Ben Charland
@bencharland.bsky.social
Writer, communications consultant and English / Creative Writing instructor based in Whitehorse, Yukon. “Walking Down the Street Naked” is my weekly Substack. Working on a novel when my wife and two toddlers let me…
Visit and learn more at bencharland.com
Visit and learn more at bencharland.com
Canada is Worth Fighting For
Our country is not perfect. But it is ours.
bencharland.substack.com
April 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
"I am writing a novel". This is a pretty fun post about the back and forth struggle of writing, sharing, creating and smacking heads against walls. What changes when you state that all out loud? #writing #creativewriting #novel
I am writing a novel
And other things you don't want to hear
bencharland.substack.com
April 18, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"I am writing a novel". This is a pretty fun post about the back and forth struggle of writing, sharing, creating and smacking heads against walls. What changes when you state that all out loud? #writing #creativewriting #novel
This history of the Hudson's Bay Company by Stephen R. Bown is even more relevant with the company's collapse. Understanding history helps us make sense of the present. I wrote about the book, & my own experiences canoeing across #Canada, a few months ago on my #Substack.
#CanadianHistory #HBC
#CanadianHistory #HBC
History isn't boring anymore
Canoes, Canada, the how history explains the present
bencharland.substack.com
April 17, 2025 at 10:27 PM
This history of the Hudson's Bay Company by Stephen R. Bown is even more relevant with the company's collapse. Understanding history helps us make sense of the present. I wrote about the book, & my own experiences canoeing across #Canada, a few months ago on my #Substack.
#CanadianHistory #HBC
#CanadianHistory #HBC
Some thoughts and advice on starting a podcast, a form that is still going strong — and is arguably now the dominant type of political media. #podcast #podcasting #woego
So you want to start a podcast
Some thoughts and advice
open.substack.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Some thoughts and advice on starting a podcast, a form that is still going strong — and is arguably now the dominant type of political media. #podcast #podcasting #woego
The quest for the perfect writing hour continues.
I usually agree with the morning consensus... But there's a deeper question: not just what time of day should I try to write, but what state of mind?
#AmWriting #Substack
I usually agree with the morning consensus... But there's a deeper question: not just what time of day should I try to write, but what state of mind?
#AmWriting #Substack
When should I write?
And can a "history of intelligence" help?
open.substack.com
April 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
The quest for the perfect writing hour continues.
I usually agree with the morning consensus... But there's a deeper question: not just what time of day should I try to write, but what state of mind?
#AmWriting #Substack
I usually agree with the morning consensus... But there's a deeper question: not just what time of day should I try to write, but what state of mind?
#AmWriting #Substack
Ever ruined Thanksgiving dessert as a kid? My tale from Mafia Island, Tanzania goes from childhood mischief to a memorable haircut in East Africa. It's about creativity, control, and what happens when you let an artist with scissors have his way. #TravelStories #Tanzania
The Pumpkin Pie Barber
A story from Mafia Island, Tanzania
open.substack.com
April 6, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Ever ruined Thanksgiving dessert as a kid? My tale from Mafia Island, Tanzania goes from childhood mischief to a memorable haircut in East Africa. It's about creativity, control, and what happens when you let an artist with scissors have his way. #TravelStories #Tanzania
I read “Elantris” by Brandon Sanderson and thought of the Karate Kid… #karatekid #fantasy #brandonsanderson #film #movie
Elantris and the Karate Kid
How a book could learn from a movie
open.substack.com
December 9, 2024 at 6:14 PM
I read “Elantris” by Brandon Sanderson and thought of the Karate Kid… #karatekid #fantasy #brandonsanderson #film #movie
About “American Gods” by @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com. #book #books #writing #write #writer #religion #mythology #novel
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
How we are shaped by what we believe
open.substack.com
December 8, 2024 at 6:24 PM
About “American Gods” by @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com. #book #books #writing #write #writer #religion #mythology #novel
13 months now. #games #gaming #gamer #videogames #discoelysium #stellaris #baldursgate @mackeza.bsky.social
Six Months of Sobriety
(from video games)
open.substack.com
December 7, 2024 at 7:13 PM
13 months now. #games #gaming #gamer #videogames #discoelysium #stellaris #baldursgate @mackeza.bsky.social
On “The Library Book” by @susanorlean.bsky.social.
