Birthdays: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859), Herge (Georges Prosper Remi) (1907), Vance Packard (1914), Peter Matthiessen (1927), Arnold Lobel (1933), Gary Willis (1934), Max Brooks (1972), Tansy Rayner Roberts (1978)

Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his Sherlock Holmes mysteries

Gary Willis won the 1993 Pulitzer for General Nonfiction for “Lincoln at Gettysburg”

Quote: “Just do it. Writing, like anything, takes practice and discipline, and I’ve found that discipline comes from a lifetime of repetition. I started writing when I was 12 and it’s made the action as normal as any other activity.” – Max Brooks

Tip: While Americans mostly spell “theater” with an “er” ending, there are some places in the US that use the British spelling: theatre. If you’re using the name of an actual place, be sure to check how they spell it.

Jumpstart: I will never forget his (or her) smile as I… (remember, smiles can be happy, sinister, tentative, etc.)