As our clients continue to grow their library of content, Gatorworks has decided to expand our team with another talented content strategist. Meet Caroline Cordaro, the newest content writer on the Gatorworks family! With a love of developing creative, goals-driven content, Caroline brings her passion for writing into blogs, website copy, emails, and more. Get to know more about Caroline, her writing processes, and her interests.
When did you discover your love for writing?
In the second grade, I was diagnosed with learning disabilities like dyslexia and felt thoroughly mortified about how I struggled to keep up with my peers. So, every day after school, I practiced writing and would read for hours. Eventually, I exceeded the reading and writing level for my age group.
What was once a means of overcoming the challenges I faced eventually became a source of comfort and warmth. It’s something that grows with you instead of away. I wholly expect to be the woman in the nursing home blasting audiobooks like an EDM song at a music festival.
What is your favorite book of all time (or at least your current favorite)?
My favorite book is “Tale for The Time Being” by Ruth Ozeki. This book is a graceful jack-of-all-trades as it is mystical, playful, depressing, and full of hope. The plot revolves around the diary of a teenage girl named Nao who lives in Japan, and a writer, Ruth, who finds the diary washed up on the shore of her small British Columbian town in a Hello Kitty lunchbox. The reader unravels what happened to Nao, and as they are sucked into her world with Ruth, the book starts the process of digesting you. When you reach the end of the book, this book spits you back out with a hopeful new glow.
While I understand there is no such thing as a perfect book, this one comes pretty close for me. The plot twist, the realism of the characters, their complex issues, and the story’s themes were masterfully done. As much as I recommend this book to everyone, check the trigger warnings because the book contains difficult themes, even if there is an ending overflowing with warmth and hope. It is rare to find a book that ruthlessly transforms and softens your way of thinking.
What puts you in the zone for content writing?
I’ve finely tuned my writing process down to an art over the years. The work vibes have to be perfect, and not because I have ADHD. It’s because this is artistry.
First, I play an ambient sounds video from YouTube that suits my mood and the season. Most of the time, it is a Gryffindor Common Room or another Harry Potter-themed ASMR video. Next, I light my candle and turn on my oil diffuser. I am burning Fresh Cut Lilacs as I write this, but my favorite candle is Leaves by Bath and Body Works. Unfortunately, it’s an autumn-exclusive candle.
The only other mandatory part of my writing process is decorating and keeping my workspace clear. Anyone at the Gatorworks office who’s seen my desk knows how seriously I take my aesthetic. Right now, it’s pastel pink-themed, since I am inspired by Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde” in all areas of my life. After all, whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed!
Tell us about your most recent Dungeons & Dragons character!
Kleef of Clan Fergal is a furbolg and a Circle of Spores druid. Any mold utterly delights him, and he carries around an enormous backpack stuffed with vials of mold clinking with each step. Technically, he will lead his clan one day, but right now he is concentrated on discovering a remedy for the virus consuming his forest.
After spending all his time in an isolated forest clan, he’s realized the outside world is full of things he doesn’t understand. Especially the people. Inside his tiny home, he has science equipment, spore colonies, and three cats named after household molds. I named one Penicillium. Also, he talks in a weird, silly voice.
What was the worst book you were made to read in school?
Lord of the Flies! Not only was I hardly interested in a group of dirty, British boys going feral, but I was also forced to read it once a year for three years straight. The mere thought of that book is still enough to make me want to roll my eyes all these years later. If you put me on a deserted island, I promise you I would do better than they did. I would get off the island.