First, organize. If you haven't already, create computer folders to classify your writing projects: nonfiction, fiction. Those folders might include subfolders: picture books, magazine pieces, etc. Break it down farther if needed (i.e. separate folders for each specific novel in your novel folder).

Did you type up your notes from a conference? Save them in a marketing folder on your computer. Store electronic copies of guidelines and theme lists there, too. Use a document to record books you've read, the publisher, and your thoughts.

Maintain a file for "manuscripts out." Include a section for ones to be sent plus what each house or magazine has from you now. A file that lists each publisher and what you've sent is a helpful companion.

Use a spreadsheet or a money management program to keep track of writing expenses and income to make tax filing easier.

Back up these important files and folders on a regular basis. A USB drive is an inexpensive and quick way to do so. I also love using dropbox to make it easy to copy files from my desktop to my laptop and vice versa.

Second, keep on task. Use your computer as an electronic nagger. You can schedule "to do" items, including deadlines, and set up a program to remind you. Microsoft Outlook is probably the most common one, but there are many reminder software programs available if you don't have one. They vary in cost from free to $60, with many in the $20-25 range. Investigate them on the Internet. Often you can download one and try it for free before buying.

Making our computers work for us takes self-discipline. We have to make ourselves: keep information up-to-date, back up folders and files, and schedule deadlines. However, the structure of being organized and staying on task can free us to get back to our first love--writing!

(I'll confess this is a reprint of my one of my own articles. It's been in the SCBWI Bulletin and on the Rx for Writers portion of the Institute of Children's Literature site. But, I'm getting ready to move 1800 miles and knew it would be a quick way to get a post up.)

Here's a brief introduction to After: 15 year old Devon Davenport is arrested for killing her newborn baby, but she doesn't remember anything about it. And, it can't be true, since she was never pregnant.

I'd recommend this eye-opening story to anyone who has trouble understanding, or sympathizing, with someone who has done something wrong. It is now available in paperback as well as hardcover.

On her website Author Amy Efaw has background info for this novel. That includes newspaper articles she created for the story. You'll also see that she has other works, which I need to check out!

This was author Holly Cupala's first book, which has now been turned into an audio book, too. Her second book, Don't Breathe a Word, came out this month and is getting great reviews. You'll want to check out the secrets behind the stories on Holly's site.

Holly has also been a Readergirlz Diva. (This is a great site for teen girl readers.)

Do you ever get discouraged about your writing and/or illustrating? I do. Sometimes it's after reading a fantastic book and I think, I'll never be able to do that well. Or it might be after another rejection, or when I'm struggling with my work in progress. Or even seeing a published book I think is terrible.

I remember asked another writer if they knew about Madeleine L'Engel's experience with A Wrinkle in Time. They didn't. She got rejected, rejected, rejected. When the book finally got sold and published, it won a Newbery Medal (1963). I heard her tell how one editor told her, "I wish that had come across my desk." Madeleine answered that it did. Read A Circle of Quiet to learn about her ten year dry spell!

In the early 90s a friend and critique group partner of mine sold a book. We were all excited with her. She got her advance. An illustrator illustrated the text. Then, the book was cancelled! Can you imagine her disappointment? Suzanne Williams went on to resell Library Lil (published in 1997) and Steven Kellogg illustrated it!

Susan Patron talked to her husband about giving up . . . the night before she got the call about her Newbery Medal (2007) for The Higher Power of Lucky.

I know I could find many other examples. Instead, let's talk about what you can do when discouraged. Here's what works for me.

Hang out with your writing peeps! I have a group of writers who meet with me to write. We aren't collaborating per se, we're just holding each other accountable to show up and be productive. It's helpful to know someone else is struggling with a chapter or scene or query letter. We share, ask questions, encourage each other. I started out with only one writing partner, so all you need is one person to do this with you.

Make sure you are in a critique group. I know, you probably think I'm playing a broken record (kind of like a CD for you younger folk). I mention critique groups a lot. It's because I believe they are so important. My writing grows because of my critique group. My work in progress deepens because of suggestions from my critiquers.

Attend a workshop or conference or writer's talk. I'm usually inspired when I hear others talk about writing. Sometimes a magical thing happens and I suddenly "get it"--that thing I've been puzzling about for months or years. I meet and connect with fun people, which is encouraging.

