Birthdays: Michel de Montaigne (1533), Marcel Pagnol (1895), John Tenniel (1820), Stephen Spender (1909), Walter Tevis (1928), Steve Martini (1946), Megan McDonald (1959), Colum McCann (1965), Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) (1970),

Quote: “There are many, many types of books in the world, which makes good sense, because there are many, many types of people, and everybody wants to read something different.” – Lemony Snicket

Tip: In the best stories, the main character has to not only overcome the external problem, but internal ones as well. She should change as a person—grow and become better. What conflicts does your character face?

Jumpstart: Make a list of places you would like to visit. Now do the research. Besides money, what would you need to go there? Why do you want to visit them? If you can’t go, how much can you find out about them through research? Put your main character there, or have her dreaming about it.

February 29

Birthdays: Dee Brown (1908), Hermione Lee (1948), Tony Robbins (1960),

Quote: “You just don’t give up. There have been times when everything seemed to conspire against getting a book done or printed, and I would feel like turning my back on the whole thing. But I came back and persisted.” – Dee Brown

Tip: Set a goal, one you can attain, like one page a day. And keep that goal.

Jumpstart: Your character is planting a garden. What does she plant? Vegetables or flowers? Or both? What kind? How big is her garden? Is it a single pot on a tiny balcony? Or an acre of corn and spinach?