Birthdays: Max Shulman (1919), Colin Fletcher (1922), Algernon Blackwood (1869), Po Bronson (1964), Tad Williams (1957), Valerie Martin (1948)

Holidays and Observances: Nat’l Pi Day (3.14), Nat’l Potato Chip Day, Learn about Butterflies Day, Celebrate Scientists Day and Science Education Day, Check Your Batteries Cay, Genius Day, International Ask a Question Day, International Day of Action for Rivers, International Day of Mathematics, Legal Assistance Day, Moth-er Day, Nat’l Children’s Craft Day, Nat’l Dry Shampoo Day, Save a Spider Day, Write Your Story Day

Tip: Reaping rejections can be depressing. Make a list of things you can do to make yourself feel better and use it the next time you get one.

Thought for the day: “A piece of writing has to seduce the reader, it has to suspend disbelief and earn the reader’s trust.” – Po Bronson

Jumpstart: When was the last time you laughed hard? Or cried harder? What happened to make that moment so emotional? Write this as a scene, focusing on the emotions you want your readers to feel.