When they send my chapters back, I hold them in a folder until the next day.

As I finish each chapter, I send it to my critique partners, but keep writing. These pages are extremely in-depth and allow me to know my characters inside and out. Once I’ve got a general idea of the story overview, I do character interview sheets on at least 4 of my main characters. Then, I get some of my brainstorming partners and we start hashing out a very wide and general plot. I’ll let it stew in my subconscious for a bit before I bring it out and play with it a little. Well….I get a germ of an idea…just a topic or a character, or I get an image in my head. Since my blog is geared to writers who want to improve their self-editing, could you briefly take us through your process of writing a novel-from conception to revision?

I think God’s just working on sharpening my skill as a writer. Often, however, I won’t get it until I’m halfway through the book, so I have to go back and weave it in. Sometimes, He’s so good to me that He gives me the spiritual thread early in the book. LOL I never “plan” the spiritual thread in my books, I wait for God to show me what He wants. I find some of the issues God’s dealing with me on end up in my books. How does your walk with the Lord affect your writing? And how do you balance time with the Lord with your writing schedule? I’m blessed to have such a supportive family. And as deadlines approach, I may have to work when they’re home. However sometimes life intrudes and I can’t work due to a child’s illness, or a special project they need help on, holidays, etc. I leave Sundays open for church and family time. MOST days, I try to work from 8am-2pm, to write around my children’s schedule. How do you balance family life with writing? I didn’t expect things to keep moving as they have been, but I’ve never felt so blessed in my career journey. My first book was released in October 2007…I had 3 books release in 2008…3 books release in 2009…I’ll have 3 books release in 2010. When things began happening-getting an agent, getting the first contract, it all began to move very quickly. About a year later I realized why-I needed to put a faith thread in my stories because my faith is such a part of me. I had no idea what I was doing, mind you, but I didn’t feel passionate about the story. When I decided to start writing my stories geared toward publication, I first wrote a secular romantic suspense. How did you get started writing, and where has that journey taken you that you may not have expected starting out? I recently asked Robin a few questions, which she graciously answered.

Deliver Us from Evil by Robin Caroll