" So they spread the paintings on the lawn, and the boy explained each of them. " This is the school, and this is the playground, and these are my friends." He stared at the paintings for a long time and then shook his head in discouragement. " In my mind, they were a whole lot better." Isn't that the truth? Every morning, I go to my desk and reread yesterday's pages, only to be discouraged that the prose isn't as good as it seemed during the excitement of composition. In my mind, it was a whole lot better.Don't give in to doubt. Never be discouraged if your first draft isn't what you thought it would be. Given skill and a story that compels you, muster your determination and make what's on the page closer to what you have in your mind. "