What is Pagewake?
Pagewake is made for the dreamers. The storytellers who are deeply passionate about their work. The ones following our characters all the way from “once upon a time” to “the end”.
If you’re looking for quick soundbites and writing hacks, keep scrolling. Here, we dive deep into stories, how they work, and why they matter—because they do matter. Stories give us hope and provide us with a sanctuary. They can be our reason for getting up in the morning. This space is about learning: about the life-giving force of inspiration, about structure and storycraft, and about how to fully realise the worlds we carry in our heads and in our hearts.
Pagewake is mostly aimed at speculative fiction writers—authors of fantasy, science fiction, and all adjacent genres, including romantasy and paranormal romance—but many of our posts will resonate, no matter what you write.
During July, we’ll have a new every Wednesday, digging into the art and craft of storytelling—and everything in between.
Who am I?
I’m Cae Hawksmoor, a developmental editor and lifelong storyteller. That is, I spend my days working with writers, helping them to refine, polish, and perfect their stories and achieve their publishing dreams.
Like many people with traumatic childhoods, I started escaping into stories almost as soon as I could read. And haven’t stopped in the four decades since. Writing is the only thing I’ve ever been any good at, and honestly? The only thing I know how to do. I’m an SFWA-qualifying author, an award-nominated short story writer, and I still feel like I’m just getting started.
I hold a degree in English Literature with Creative Writing, graduated from the prestigious Clarion West speculative fiction writing workshop, and have been working full-time as a developmental editor for almost five years.
To say I care about stories is an understatement.
They’re only reason I’m still here.
Why I’m doing this
While I love my work as a developmental editor, it has its limitations. Because I spend weeks (sometimes months!) on a single novel, my services can be prohibitively expensive for many writers.
When I first started out, there’s no way I could afford the help of someone like me. In fact, that’s how I ended up here: since I couldn’t pay anyone to teach me about storytelling, I had to teach myself—piece by piece, year after year. I read everything I could find. I wrote endlessly. I learned through trial and error, submitted stories, listened to feedback, and weathered rejection.
Pagewake exists to help writers like that. Writers who care deeply about their craft, but can’t pay thousands for the personalised attention of an editor. Through regular posts on storycraft, conflict and character, wonder, and the power of inspiration, I’ll be sharing everything I’ve learned: forty years of writing, reading, and discovery—delivered straight to your inbox.
Why subscribe?
If that sounds like your kind of journey, I’d love to have you along. I'll be sharing some of the most valuable things I've learned. Lessons that changed how I write, that inform my work as an editor, and transformed everything I knew about story. And for the time being, all my posts are free to read.
Wherever you are in your writing career, and whether you can afford a paid subscription or not, I’ll always make sure there’s something for you here. Something to light your path as we all find our way through the dark.
Praise for my work
Reach out
I’m most active on Threads, where I post regular writing advice and host conversations, but you can also find me on BlueSky and Instagram.
If you want to contact me directly, the best way is to fill out the form on my website.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
