Birthdays: Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821), Philip Roth (1933), Irving Wallace (1916)

Holidays and observances: Nat’l Let’s Laugh Day, Nat’l Poultry Day, Red Nose Day, Certified Nurses Day, International Client’s Day, Nat’l Chocolate Caramel Day, Nat’l Preschool Teacher Appreciation Day, World Sleep Day, Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day, Contemplate the Existence of UFOs Day

Tip: Are you a panster or a plotter? A panster is someone who writes by the seat of their pants. They don’t know who the story is about or where it’s going, they just write and let the story go where it takes them. A plotter outlines everything beforehand. Most of us fall somewhere in between.

Thought for the day: “The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.” – Philip Roth

Jumpstart: Write a scene using words of only one syllable and short sentences like: “See Spot run.”, but do it as a murder mystery.