Help! Pastels? HOw do i do it?

I am using pastels in my Painting of a Palm Tree. Its not from a photograph or anything. Ive made the palm tree but it looks like it done in crayon? like i want itto looknice not like a 5 yr olddid it. And when i started the water part of the scene i added some real water buy dipping the pastel into the water. Its working pretty well but am i doing it right?????