Ask the Author: Claire M. Caterer
Answered Questions (9)
Claire M. Caterer
Oooh, a tough one! I've been on a Jane Austen kick lately, listening to all the audiobooks (Juliet Stevenson does a marvelous job, as does Rosamund PIke). So I'd have to say Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy. They are both proud--and prejudiced!--in their own ways, and I love to see the softening in both of them.
Claire M. Caterer
I was incredibly excited to begin work on THE WAND & THE SEA, which is my most recent published novel. I knew it would involve water, because each book in the series focuses on a different element (fire, water, earth, air, and aether). It seemed natural for a water novel to involve a sea voyage, and from there, pirates were an easy next step. What could be more fun?
Claire M. Caterer
I always tell writers that there are six steps to becoming a writer: Read, read, read. And write, write, write. Read as much as possible in the genre of your choice as well as widely in OTHER genres. If you don't like to read, I find it hard to believe that you'll enjoy writing, and it is something you'd better love if you want to try it. Then write as much as you can. I believe in the Ray Bradbury model--if you write every day for a year, you're going to be better on December 31 than you were on January 1. Be prepared to do the hard work and to take criticism. Edit yourself harshly. And don't give up!
Claire M. Caterer
If I'm blocked, there's usually a good reason. Maybe the idea isn't fleshed out enough, so it needs more nuance, a subplot, or more characters. Or maybe I don't know enough about the subject and need to do more research. Usually, if it's not one of those things, I take a walk or do something else unrelated to the book to see if new ideas come to me. Then I make notes, or muse on paper in stream-of-consciousness style. Something's bound to come unstuck at that point.
Claire M. Caterer
I like to establish character right off the bat. I know a lot of people think you have to start in the middle of an action scene, but as a reader, I find that disorienting (who is this? where is she going? who is she running from?). While that keeps me turning pages, I need answers pretty quickly, or I'll lose interest. So as a writer, I jump in to establish the character just as something big is about to happen to him/her--going on an unexpected trip, getting a strange gift, sneaking out of the house--and I go from there. Thanks for asking, Justin!
Claire M. Caterer
Thank you so much for your kind words, Collins. Yes, I'm planning a 5-part series. I don't have a timetable for Book #3 as yet. Publishers like to look at current sales to determine whether a series should be continued, so the jury is still out on that. But I do have #3 plotted and am going ahead with the writing, so fingers crossed! By the way, if your daughter would like any "swag"--bookmarks, stickers, etc.--just drop me a line at readerchat [at] cmcaterer [dot] com. Thanks for asking!
Claire M. Caterer
Being given permission to dream.
Claire M. Caterer
Right now my editor and I are hammering out edits for THE WAND & THE SEA, which is a sequel to THE KEY & THE FLAME. I'm also working on an unrelated, secret-for-now project that I'm very excited about.
Claire M. Caterer
The best way to "get inspired" is not to wait for inspiration. If you're a slave to the muse, you'll end up with the dirtiest jobs, like scrubbing the scullery floor. I sit down every day and write. If it's not an inspiring day, there's a lot of sighing and head scratching involved. But inspiration is a lot more likely to show up if I do, so I try not to miss a date.
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