Birthdays: Edith Hamilton (1867), William Goldman (1931), Walter Dean Myers (1937), Gail Parent (1940), Ruth Stiles Gannett (1923)

Tip: Get yourself a good dictionary, thesaurus, and grammar book—or know where to look for them online. The Chicago Manual of Style is considered the best for most writing. Also Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus. And use them!

Thought for the day: “Compete only with yourself.” – Mary Ellen Donahue

Jumpstart: Pretend you’re a doll living in a doll house. What is it like? What do you see from your vantage point? Who plays with you? In what way?