Charles Wiegand - Author

Writing to Find Yourself

June 6, 2026

“A story is a letter that the author writes to himself, to tell himself things that he would be unable to discover otherwise.”
—Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind (commonly attributed)

Zafón’s evocative quote speaks to the essential, introspective nature of storytelling: that many stories begin not for an audience, but for the author’s own discovery. This isn’t just literary flourish; it’s a framing of writing as internal exploration.

You get ideas from daydreaming

June 1, 2026

“You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we're doing it.”
— Neil Gaiman

As writers, we're often asked, "Where do your ideas come from?" It's a question that, at first glance, seems straightforward. Yet, the answer delves deep into the essence of creativity and observation.

Neil Gaiman, in his essay "Where do you get your ideas?" addresses this very inquiry. He suggests that ideas aren't elusive treasures hidden in distant realms but are ever-present, waiting to be noticed. They emerge during mundane moments, while daydreaming, feeling bored, or simply observing the world around us.

When Ads Get More Care Than Editorials - A Media Reality That Hasn't Changed

May 25, 2026

"Far more thought and care go into the composition of any prominent ad in a newspaper or magazine than go into the writing of their features and editorials."
--Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (1964)

More than half a century ago, Marshall McLuhan issued this sharp insight - a critique that, if anything, has become more relevant today. His point was simple but unsettling: the advertisements we glance over are often more carefully constructed than the articles we intentionally seek out.

Change Your Actions, Change Your Mind

May 18, 2026

"It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking, than it is to think yourself into a new way of acting."
Multiple sources (see below)

We often hear that change begins in the mind. But what if that's only half the story?

"It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking than it is to think yourself into a new way of acting."

Always On the Way: Ariel Dorfman and the Gift of Displacement

May 11, 2026

“More than a traveler, I’m a displacer. In other words, I’m a person who is constantly meditating on what it means not to arrive at a place, but to be on my way somewhere else.”
—Ariel Dorfman, The Guardian (May 9, 2018)

At first glance, Ariel Dorfman’s quote sounds like something any frequent traveler might say. But as with much of his work, the meaning runs deeper than geography. Dorfman isn’t just describing physical movement—he’s describing a state of being, one that resonates especially with writers, exiles, immigrants, and those who never feel fully anchored in one place or identity.