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My daughter is nine years old. Like lots of nine year olds, she loves to poll everyone on their favorites.

And you’d better have an answer.

I haven’t thought very much about my favorite anything for probably the last thirty years.

Until now. :) After several conversations with my daughter that ended with her saying, “How could you not know what your favorite song/color/food/season/book/movie is?!” then I actually took a few minutes to think about it one night.

I was able to make some headway on some of my favorites. I’m partial to yellow, although brown is my favorite color to wear. I like spring. I still wasn’t too sure about a favorite song, book, or movie.

My daughter, though, wasn’t going to leave it at that. Why was spring my favorite season? Had it always been my favorite?

This actually, made me think a little deeper about it. Winter was my least favorite season, so spring always makes me feel relieved because winter is over. I always did love spring—especially when I was a kid because I have a spring birthday…and we had Daylight Saving Time, which meant more time to play outside in the evenings.

It started me thinking about my characters’ favorites.

I didn’t used to do major profiles of my characters before writing because I felt I knew my characters right off the bat. They were frequently amalgams of people I knew and were easy for me to write.

But now, I’ve written so many characters that I’m finding character surveys more helpful.

What are my characters’ favorite TV shows? Why? Or do they even watch TV? Are they readers, instead?

I don’t spend a ton of time doing character profiles, but I spend a lot more time than I used to. I rarely use the information that I come up with in my books, but it does help me to create a more rounded character that pops off the page.

One of the more helpful collections of character development worksheets can be found here: Adventures in Children’s Publishing (and, no worries…these worksheets are for adult characters, too). There are four parts to the worksheet and four posts on it.

Do you know your characters’ favorites?

On Saturday, the kids and I went on a bike ride.

We’re mismatched bikers. My teenage son is the super biker, easily losing us without even realizing it. My daughter is still on a little-kid bike with no gears, and I need to stick behind her to make sure she doesn’t get left behind. Me? I’ll fall off the bike if I bike too slowly…which sometimes happens when the greenway gets too sandy and my daughter pops off her bike unexpectedly to walk the trail instead of bike it. I always seem to think I can stay on the bike just going slowly behind her as she walks…but I topple off it, instead.

There was a man running on the greenway while the children and I were on our bike ride. To me, he was sort of like Pepe Le Pew from the Bugs Bunny cartoons…not for any olfactory reasons, but because no matter how hard we biked, he always ended up right on the point of passing us.

Obviously, this is because we were stopping a lot. My daughter had to stop once because her legs hurt. The chain on my son’s bike came off once and we stopped to get it back on. My daughter stopped for water a couple of times.

Each time my daughter and I stopped, my son kept biking ahead until a point where he realized we weren’t there anymore (which seemed to take a while.) So my daughter and I ended up pedaling really fast to catch up. Which wore me out (since I’m no longer designed to be a speedy biker) and then I had to stop and rest.

And each time we got passed by this man in his late-50s who was jogging along very steadily. Every time I’d hear the pat-pat-pat of his feet, I’d look up with disbelief. No matter how fast we’d been biking before, our little pit stops meant he always caught up quickly.

Finally I said to him, “I think it’s really sad that you’re going faster than us and we’re on bikes!” Which he thought was funny, although he blushed a little.

But it’s like that, isn’t it, for a lot in life—slow and steady wins the race.

Before deadlines ruled my writing life, I always wrote a page a day. I remember telling the critique group that I was in at the time my daily goal…and they thought I wasn’t writing enough.

But—I ended up with a finished book before they did. That page a day was manageable for me. So I did it every day, without fail.

If I feel like I’m behind with a book and start scrambling, I’ll end up burned out or irritated with the manuscript or myself.

If I go too slow, I get overwhelmed by the project and the amount I have left to write.

It’s like a New Year’s Resolution—it’s better not to make a resolution to lose twenty pounds. Better to make a resolution to cut out junky afternoon snacks, or to stop drinking soda, or to walk twice a week or something else that’s more manageable. Something we’ll actually do.

