What are some challenges I face as a writer?

At several recent signings, I’ve been approached by high school students interested in writing for childen. My responses to their questions will run over a series of blog posts. Perhaps they will assist other students and aspiring writers.

A:  The first draft of anything is always a challenge. There is such potential when a story is alive in my head; filling up the white computer screen with the correct words is still scary for me. To delay the first draft as long as possible, I hide in the research–reading just one more chapter of a source book; interviewing just one more person about their experiences–you get the idea. But once the first draft is out, I am relieved. Editing is much more fun because I know every time I tackle the story from here on out, I improve it. It’s fun to see an idea I created improve to the point that it could be published.