead, I’ll be here at my desk, my pug at my feet by the heater, a cup of coffee at hand, looking forward to a glass of wine while connecting with my hub later. Doing what I do best. Writing.
Love, light, and good writing,
Charlotte
P.S. Tell me about your writing. How’s it going? Are you feeling energized with the start of the new year? Or overwhelmed by the state of the world? Talk to me.
Books
The Artist’s Way Toolkit by Julia Cameron. I ordered this immediately when I first saw it listed, because, of course, I’m currently facilitating an Artist’s Way group. I only just got it on Friday so I’ve not had a chance to dive deep. Since it focuses mostly on the tools, I think it’s likely best for people who’ve already read the book.
The Seaside Sisters by Pamela Kelley. This is a palate cleanser. Kelley is an inspiration because she’s prolific and she published a ton on her own before getting picked up by St. Martin’s press. And her books are predictable, and thus comforting when you don’t know what else to read. And since I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately…
Resources
How to love winter. (Don’t kill me, but I am a fan. Of winter, I mean. And January, too.)
Roxane Gay runs a short-story contest on her Substack. I loved the most recent winner, and not only because it was about stitching.
Nope, Not Buying It. The always-reliable Janice Hardy weighs in on how to maintain believability in your writing.
A random list of helpful writing tips, from me.
Workshops in England and France
All the latest information, including dates and cost, for our 2025 England workshops is now listed on our website. I’ve just updated our France page as well!
And if you want a taste of the adventure that awaits, you can read my posts about this year here, and here, here, here, and here.
Other places to connect with me:
My website (badly in need of an upgrade)
Our workshop website
My original blog (now for archive purposes only, no longer updated, but damn there are a lot of articles on it)
Thanks for reading! I’m so grateful for every set of eyes on this newsletter.
Before I rave (ha) about my writing I'll comment about tomorrow. I will be wearing all black tomorrow and maybe all week. And absolutely I'll not be watching any television. Now about my writing, hmmm. I am very hopeful about a new beginning with the Julia Cameron material and led by our Charlotte. This morning's pages were an utter travail, but I did it for two reasons: I signed the contract and because I didn't want to have to confess to Charlotte that I went back to bed instead.
I pretty much raged for four years "the first time." Too bad my toxic habit of four to six hours of news shows daily (to feed my anger) didn't change any of what was going on. The only thing it did was take me away from my writing.
This time 'round (and with LA and other tragic goings on), I find myself a bit on the Pollyanna side. No news for me. No stoking the hate. This time around I choose to focus on hope and my belief that life leans toward the good. So I'm focusing on the small things: I woke up, my cat Tuxie is the best snuggle bug ever, I have a fridge full of food and can take a hot soaky bubble bath anytime I please. And, I can write. I write like a demon, like a boss--like a person who knows what's good for them. Writing keeps me grounded. It generates something positive. And "this time," I'm gifting myself that positive energy and sharing it. Come get some if you need it. Love and light from California, all. 😎