Welcome to Trainwrecks
This is a place for anyone who’s rebuilding.
Whether you’re facing illness, addiction, or loss, Trainwrecks shares stories that deepen understanding of difficult behaviours, misunderstood illnesses, and the people living with them. It’s about bringing these experiences to life in a way that’s relatable, honest, and sometimes even quietly funny.
I write about:
Starting Over – Breakups, loss, illness, rock bottom and the long, slow climb out.
Addiction, Mental Illness & Recovery – Honest, sometimes uncomfortable reflections on commonly misunderstood illnesses.
Recommendations – Books, music, places, movies.
Trainwreck Q&A – Send any question my way, and I’ll respond without judgement.
New posts every week, straight to your inbox.
About Me
I'm Charlotte Bell — a freelance writer based in Aotearoa with a Master of Writing (Distinction) and a background in science. My writing is grounded in personal experience, and explores recovery, shame, and the ways we make sense of health.
My essays in Trainwrecks focus on the aftermath: what happens after the diagnosis, the breakup, the rehab stint, the redundancy. My hope is that these stories help us understand ourselves and each other.
My wider work spans essays, features, brand copy and travel writing. You can find that here.
Why Your Subscription Matters
Trainwrecks offers a mix of free and paid content. Some posts are open to all and others are deeper, more personal, and are just for paid subscribers.
If the work resonates with you, a paid subscription helps me keep going. It supports:
Writing and reporting on addiction, mental illness, and the systems that shape us
The slow, quiet work of writing a novel about institutions, eugenics, and the aftershocks of state control — set in a rehab that used to be a psychopaedic hospital
Bonus Q&As, behind-the-scenes notes, and essays I don’t always publish publicly
You’ll still get weekly essays either way — but paid subscribers receive a second post each week: often more intimate, messy, or vulnerable.
A paid subscription is a way to support writing stories that deserved to be told. If that sounds like something worth supporting, I’d be forever grateful.
Other Things I Offer
I am developing The Writer’s Project — a range of affordable, accessible writing courses for people at all levels. Whether you’re here for self-reflection or creative expression, I’m designing these offerings to help you:
Build confidence in your voice
Use writing as a tool for wellbeing
Understand the foundations of good writing
Write more freely across your socials, website, or newsletter
✎ Outlet: A Writing Practice
A reflective writing course for self-awareness, emotional clarity and release
Outlet is a guided, low-pressure practice to support emotional wellbeing through reflective writing. With simple prompts and gentle structure, it’s a space to slow down, pay attention, and meet yourself on the page — no editing, no pressure, no pretence.
You don’t need experience. Just curiosity.
Learn more and join the waitlist →
If You're in the Thick of It
Whether you're surviving a breakup, navigating illness, stuck in a spiral, or just trying to get through the week —Trainwrecks is the place for you.