Because everyone wants to feel successful. And if we haven’t set ourselves up for success with our pacing, it’s easy to just ditch the project altogether when we get frustrated or burned out.

How are you pacing yourself?

Working on a first draft can be really challenging. There’s the plot to wrangle into shape, the conflict to ramp up, the characters to breathe life into. And there are a whole lot of pages to write before the final scene.

There’s so much to include that I frequently don’t include it all in the first draft.

In fact, there are some things that I never put in my first draft because I spend way too much time thinking about them and it messes up my pace.

Using a layered approach to writing a book makes me feel a little more focused on working through my first draft. I know that I don’t have to worry about a million different things while I’m writing the draft– I only worry about half a million things. :)

Parts of the book that I add in layers for 2nd and 3rd drafts:

• Setting descriptions
• Character descriptions
• Character last names and place names (I’ll mark as *** on the draft so I can find my spots later.)
• Any scenes I was stuck on. I just make a couple of notes about what I wanted to accomplish with the scene and move on to the next scene.
• Sometimes I’ll add entire subplots as a layer

I do the same thing with revising. If you think to yourself that you’re editing a whole book, the thought of it can be just as overwhelming as writing the book was.

These are issues that I address in layers for the revision:

• Typos/grammar
• Favorite words of mine that I use too frequently
• Conflict—I make a pass through to make sure each scene either forwards the plot or adds to the conflict
• Continuity (is the character wearing the same outfit on page 20 that she’s wearing on page 21?)
• Subplots—did they resolve? Did they tie into the main plot?
• Loose ends—is everything resolved at the end of the book?

And, because everyone’s writing process always really fascinates me, I’ll ask y’all about it: how do you work through your first draft? Do you try to include it all in one pass, or are you working in layers, too?

Here are writing links that I’ve posted to Twitter for the past week. If you’re looking for a particular topic, just plug in your keyword into the search box at the top left-hand corner of the blog (on the black header right above my blog name…next to the Blogger symbol…the small search window is next to the magnifying glass) and the roundup with your subject will come up. To narrow your search down on the page, do a CTRL+F, type your subject, and hit enter.

What do the most highly paid authors have in common? http://dld.bz/wkpN @ thecreativepenn

How to read a publishing contract (24): http://dld.bz/wb6H

Beating Your Submission Letter Into Shape: http://dld.bz/wb6z

Re-inventing Book Marketing: http://dld.bz/wb6x

Serial Comma Drama: Which Side Are You On? http://dld.bz/wb6q

The positive in a negative review: http://dld.bz/vTDQ

10 activities for a writer with a head cold: http://bit.ly/cG9dtL @elspethwrites

Self-Publishing: The Numbers Game: http://dld.bz/vTBv

Creating Quirky Characters: http://dld.bz/vTBs

5 tips to get big exposure for your book through book touring: http://dld.bz/vTAZ

Writing: Find the Time or Don’t: http://dld.bz/vTAM

How to Blog Like Bond. James Bond. http://dld.bz/vTAE

6 Steps One Writer Used for Creating an Anthology: http://dld.bz/vTAD

When Dreams Become Expectations: http://dld.bz/vTAz

I Plot, Therefore I Am…: http://dld.bz/vTAt

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: It’s Oktoberfest! http://bit.ly/a1EK7N @CleoCoyle

