About the writer I have written since childhood, at times compulsively. Whilst I’m not sure what started me off, I’m sure it had something to do with my grandfather, who lived with us, and his enthusiasm for poetry and folk music, the latter bashed out with gusto on melodeon or mouth organ. This made me appreciate the rhythmic effect of words many years before I even started to think too deeply about their meanings. Some early pieces a long, long time ago received very positive notices, but for one reason and another, it is only in the past five years or so that I have seriously focused upon my writing as something with an audience. During this time, I have had upward of a hundred poems and a few short stories published, including two poetry collections, The Kind Ghosts (2004) and Carrying Fire (2006). Subsequent readings have taken me to festivals in Ilkley, Edinburgh and Orta San Giulio (supported by Arts Council England) and occasional readings from York to New York. I also edited a collection of eight new writers (from four continents), Truths and Disguises (2005), and a spoken word CD, Tales of the Fox (2006). My major current project is a book on English medieval misericords, on which I have published several academic articles. In addition to this, I am half of the folk duo Sixpenny Wayke (with Paul Coleman, contributor to both Truths and Disguises and Tales of the Fox)… and still writing the poems. The creative process As Erasmus says in Adagia (1500), ‘the desire to write grows with writing.’ Carry a notebook and pen with you at all times – not just any notebook and pen, but ones with which you feel comfortable, so that the writing seems to come straight from you without the interference of awkward objects. Write down everything that seems important or interesting – however wonderful the idea, the chances are that you won’t remember it exactly when you get home. Equally important – read. Read anything and everything and think about why some words work together better than others. Finally, always read your work out aloud – it’s a great way to check the flow of language. Oz Hardwick |
