Birthdays: P.D. James (1920), Leon Uris (1924), Marvin Bell (1937), Walter Kirn (1962), Mary Calhoun (1926)

Tip: Negativity breeds negativity. If your circle of friends or crit partners is too negative, it can influence your way of thinking. Figure out a way to turn that negativity into a positive.

Thought for the day: “Vivid description is the life blood of fiction.” – John Gardner

Jumpstart: My mother always told me… (what). I tried. I really did, but… (what?)