Melissa asked Rachel Caine:

Hi Rachel. I'm a big fan of your Morganville Vampires series! My question for you is, what is your writing process? This question always fascinates me. I know you have alot of books written, so was curious if you have found your groove in a certain way of doing things? Hopefully this hasn't already been asked too often. I couldn't see on here that it has :)

Rachel Caine Hi, thank you for asking! My process is pretty well defined: first, develop a (relatively loose) five to seven page outline and work on the plot, identify what research I need and get that started ... but I research as I go, I don't wait to finish. Then I stop and create a new playlist of songs (yeah, it's a thing). Then I look at my calendar and see how much time I have between the date I'm starting and when I have to turn in the first draft; that gives me a general idea of how many words I need to do on the project per day.

Then, really, it's just a matter of sitting down and doing it. I tend to like to work early, but that doesn't always work, especially when I'm traveling. But that's when my brain works best for this kind of work, so I try to stick with it.

I hope that helps!

Oh, just to clarify: that's my first draft process. Following on that, I get feedback from my editor and turn in a third draft, which may require more edits, depending. Then it goes to copyediting, which I again have to review and make corrections as necessary. Then off to proofs, which I review and correct. So there are a lot of steps after the first creative block of work, too.

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