Every book is different. Some start with a character who pops into mind. Other times, they come from an event, a place or even a conversation I overhear in line at the grocery store. My ideas start small and grow. Once in a while, I'll sit down with other writers and brainstorm, but I usually do it myself. I ask myself questions. What if my family left Ukraine for Canada only to find my father thrown in jail shortly after we arrived? (That's the premise for my novel Lesia's Dream) After that, the magic begins. I'll start seeing or hearing things that relate to my story. They may come from a picture, an article in the paper, or even a dream. Sometimes, I'll get to work on the story right away. Other times, I'll be busy with another project, so I'll collect bits and pieces and put them away until I'm ready.

I use the J.D.I. principle. Just do it. Writing is my profession and I take it seriously.

Because I have children, I write when they are in school. In the summer, I try to write a few hours every day, but I often do research instead. Or I play hooky and lie in the back yard.

For novels, I use a large binder to take notes on characters, plot points, time lines etc. The binder goes into a crate which also holds pictures, videos, articles and any other background material I might need.

Every writer has a different process. I prefer to write my books from start to finish before going back to revise. I used to revise a lot more as I went along. Now I let myself polish the last scene I wrote when I sit down to work in the morning. And then I plow ahead with fresh writing.

It varies from book to book and according to how many books I'm juggling. No Such Thing As Far Away took a few months to write while Lesia's Dream took over two years to research and write. It doesn't always depend on the length of a book either. Picture books can take years and many re-writes, while short chapter books can sometimes be written in three or four months. Whatever the project, I spend a lot of time revising, editing and polishing.

I always have several projects on the go - both articles and books. But I don't talk about my projects much while I'm writing them. Okay, that's not entirely true. I sometimes exchange manuscripts with other writers for helpful feedback. And once in a while, I start talking about my characters and their problems at dinner. It makes my family crazy. They don't always know if the people are real or not. I'm trying to educate them - they are all real.

I like them both - and one isn't easier than the other. Some days it's easy, some days it's hard. It depends on how well the characters are behaving!

Write. Write letters or journals or stories or poems. Write lists. Just write. Often. Believe in yourself and your writing. Don't listen to people who make you feel bad about your work. Consider it training. Even the best writers get criticized. Finally, read. Read everything. Fiction and non-fiction. Books you love, books you don't. Trade magazines. Articles about writing. Read every day. Read.

Some people think they're going to write a book and make lots of money. It doesn't usually happen that way. Most of us write because we can't help it - kind of like scratching an itch that won't go away.

Here's how the money thing works.

Once in a while writers get paid a flat fee for a book, but usually they're paid twice a year under what's called a royalty system. A writer sells a book to a publisher who agrees to pay a percentage of the purchase price of the book when it's printed and sold. That's usually about a year from when the book is finished. The percentage, which is called a royalty, varies from publisher to publisher and author to author. So that writers don't have to wait a year to get their money, the publisher often gives them an advance against royalties. It's like an advance against a paycheck or allowance: you have to pay it back when the royalties do come in.

Wearing slippers to work. Going outside when I feel like it. Slurping tea with no one around to hear me. But mostly I like the actual job of writing. Playing with words and ideas . . . and making up stories that make people think or feel.

Figuring out how I'm supposed to find a word I can't spell in the dictionary. If I can't spell it, how can I find it?