Charlie Euchner

As the title of this site says, I am a writer at large. I am an independent author who writes books, articles, reports, blogs, and more.

More specifically: I love to dive into complexity, find the telling stories and patterns, and share what I have learned.

My latest such work is Rules of Activism, published in December 2025 by Polity Press. I have written comprehensive books on writing, storytelling, and public policy. I have two more in the works–one on planning, one on power.

I coach other professionals and teams how to do this. Email me for updates on my “Five Maps” system for doing just that.

I have taught writing and storytelling at Yale and Columbia. I have also directed programs in government and think tanks.

Here are a few of my recent projects:

Rules of Activism
A concise but comprehensive work that identifies 15 imperatives for anyone seeking to make political and social change, with rich case studies showing the principles in action.
.
How to Build a Story
A comprehensive guide to the art and science of narrative, with 54 tactical, practical techniques you can use to build a story. Each tool is illustrated with iconic examples from literature, journalism, and film.
.
Teaching, Coaching, and Consulting
In addition to teaching writing at Yale, I offer seminars and help people and organizations to use narrative to make sense of the world and devise effective strategies for action.
.
Substack
Subscribe to StoryPower, which describes specific techniques you can to be make storytelling a key part of your work.

Let’s Talk

If you need help—whether you need to “get it done yesterday” or have longer-term needs—please email here.