How to Write a Better Rant: http://dld.bz/vTAq

Simile vs. Metaphor: Smackdown! http://dld.bz/vTAp

How to choose a good writing critique service: http://dld.bz/vNWv

Writers are Voyeurs: http://dld.bz/vNFE

The lack of publishing statistics: http://dld.bz/vNDB @victoriastrauss

Are You Too Confident About Your Writing? http://dld.bz/vNDr

7 Ways to Improve Your Blog’s Readability: http://dld.bz/vNCK

Synopsis Tips – Show Don’t Tell: http://dld.bz/vNB8

Your “Success Identity” And How It Keeps You From Writing: http://dld.bz/vNAg

Best Articles This Week for Writers 9/17: http://dld.bz/wbHH @4kidlit

Fitting the Character to the Story: http://dld.bz/vN98

Manuscript problems–which to jump on right away: http://dld.bz/wbz8

How to Survive Negative Feedback On Your Story: http://dld.bz/vN9z

Can you describe your character in non-gendered terms? http://dld.bz/vN8N

The Ultimate Blog Checklist: http://dld.bz/vNd9

4 Elements of a Scene: http://dld.bz/vNdw

Looking for an agent? Query-writing links, agent blogs, and agents on Twitter: http://dld.bz/vYM4

A 3-point revision checklist: http://dld.bz/vNcm

What’s your book’s MOJO? http://dld.bz/vNbZ

(How) Do Authors Make Money? http://dld.bz/vNbS

An agent says, “Published Authors – Know your contract and stay on top of things…”: http://dld.bz/vNbM

You can write? So you can screen-write: http://dld.bz/vNbu

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Get two Mystery Recipes from Cleo Coyle’s ROAST MORTEM and Comment to Win Her New Book! http://bit.ly/a3wrxK @CleoCoyle

Freelancers–3 Tips to Make Sure You Get Paid for Your Writing: http://dld.bz/vNaK

Nonfiction Authors: Make Your Content Actionable: http://dld.bz/vNay

Writing Tips From Famous Authors – How to Become a Writer: http://dld.bz/vNat

Forget your distress and focus on your writing: http://dld.bz/vNam

Which social medium is most effective in reaching readers? http://dld.bz/vMZ7

Steampunk zombies? Yes, there are more ways to write about zombies than you think: http://dld.bz/vU4C @Kirrmistwelder

Copywriting Jobs – How to Find the Best Jobs for You: http://dld.bz/vMZv

An Agent Answers Questions about Writing Conferences: http://dld.bz/vMYM

Agatha Christie and Nursery Rhymes: http://dld.bz/vTCS @JanetRudolph

To Handle Rejection: Build Your Writer’s Muscle: http://dld.bz/vMYC

Sentence spacing for manuscript formats: http://dld.bz/vMYs

Stop Tweaking, Start Writing: http://dld.bz/vMYq

How can you tell how well your book is selling? http://dld.bz/vMXk

12 Ways to Create a Mailing List that Will Sell Books: http://dld.bz/vMXb

Distance and Lists in the Editing Process: http://dld.bz/vMWS

Temporarily tweetless–SocialOomph is down for maintenance. Guessing my tweets will show up after their tech difficulties are resolved.

The inciting incident of our novel: http://bit.ly/cxXxiE

What to put in your media kit: http://bit.ly/c2uJEc @SpunkOnAStick

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Last Bit of Summer—Tomato Pie http://bit.ly/9TDDNO @CleoCoyle

If You Give a Writer an Idea: http://dld.bz/vDNm

The accidental creative identity: http://dld.bz/vDKF

Should you use real life in your novels? http://dld.bz/vNWe @dirtywhitecandy

An agent on whether authors should do their own marketing: http://dld.bz/vDKq

For the Introverted Writer–Revenge of the Introvert (Psychology Today): http://dld.bz/vNCj

The ins and outs of editor/agent lunches: http://dld.bz/vNBZ

An Agent on Losing Out on a Hot Commodity: http://dld.bz/vDJJ

Grammar Police! How to write standard Numbers: http://dld.bz/vDJf

On agent pitching: http://dld.bz/vDJe

Develop Your Character Inside and Outside: http://dld.bz/vDHS

Plot Check Time: http://dld.bz/vDHH

The Agent Hunt: How Long Is Too Long? http://dld.bz/vDHF

Are Writing Routines Important to Success? http://dld.bz/vDH7

Keep an eye on the stupid things: http://dld.bz/vDHx

The Bride’s Guide to Manuscript Monogamy: http://dld.bz/vDHs

Rewriting: Stuck? Make a list: http://dld.bz/vDHm

What is book tour really like?: http://dld.bz/vCXw

The Character and the Reader– expanding the response: http://dld.bz/vCXq

An agent advises not to expect agents to be more specific on what they want to read: http://dld.bz/vCXh

