Birthdays: Randolph Caldecott (1846), Louis L’Amour (1908), Houston A. Baker, Jr. (1943), Billy Collins (1941), James Patterson (1947)

Tip: Check your facts. Always. Just because you looked something up on the internet doesn’t mean it’s correct. Check several sources. Especially if you write historical novels. Make sure your clothing, housing, etc. match the time period.

Thought for the day: “Stop trying to write sentences and start trying to write stories.” – James Patterson

Jumpstart: Your character has a doppelganger—a body double—but this one is opposite in personality and creates havoc for him/her. How does s/he deal with this person? Do they meet? What happens?