#writing #write #library #libraries #nonfiction #creativenonfiction
#writing #write #library #libraries #nonfiction #creativenonfiction
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
On the book, libraries, listening vs. reading, and more
open.substack.com
December 5, 2024 at 4:34 PM
On “The Library Book” by @susanorlean.bsky.social.
#writing #write #library #libraries #nonfiction #creativenonfiction
#writing #write #library #libraries #nonfiction #creativenonfiction
Some thoughts on “Writing and Failure”, a blistering yet refreshing take on what it means to write by @stephenmarche.bsky.social.
#writing #writer #write #canada
#writing #writer #write #canada
Writing and Failure
Thoughts on Stephen Marche's provocative book
open.substack.com
December 3, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Some thoughts on “Writing and Failure”, a blistering yet refreshing take on what it means to write by @stephenmarche.bsky.social.
#writing #writer #write #canada
#writing #writer #write #canada
On AI and Writing: A Faustian Bargain?
#ai #artificialintelligence #writing #write #writers #creativewriting
#ai #artificialintelligence #writing #write #writers #creativewriting
AI
A Faustian bargain?
open.substack.com
December 3, 2024 at 1:59 AM
On AI and Writing: A Faustian Bargain?
#ai #artificialintelligence #writing #write #writers #creativewriting
#ai #artificialintelligence #writing #write #writers #creativewriting
"The prospect of a world-destroying conflict is not only plausible. It seems inevitable. It’s hard to believe we can keep Pax Atomica going. There are too many hands on too many triggers."
bencharland.substack.com/p/disaster-p... #nuclearwar #writing #substack #anniejacobsen
bencharland.substack.com/p/disaster-p... #nuclearwar #writing #substack #anniejacobsen
Disaster Porn or Wake-up Call?
Annie Jacobsen's "Nuclear War: A Scenario"
bencharland.substack.com
November 29, 2024 at 3:19 PM
"The prospect of a world-destroying conflict is not only plausible. It seems inevitable. It’s hard to believe we can keep Pax Atomica going. There are too many hands on too many triggers."
bencharland.substack.com/p/disaster-p... #nuclearwar #writing #substack #anniejacobsen
bencharland.substack.com/p/disaster-p... #nuclearwar #writing #substack #anniejacobsen
Want to write a play? I spoke with Dave White on #CBC Airplay about a playwriting class I'm teaching at #YukonU in January. Have a listen and sign up for the course while seats remain!
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
#playwright #playwriting #writing #whitehorse #yukon #creativewriting #theatre
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
#playwright #playwriting #writing #whitehorse #yukon #creativewriting #theatre
www.cbc.ca
November 27, 2024 at 6:19 PM
Want to write a play? I spoke with Dave White on #CBC Airplay about a playwriting class I'm teaching at #YukonU in January. Have a listen and sign up for the course while seats remain!
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
#playwright #playwriting #writing #whitehorse #yukon #creativewriting #theatre
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
#playwright #playwriting #writing #whitehorse #yukon #creativewriting #theatre
Bird by Bird
Anne Lamott's book on writing
open.substack.com
November 27, 2024 at 2:21 PM
I wrote a Substack about my poem, "Sunshine Cinema", which won an award from @arcpoetry.bsky.social earlier this year. Check it out! #writing #substack #poetry #poem #newyork #nyc #newyorkcity #sunshinecinema #cinema
Sunshine Cinema
How I wrote the poem
bencharland.substack.com
November 26, 2024 at 5:42 PM
I wrote a Substack about my poem, "Sunshine Cinema", which won an award from @arcpoetry.bsky.social earlier this year. Check it out! #writing #substack #poetry #poem #newyork #nyc #newyorkcity #sunshinecinema #cinema
To Rush or Not to Rush
Plus some notes about Steve Jobs
open.substack.com
November 25, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Walking Down the Street Naked
Why I've been afraid to share my writing and what to do about it
open.substack.com
November 24, 2024 at 8:14 PM