February 3

Birthdays:  Sidney Lanier (1842), Gertrude Stein (1874), James Michener (1907), Richard Yates (1926), Joan Lowery Nixon (1927), Paul Auster (1947), Henning Mankell (1948), Ransom Riggs (1980)

Gertrude Stein’s memoir “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” made her a literary cult figure.

James Michener won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1948.

Quote: “I’m not a very good writer, but I’m excellent rewriter.” – James A. Michener

Tip: Get to know your character: what does s/he like to watch on TV? Music? Movies? Clothing? What sets her apart from other characters?

Jumpstart: Describe where your character works. How did s/he get the job? Does s/he like it? Does s/he get along with his or her coworkers? What does s/he do? Write a scene with him or her at work.

February 4

Birthdays: Charles Lindbergh (1902), MacKinlay Kantor (1904), Betty Friedan (1921), Russell Hoban (1925), Stanley Karnow (1925), Siobhan Dowd (1960), Stewart O’Nan (1961), Ben Lerner (1979)

MacKinlay Kantor won the 1956 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for “Andersonville”

Betty Friedan is best known for her 1963 book “The Feminine Mystique”

Russell Hoban wrote books like “Bread and Jam for Frances” for children

Stanley Karnow wrote about the Vietnam War and won the 1990 Pulitzer for History

Quote: “…every day I don’t write feels like a lost day. I never believe that a story will be finished until I’ve typed the last period. And it is always a miracle if I get it down before being run over by a juggernaut.” – Siobhan Dowd

Tip: Get a notebook – a three ring binder is best – add paper and pockets and start adding stuff to it to use in future stories. Pictures, thoughts, etc. You can also do this in Pinterest or OneNote or other programs online.

Jumpstart: Write a voice mail message for a literary character or author but do it in the “voice” of the character. For instance, Hamlet: To answer, or not to answer, that is the question…