Caroline Clark: 'This story completely surprised me'

About this episode

Caroline Clark discusses her unique writing process and the interconnectedness of her work across genres.

This Autumn series of podcasts started with Helon Habila confronting the difficult legacy of slavery in the US. Over the next few weeks, we'll be talking with Ephameron and Kasimma. But this time we welcome Caroline Clark and I Will Go. Clark tells us she isn't really sure where this haunting story started. "I could tell you a story about how this story came together," she says, "but it probably wouldn't be the real one." The author explains how she assembles her writing mosaic fashion, instead of a "linear, chronological manner". "I think that's what I have to do," she says, "to get my words out there – come upon something from a different angle." This mysterious process may have served her in poetry, memoir and now fiction, but she isn't hung up about genre, suggesting that her work is "all connected". "When I've written everything you'll have the video game of Caroline Clark," the author adds, "and you can play it." We'll be levelling up with Kasimma next time as we discuss history, equality and her short story Mama Taught Me That. You can find her here on the site or via Apple podcasts, Spotify, Acast and Podchaser and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for…

People in this episode

Guest: Caroline Clark

Topics covered

• writing process
• storytelling
• genre exploration
• poetry
• memoir
• fiction

Keywords

• Caroline Clark
• writing process
• storytelling
• poetry
• memoir
• fiction
• I Will Go
• Mama Taught Me That

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: I Will Go, Mama Taught Me That

More episodes of Fictionable

• Takiguchi Yūshō: 'When I’m writing fiction, I have very little sense I’m the one inventing the story' · May 16, 2026 · 20 min
• Holly Edwards: 'There's obviously something political about presenting trans characters' · May 9, 2026 · 17 min
• Joel Cox: 'It's fine to have jerks in stories, but you have to have something that makes the reader keep reading' · May 3, 2026 · 25 min
• Bruna Martini: 'I have spent too many months without drawing' · April 24, 2026 · 26 min
• Diana Evans: 'Writing is an act of hope' · April 16, 2026 · 20 min
• Cynthia Banham: 'Writing is a dangerous act' · February 20, 2026 · 26 min