< Back #11 Alan Watts, "Six Men" April 2, 2024 "Smartphones brought the internet everywhere. Many times I’ve walked into a public bathroom and everyone is simultaneously using a urinal and staring at a screen. - Ezra Klein, NY Times, Aug. 7, 2022 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Thanks to J.P. Tilleman for collaboration Alan Watts - Six Men 00:00 / 05:42 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Attention, writers and performers: I have openings for mentoring/coaching starting in February. Previous Next

< Back #7 Poetry Unwound December 7, 2023 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Poetry Unwound 00:00 / 02:00 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Previous Next

< Back #19 Bernie's "All of Me" Dream March 27, 2025 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Collaboration: J.P. Tilleman & David Ford Bernie’s Dream - All of Me 00:00 / 03:56 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Announcements #1 Don't postpone writing your memoir! Say What You Mean Before You Die New session starts May 1 #2 Join me on Saturday, April 5th in the "Hands Off!"National Day of Action to oppose the dismantling of essential programs and the billionaire power grab. Be part of it Previous Next

< Back #8 Bernie's Henry Kissinger Dream December 14, 2023 Written by Charlie Varon & David Ford Performed by Charlie Varon Bernie's Henry Kissinger Dream 00:00 / 03:24 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Use code BONBON and save $25 on the Intensive Previous Next

< Back #16 Election Anxiety October 27, 2024 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Special thanks to David Ford & J.P. Tilleman Feeeling a tad anxious about the election? Click here Election anxiety 00:00 / 03:54 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Attention, writers and performers: I have openings for mentoring/coaching starting in February. Previous Next

< Back #13 Alan Watts, "Puzzling Evidence" June 28, 2024 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Collaboration: J.P. Tilleman Alan Watts - Puzzling Evidence 00:00 / 06:00 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Attention, writers and performers: I have openings for mentoring/coaching starting in February. Previous Next

< Back #15 Bernie's Dream - Oct 2024 October 10, 2024 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Collaboration: J.P. Tilleman Bernie's Dream - Oct 2024 00:00 / 04:50 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Attention, writers and performers: I have openings for mentoring/coaching starting in February. Previous Next

The art of revision allows us to go deeper, think in ways we otherwise could not, and make our writing better. 7 Rules for Revision Revising our writing allows us to go deeper, think in ways we otherwise could not, and make our writing stronger and more readable. RULE #1: Eliminate restatements (unless there’s good cause)   RULE #2: Stop at the top of the mountain No plateauing, no slow “leaks” of energy True of sentences, paragraphs, sections RULE #3: Keep looking for better language Circle obvious or familiar words or phrases and find fresher, more vivid replacements Beware descriptors of emotion or diagnoses (“Show, don’t tell”) The struggle for better language can open new discovery   RULE #4: It’s always too long. Cut too much and see what you miss. Trick: use a highlighter, and make a version that has only what you've highlighted. See what, if anything, you miss. (You can always put it back in.)   RULE #5: Make two kinds of cuts... Pare away at language within a sentence Cut (or compress) entire sentences, paragraphs, or sections   Another way of thinking about this... Can a section become a paragraph? Can a paragraph become a sentence? Can a sentence become a phrase? Can a phrase become a word? RULE #6: Read what you've written out loud and see if the voice is true to you.   RULE #7: You’ve cut and compressed; what else do you want to say NOW? Having revised your work, look at it with fresh eyes and ask where else the piece could go. Switch from Editing mode back to Generative mode; start writing and go as far as you can.

A discernment form for writers A discernment form for writers Download the form

KPFA April Fool's Prank 2007 Charlie Varon 's KPFA April Fool's Day Prank 2007 Charlie Varon's KPFA April Fools Prank - 2007 00:00 / 13:43 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Collaboration: Marc Fisher In 2007, KPFA's Larry Bensky asked Charlie to fill in for him on his Sunday Salon show. Charlie did, and here's what happened. Attention, writers and performers: I have openings for mentoring/coaching .

Charlie Varon's ideas about how to keep going as an artist

1-on-1 writing coaching with Charlie Varon The world is not set up for us to do our best work as artists. The odds are against us. But with commitment, structure and guidance, we can change those odds. "Not just a great director and writing coach, Charlie helps me navigate my creative life. He is a therapist for artists." Emily Silverman , M.D. , founder of The Nocturnists medical storytelling series "My memoir was stalled for a decade. Thanks to Charlie's guidance, I now have 20,000 words under my belt." Barbara Saunders , writer and writing coach "Charlie has been my collaborator, director and mentor for 20 years. He has helped me stay on my creative path with dignity, self-reflection and joy." Dan Hoyle , playwright and performer “Charlie Varon helps me explore, deepen, and find joy in the creative process. He is a master of character development for both the page and the stage.” Kenny Yun , solo theater artist Email me if you'd like to find out more about my coaching/mentoring, and set up a free 20" consultation .