Ask the Author: C.C. Aune
Answered Questions (3)
C.C. Aune
A lot of factors go into the choosing of each character's name. First of all, the story is set in England during the early 1800s, so I consult online lists and make sure the names were either common or at least in some use for that time and place. Obviously, modern names like Tiffany and Zayne would not ring true for my genre, and I'm not a big fan of making up silly names that sound legitimate but also somehow fit the character's personality (like Charles Dickens did). OATH contains one notable exception to this rule, but if I explained the name now, it would be a spoiler for a revelation much later on. So...sorry!
Secondly, because I'm a genealogist with mostly English ancestry, I have a lot of family names from which I can draw. There are several characters in OATH whose names are pulled straight from my family tree, or have been modifed somewhat. People who know me well are privy to which characters those are.
My third rule of thumb comes from a pet peeve of mine: I can't stand reading books where several characters have similar names, or whose names all begin with the same letter. It's too easy to get them confused in my mind. So I usually make sure a new character's name begins with a letter that does not compete with the names of the other characters around him/her. This goes for first and last names, titles, and even locations. With only 26 letters, one can't always achieve perfect uniqueness, but I try. (OK, I admit this might be a bit OCD.)
Generally speaking, I don't have much trouble choosing character names. Unlike babies, you already know what their basic personality is, so you can choose one that seems to suit them just right.
Secondly, because I'm a genealogist with mostly English ancestry, I have a lot of family names from which I can draw. There are several characters in OATH whose names are pulled straight from my family tree, or have been modifed somewhat. People who know me well are privy to which characters those are.
My third rule of thumb comes from a pet peeve of mine: I can't stand reading books where several characters have similar names, or whose names all begin with the same letter. It's too easy to get them confused in my mind. So I usually make sure a new character's name begins with a letter that does not compete with the names of the other characters around him/her. This goes for first and last names, titles, and even locations. With only 26 letters, one can't always achieve perfect uniqueness, but I try. (OK, I admit this might be a bit OCD.)
Generally speaking, I don't have much trouble choosing character names. Unlike babies, you already know what their basic personality is, so you can choose one that seems to suit them just right.
C.C. Aune
The sequel is already written and it is currently in the revision process! In fact, I've got several other books already drafted. In the sequel to Oath, Prudence and Josephine discover that giving up their Talismans is not quite so simple, and as the Keeper rebellion grows, events will compel them to hone their respective magical skills. Helen and MacNeal will add two new perspectives to the mix, while the action spreads further afield into Europe. Wow, it's tough to hint at what's coming up and not jump into spoiler territory!
C.C. Aune
I really don't experience writer's block!
I always have so many irons in the fire that if one idea isn't progressing, I simply work on another. Let me explain.
First of all, I have my blog One Year of Letters , where I manage a team of writers, edit their work, post, promote, perform blog housekeeping, and also write my own pieces. Our personal essays cover all sorts of topics like emotions, parenting, writing, social justice, and relationships. Yes, I do have difficulty finding fresh ideas to write about. This is largely due to the current busy-ness of my team, with whom I like to toss ideas around. Our conversations get my brain chugging, but lately we've all had a lot on our individual plates. Yet as a rule, once I have an idea, I can pop out an 800-1000 word essay in an hour or less.
I also write the occasional short story. These usually come from a prompt of some sort, either a contest or a weird dream I had, or a sudden epiphany. Short story writing is difficult for me only when it comes to finding the inspiration. Once found, I have no trouble churning out the story. Depending on the length, this may take only a few hours to flesh out.
When it comes to long-form writing, I don't have any lack of ideas. THE ILL-KEPT OATH is only the first in what is likely to be a series of 5 or more books. Most of that material already exists in my computer, so it's only a matter of crafting and polishing the next instalment before starting the editing phase. I do have days where the plot grinds to a halt. I know where I need to go next, but the getting there hangs me up. Lots of people like to walk away, take a break of hours, days, or weeks, but I find that forcing myself to stare at the screen and think-think-think like Pooh finally unsticks the cogs. But I don't consider this writer's block--it's merely a slower point in my progress. I guess I'm lucky not to have experienced the despair I hear about from others. And as I said, aside from this series, I have other ideas that are well into the research and development phase, enough to keep me going for years to come!
I always have so many irons in the fire that if one idea isn't progressing, I simply work on another. Let me explain.
First of all, I have my blog One Year of Letters , where I manage a team of writers, edit their work, post, promote, perform blog housekeeping, and also write my own pieces. Our personal essays cover all sorts of topics like emotions, parenting, writing, social justice, and relationships. Yes, I do have difficulty finding fresh ideas to write about. This is largely due to the current busy-ness of my team, with whom I like to toss ideas around. Our conversations get my brain chugging, but lately we've all had a lot on our individual plates. Yet as a rule, once I have an idea, I can pop out an 800-1000 word essay in an hour or less.
I also write the occasional short story. These usually come from a prompt of some sort, either a contest or a weird dream I had, or a sudden epiphany. Short story writing is difficult for me only when it comes to finding the inspiration. Once found, I have no trouble churning out the story. Depending on the length, this may take only a few hours to flesh out.
When it comes to long-form writing, I don't have any lack of ideas. THE ILL-KEPT OATH is only the first in what is likely to be a series of 5 or more books. Most of that material already exists in my computer, so it's only a matter of crafting and polishing the next instalment before starting the editing phase. I do have days where the plot grinds to a halt. I know where I need to go next, but the getting there hangs me up. Lots of people like to walk away, take a break of hours, days, or weeks, but I find that forcing myself to stare at the screen and think-think-think like Pooh finally unsticks the cogs. But I don't consider this writer's block--it's merely a slower point in my progress. I guess I'm lucky not to have experienced the despair I hear about from others. And as I said, aside from this series, I have other ideas that are well into the research and development phase, enough to keep me going for years to come!
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