Birthdays: William Congreve (1670), Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais (1732), E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776), Edith Wharton (1862), Vicki Baum (1888), Charles Hawes (1889), Desmond Morris (1928), Leonard Baker (1931), David Gerrold (1944), Lynn Coady (1970),

Edith Warton was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She wrote more than 40 books in 40 years including “The Age of Innocence”, “Ethan Frome”, and “The House of Mirth”

Pierre de Beaumarchais was best known for his dramas “The Barber of Seville” and “The Marriage of Figaro”

ETA Hoffmann’s novella “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” was adapted into the ballet “The Nutcracker”

Charles Hawes was the first American-born winner of the Newbery Medal for his 1923 “The Dark Frigate”

Leonard Baker won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Biography for “Days of Sorrow and Pain”

David Gerrold is best known for his science fiction, especially his “The Trouble with Tribbles” Star Trek episode

Quote: “To me, writing is not a profession. You might as well call living a profession. Or having children. Anything you can’t help doing.” – Vicki Baum

Tip: In addition to items like paper and pencil (or computer), which are essential to your writing, don’t forget things like determination, a thick skin, and a sense of humor. You’ll need all these in this profession.

Jumpstart: Your character has been cheated out of the perfect job by someone s/he knows is not appropriate for it and could actually get people hurt if s/he takes it. What does s/he do? What if it was her best friend? His lover?