Birthdays: Samuel Johnson (1709), Anna Deavere Smith (1950), Christopher Ricks (1933), Lynn Abbey (1948), William March (1893), Richard Kluger (1934), Drew Gilpin Faust (1947), Steven Pinker (1954), Chris Hedges (1956)

Tip: When you get a contract (yay!), if you don’t have an agent, be sure you go over every clause carefully and ask about the ones you are unsure about. If nothing else, take it to a knowledgeable attorney and have them go over it for you.

Thought for the day: “Finally, one just has to shut up, sit down, and write.” – Natalie Goldberg Jumpstart: You’re remodeling your home, a place you’ve lived for at least a few years. While tearing out a wall, you find a skeleton…