ON TO A GOOD SECOND DRAFT! Remember English and grammar rules you threw out window day before? Now's time to pick them up. You need them now. Go over remains of your first draft. You probably can't help wincing as you go along and start editing your work, joining fragments, making verbs and subjects agree with each other, correcting your spelling and finding that sentence or paragraph to lead your article or story. Firm up your second draft. You will find that it's a lot leaner and better than your terrible first draft.

GO AHEAD, GO FOR THE KILL! With an already better and much- improved second draft, why stop when you can make it even better and more polished? Like what Lamott wrote, go over your third draft as if you're a dentist looking for cavities, flossing every tooth and treating bad breath. Your third draft hopefully is your final and best draft.

ASSIMILATE, ASSIMILATE! Lamott wrote, "The first draft is child's draft, where you let it all pour out and then let it romp all over place, knowing that no one is going to see it and that you can shape it later." Let your ideas flow first time you sit down to write that article or story! It's only when you write those terrible first drafts will you be able to produce really, really great stories! Then you can get them published!

2. Many fictional characters are not fictional at all. Write about one real person who has been fictionalized.

3. Electricity is a recent discovery. Think of 10 things to do when there's no power.

4. Pirates no longer just refer to highwaymen of seas. There are different breeds of pirates today. Write about today's pirates and what they're pirating.

5. Many words in English language come from names of people -- such as mesmerize (from Mesmer, a hypnotist). Find out more words from people's names and write story behind words.

6. The US Declaration of Independence begins with this line: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..." Write you own Declaration of Independence by using same line as your starting point.

7. How do you start a fan club? Write a how-to on organizing a fan club for a favorite author, singer, actor or sports figure.

8. How do planets die?

9. Expound or dispute this: "Where science ends, religion begins."

10. Take a look at your bookshelf. Pick one book and write a review of it.

11. How is privacy invaded on Internet?

12. Write an article on how to choose a pet. Target your piece for kids aged 7-10.