A Book Deal That Was Too Good To Be True: http://dld.bz/vCWQ

How to win fans and influence people: http://dld.bz/vCW5

How To Pick The Correct Genre For Your Book: http://dld.bz/vCWy

4 Easy Tips to Help You to Write Your Book– http://dld.bz/vCWp

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Epic Cupcake War! http://bit.ly/9LFWbe @CleoCoyle

How To Know the Difference Between Its/It’s and Effect/Affect: http://dld.bz/vCVY

When Author Intrusion Rears Its Ugly Head: http://dld.bz/vCVF

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: And The Winner Is http://bit.ly/cLZ2GK @CleoCoyle

5 Ways to Blog Like Bruce Lee: http://dld.bz/vCVw

Book marketing tips: http://dld.bz/vCVm

An agent lists openings to avoid: http://dld.bz/vCUJ

How Do You Know If an MFA Is Right For You? http://dld.bz/vCUF

Choosing the Right Writing Course: http://dld.bz/vDPW @UrbanMuseWriter

The Latest in Typewriter Repair (New Yorker): http://dld.bz/vqVd

Ipad apps for writers: http://dld.bz/vDPU @inkyelbows

Tweeting for authors–tweeting into the void: http://dld.bz/vqUZ

Getting Violently Epic: http://dld.bz/vqUV

Fixing Character Errors: http://dld.bz/vqUQ

Dialogue–to tag or not to tag? http://dld.bz/vCQ7

For crime writers–why police officers censor themselves on social media sites, even during off-hours: http://dld.bz/vCN4 @authorterryo

Getting Published is Not a Crap Shoot: http://dld.bz/vqUH @victoriastrauss

Creating an Authentic Teen Guy’s Voice: http://dld.bz/vqUE

Rewriting: Pay Attention To Sequences! http://dld.bz/vqU8

Money matters for authors: http://dld.bz/vqU5

A major flaw in teaching creative writing lies in our terminology: http://dld.bz/vqU2

The Great Facebook Debate: Personal Account or Page? http://dld.bz/vqUu

7 Ways to Stay Focused for Attention-Challenged Writers: http://dld.bz/vqUn

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: The Long Quiche Goodbye giveaway winner http://bit.ly/c4TwWc @CleoCoyle

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: CONSIDER THE MONKFISH http://bit.ly/blNJG8 @CleoCoyle

In praise of copy editors: http://dld.bz/vqTH

Agent Hunting Tips: http://dld.bz/vqT8

Choosing a Blogging Platform for New Bloggers: http://dld.bz/vqTG

3 Causes of Writer’s Block: http://dld.bz/vqT5

“I mock your To Be Read piles! I snort at your complaints of time! And I think you are missing the point!”: http://dld.bz/vjum

The writer’s guide to reading people–your character’s home: http://dld.bz/vjtY @clarissadraper

Best tweets for writers, week ending 9-10 (Writer’s Digest): http://dld.bz/v7FG

The 10 Core Values Of A Winning Personal Brand: http://dld.bz/vjtU

How editing could have helped Larsson’s book and why it will help yours: http://bit.ly/b7iFBt @clarissadraper

An extroverted writer’s way to avoid writing alone: http://dld.bz/vjtE

Dangling plot lines: http://dld.bz/vjt3

Michael Eisner on Media’s Future: http://dld.bz/vjtw

New York Times Will End Print Edition (Eventually), Publisher Says (Atlantic): http://dld.bz/vjsE

