Tag: caroline hardaker

How poetry taught me to write better fiction

Whether it’s the sweep of a stanza or the careful construction of a scene, there’s a curious intimacy in the act of writing. For years, I was a poet first. My early writing life was laced with line breaks, metaphor, and breath. And much of my prose still is! Though I now straddle the worlds…

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Why I write the strange, the quiet, and the beautiful

There’s a particular moment, just before the sun rises above the houses at the end of our street, when the light turns the treetops copper. The shadows stretch, the birds awaken, and for a breath or two, the world feels both ancient and oddly delicate. Like something could slip through a crack in the sky…

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Writer’s guide to world-building – research methods for historical fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi

Crafting immersive and believable worlds is a cornerstone of compelling storytelling. Whether you’re delving into the annals of history, conjuring fantastical realms, or designing futuristic worlds, thorough research is essential to ground your narrative and captivate readers. This quick guide for writers explores tailored world-building research strategies for a range of genres, including historical fiction,…

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The Death of the Author and the Rise of the Reader

Did you know that the act of reading is a collaborative act? When I write a story, I’m writing a journey. I’m laying down the paving slabs, planting the trees, building the houses. I’m colouring the sky. Making it rain. But it’s the reader that walks this path. It’s the reader who steps into the…

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7 top tips – how to find your unique writing voice

When setting out on your writing journey, one of the key essential ways to create unique and memorable stories is to find your own writing voice.

But what does ‘writing voice’ really mean, and how can you find yours?

My words for 2025

Happy New Year, everyone! 2024 was a mixed bag (feel free to read my honest review of 2024 and it’s ups and many downs here). 2025 is as yet a bit of a question mark. BUT, I do have plans. Big plans. The current ‘WIP’ This is my Sea Book, the one I’ve been teasing…

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Journal #27 – Have a cuppa with me

It’s been a little while, hasn’t it? I’ve been working. Writing. Editing. Planning. Mothering. Caring. Cleaning. Tidying. Organising. And living. Trying my best to. I’ve become one of those incredibly stretched people, pasted thin on the walls of their lives. Every wall. Top and bottom. But it’s all so important. All of it. Telling stories….

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