Birthdays: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749), Sir John Betjeman (1906), Janet Frame (1924), Rita Dove (1952), Robert Duvoison (1904), Allan Say (1937), Tasha Tudor (1915), Jack Vance (1916), Robertson Davies (1913), Leo Tolstoy (1828), Vonda McIntyre (1948)

Tip: Learn what a contraction is and how to use apostrophes with them: it’s (for it is) vs. its (possessive form – belonging to it).

Thought for the day: “The less a writer discusses his work and himself the better. The master chef slaughters no chickens in the dining room; the doctor writes prescriptions in Latin; the magician hides his hinges, mirrors, and trapdoors with the utmost care.” – Jack Vance

Jumpstart: If you think this place is all happiness and smiles, you’re so wrong… so, so wrong. Appearances can be very deceiving. Let me tell you…