In The Writer's Toolkit, Part One we discussed voice recognition software and web hosting in your arsenal of handy tools Today we'll explore software for project organization (a must if you're a visual person who needs to see something to get their head around it), free toys to help you edit your manuscript in a smoother fashion and design programs for your creative side

Last time we talked about the kinds of things to consider when you've been invited to speak with kids at an elementary or middle school Let's move forward and look at some key points you'll want to keep in mind for a memorable visit

It used to be that a pen or pencil, a pad of paper, and a typewriter were all the tools a writer needed But this is the 21st-century and all writers - whether or you write fiction, nonfiction or advertising copy - need to have an arsenal with some good, useful tools

For me, the single most often asked question is how I write fiction for kids between the ages of eight and 12 It isn't so much where I get my ideas but it's the mechanics people seem to be most interested in

In the last article we talked about whether to use an outline when you're starting to think about your newest story for middle graders and the best place to get ideas Now let's turn to that all important first chapter and believability