Go on a writing retreat. Organized ones are great, but they can be expensive. A writing retreat can simply be a casual get together with others of like mind where you get to work and/ or critique. I went on one several summers ago. I met with ten other writers at a northern Missouri farmhouse. Our hostess, Patricia, provided beds, places to sit, and the internet. The rest of us provided the food and it was a very productive two days. Not only for us as writers, but for the cows as well--two calves were born while we were there.

Meet other writers online. Find your tribe wherever you can, whether it be list serves, writers' blogs and websites, twitter, facebook, or google+. I use all of these, plus reading writing newsletters. Often I get encouragement from them. A recent post on Shannon Whitney's blog was about the importance of "writing like me!" http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/2011/11/writing-like-me.html

Try something new. Go somewhere you've never been before. Try a hobby or sport you've never tried. Read a book in a genre you don't usually read. Let new experiences stir your mind.

Write something. It doesn't even have to be on your work in progress. It could be something new such as trying a different genre, or writing a "how to" on something you've learned. It doesn't have to be intended for paid publication. Write an article for a newsletter, or write a blog entry. All writing is good practice. And you get the immediate reward of a sense of accomplishment.

Eat some chocolate. My preference is dark. Or I drink a cup of tea. Do whatever little thing lifts your spirit - a bubble bath, a silly movie, playing with a kid.

Give yourself some grace. I often feel discouraged when there are too many other things going on in my life, when I'm missing sleep, or I'm not feeling well. Don't expect too much when you are overwhelmed or stressed. Don't make a decision about your writing when you are discouraged--that's when you're apt to make the wrong one.

Keep going. Here's a quote I heard at a conference years ago: "In the end you can Give Up or Keep Going. Those are your only choices. The only good thing about giving up is that there's less competition for those who keep going." -Bruce Balan

I'm going to stay in the running. What about you?

17 year old Cassell is living at Wallingford Preparatory to try to live a normal life. He's the only nonmagic member in a family of workers. Dad is dead, Mom in jail and his brothers Philip and Barron exclude him, although they did protect him 3 years ago when . . . But I can't tell you that!
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Here are the great opening lines:
"I wake up barefoot, standing on cold slate tiles. Looking dizzily down. I suck in a breath of icy air."

As you read on you discover those tiles are on a roof and there is no way for him to get down. *shudder* Talk about a nightmare! Humiliating for a teen boy to not only have to be rescued but for it to happen publicly in front of his peers? That's worse.

In August 2009, I heard Holly Black speak at the LA SCBWI conference about how readers must be able to believe the fantastical world. As she said "the real stuff has to be really real" and she's done this with this book.

Book Two, Red Glove, came out in 2011 and you'll want to read it, too. The Curse Worker series has its own website where you can read about the books, watch a great trailer, and check out extras.

On Holly's regular site, she's got a "cover to be unveiled" picture of the third book, Black Heart. It'll be exciting to see the reveal.

Have you ever found yourself telling a kid, "Don't talk with food in your mouth," and then realized you were doing the same? I once caught myself out when I reread an article I'd written on character development. Among the suggestions were questions to ask yourself about the character. I realized I couldn't answer any of them for the main character on my current work-in-progress. Ouch! I wish I could say I was only on page one of my novel.

I know some writers write totally organically and learn their character as they go, but I know I need more. So why do I keep trying to do without the preparation? I wish I knew. I may have to make a sign to go above my computer, "Do you know who your character is?"

Or maybe it's that I always have to get to a certain stage in a story before I care enough about all those details of my character to find them out. Of course, that definitely can cause major rewriting.

I've heard writers explain how they write very detailed bios of their characters, major and minor, before writing any of the story. Others fill out complex charts. For me that would be telling the character who they are more than discovering who they are.

On one work-in-progress I discovered my main character's initials didn't stand for what I thought they did. I'd given JD his name a long time ago, when his story idea was only a glimmer of an idea. I decided the J stood for Joshua. When pre-planning a scene in my head, another character asked JD what his initials stood for. He answered, "Jonah David." Whoa! Time out! Where did that come from? But it felt . . . right.

So where does that leave me? Not totally in control.

But I think I need to work on a balance for this dichotomy. Some pre-planning, some organic, followed by more planning, followed by more organic. And, flexibility.

So don't do as I say, or as I do. Instead figure out the best way for you to work out this issue of character development in your own work. Though if you have any tips, I'd love to hear them.

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