How to Score a Traditional Deal After Self-Publishing: http://dld.bz/vjsB

Seven Keys to Writing Good Dialogue: http://dld.bz/vjsx

7 Reasons You Need A Facebook Fan Page: http://dld.bz/vjsv

When It Looks Like We’re Headed for a Crash: http://dld.bz/vjst

Tips to Survive The Writer’s Road: http://dld.bz/vjsr

Stretch Your Body To Revive Your Writer Mind: http://dld.bz/vjsn

How To Sell A Book? Good, Old Word Of Mouth (NPR): http://dld.bz/vjsk

Talking to Agents at Conferences: http://dld.bz/vjsf

The Pros and Cons of Self Publishing Your Book: http://dld.bz/vjsq

What writers can learn from reading the headlines: http://dld.bz/vjrP

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Ice Cream’s a Breeze http://bit.ly/dfD37F @CleoCoyle

The Promise of Fall: How to Achieve a Balanced Writing Life: http://dld.bz/vjrJ

5 Things Magicians Can Teach You About Blogging: http://dld.bz/vjrE

6 Tips for Writing an Epistolary Novel: http://dld.bz/vjrw

Finding the Funny in Your Writing: http://dld.bz/vjqP

How to Get Feedback on Your Manuscript: http://dld.bz/vjqw

Superheroes are misunderstood (Guardian): http://dld.bz/vjpE

Scheduling busy work: http://dld.bz/vjp8

How Linguistics Can Help You Part 3: Syntax: http://dld.bz/vjp2

The trouble with Google Books: http://dld.bz/vjpv

How to Write a Travel Memoir: http://dld.bz/vjpq

Learning About Characters with Clifford The Big Red Dog: http://dld.bz/vjnN

Using Multiple Twitter Accounts: http://dld.bz/vbDt

Personality traits for characters: http://dld.bz/vbDr

Writing vs Marketing: 5 Tips for Scheduling Your Freelance Time: http://dld.bz/vbDj

Love and character: http://dld.bz/vbCY

10 Small Changes (To Your Life) Which Make a Big Difference: http://dld.bz/vbCM

How to read a publishing contract (23): http://dld.bz/vbCE

Myst. Lov. Kitchen: Welcome Hannah Reed, author of the new Queen Bee Mysteries! http://bit.ly/agKRif @CleoCoyle

I’m a storyteller, not a writer: http://dld.bz/vbC5

10 second writing tip: http://dld.bz/vbCu

Ritualize Your Writing: A Shortcut Into Creative Productivity: http://dld.bz/vbBY

Choosing A Point Of View: http://dld.bz/uYyq

What better way to judge your fellow commuter than by the book in his hand? (Boston Globe): http://dld.bz/uYyn

Lately, I’ve not really been in the mood to read anything emotionally disturbing or heavy. Lately being the last couple of years. :)

I grew up reading heavy literature in school. I read a ton of the classics, which aren’t usually known for being lighthearted.

But for some reason, every time I pick up some really heavy literary fiction lately, I struggle with the topics.

For crime fiction, I handle it better. I wondered why, started thinking about it, and realized that the bad guy gets in trouble at the end of the book. It satisfies my sense of poetic justice, I think.

My book club has really been reading heavy literature, which is why I keep trying to read it, myself. Right now we’re reading Geraldine Brooks’ historical novel Year of Wonders. It’s elegantly written, meticulously researched, powerful…and disturbing. Basically, a village in 17th century England is hit by the plague. They decide to stay in the village instead of running away and spreading the contagion. The narrator fights against superstitious villagers and their fears about witchcraft.

It’s excellent and I’ll highly recommend it to anyone who is interested…but I’m just not in the right mood to read it.

I’m the same way with my writing—you’re just not going to see me writing books that aren’t humorous right now. Right now being the foreseeable future.

I’ll write scenes that are heavier in the book than others—dead bodies don’t make for humor, after all. But I’m not writing the entire book with a serious tone.

And then, some days I’m not in the mood to write something funny. Those are the days I’ll skip ahead and write a tense scene between my protagonist and the murderer, or I’ll describe a murder scene.

Does your mood affect your reading? Your writing? How do you handle it?