Birthdays: Phyllis McGinley (1905), David Wisniewski (1953), Lauren Kate (1981), Margaret Mahy (1936), Teresa Nielsen Hayden (1956)

Tip: Give some air time to the critic in your head. Then tell it to be quiet while you get back to work.

Thought for the day: “I majored in creative writing in college, and went on to get a masters degree in fiction—but I don’t think those things are necessary to being a good writer. Practice, curiosity, voracious reading, and diligence are more important than any degree.” – Lauren Kate

Jumpstart: You have to create a newsletter for a writer’s group. What would you include? What would it look like? Do it. What about a newsletter for your readers?