Focus on just getting your words out on paper. Don't worry if your writing is good. It's normal for a first draft to need a lot of revision! Give yourself permission to write badly! Remember, you don't have to show it to anyone until you're ready. Later, you can revise what you've written to improve your writing. It's tempting to go back over what you've written. You might want to evaluate its quality, improve problematic sentences, or add more to a scene. However, this makes it very hard to finish. The best way to reach the finish line is to keep going until you're done. Set up your conflict in your first chapter, and build it throughout the book. In the climax, your conflict should reach its peak and be resolved. The end of your book will summarize a grain of truth your reader should take away. Your conflict could be internal or external. External conflicts might be person against person, person against nature, or person against society. For example, Hazel wants to perform well in the play AND to get a date with Liam. She might face an external person against person conflict from her understudy, who's out to steal both her role and her man. She may also face an internal conflict, such as knowing a piece of gossip that could really embarrass the understudy. Dialogue helps your story progress, and it helps develop your character. Use dialogue to advance your plot, not just to fill up the pages. For example, Hazel might talk to her best friend about knowing the piece of gossip. Similarly, Hazel might overhear a conversation where the understudy discloses her plans to steal Hazel's part.

Summary: Write your first draft quickly. Avoid reading over what you've written until you've finished. Make sure your story has a conflict. Incorporate dialogue when appropriate.

Are you going to break up with him because he's not treating you right, because you've lost interest, or because you're both too busy to make it work? Whatever your reason, you have to figure out exactly what you're going to say and how you're going to say it. If it's something like you falling out of love or falling for someone else, then you can find a nice way of ending it that would cause the least damage. Though honesty is important, you don't have to tell him everything if it would only hurt him. If you've fallen out of love, you may not want to be so blunt about it. You don't want him to completely break down if it comes as a shock. Though you shouldn't be too obvious about it, you don't want to throw your man completely off guard with the breakup. That means that he shouldn't think that everything is peachy keen the day before the break up, or even the week before. Once you've made up your mind, you should break up with him as soon as possible, but if you have to wait a few days to do it, then try to act more cold and distant in the meantime. Don't tell him how much you love him, or kiss him or act affectionate with him. Don't be a coward and send him a note, email, text, or phone call. Unless you're in a long distance relationship or he has a reputation for being violent when he gets bad news, you owe him the courtesy of meeting him in person one last time. If you don't do it in person, he'll reach out to you anyway, and you'll have to rehash the same painful conversation, but it won't be on your terms as much. If you don't do it in person, he will hold it against you after the relationship is over. It's important to break up with the boy as soon as you can after making your decision. That being said, you shouldn't go and break up with him the second you you know it, or you might end up blurting it out in public or at an inopportune moment. Just pick a time when you'll be alone and will have some privacy, but nowhere romantic so he won't get the wrong idea. Don't go to one of your favorite hangouts, or he will be even more crushed with the bad news because he'll be thinking of all the great memories you've shared. Don't do it the second he gets off work or right before a big test. Pick a time when he'll be reasonably relaxed and won't have anything else to think or worry about.

Summary: Figure out what you're going to say. Drop some hints. Do it face-to-face if you can. Pick the right place and time.

There are many routes you can take as an adoption counselor. You might consider working as a counselor for adoptive parents or as an advocate for the birth parents of the child. Your previous field work and supervised work experience should be your guide in selecting specific positions for application. Birth parents often experience a range of emotions during the adoption process including grief, fear and loss. Helping your clients cope with these emotions will be an important component of your work. You might also consider working with birth mothers or birth parents who are unsure if they want to pursue adoption. You can inform them of their options while also providing them information on the process of adoption. Governmental departments such as Health and Human Services and non-profits like Planned Parenthood often help connect these adoption counselors to birth mothers. As a counselor in this role, you will help adoptive parents navigate the often long and complex process of adoption. You will need to make sure they are aware of the many options they have in pursuing adoption (with public, private or international agencies) as well as preparing them for any potential obstacles during and after the adoption process. By working with a public adoption agency, you will be helping children in the foster care system who are sometimes older. You will also work as a counselor to both the parents and the child as they transition from the foster care system to the adoptive home. If you work in a private, licensed adoption agency or an international agency, you are more likely to work with infants and parents who are interested in adopting infants. If you are working as a consultant with an adoption agency, you might be required to visit the home of the prospective adoptive parents and assess it according the state guidelines and/or the requirements of your licensed private agency. In addition to assessing the physical condition of the home, counselors conducting home studies will also need to evaluate the emotional state of the adoptive parents, including their concerns and anxieties as well as their general views on parenting and family life.
Summary: Select an area of focus. Consider becoming a birth parent counselor. Become a counselor for adoptive parents. Decide whether you would like to work with a public state agency, a licensed private agency or an international agency. Prepare to conduct home studies.