Have a writer on your Christmas gift list?
Stuck for ideas? That’s not surprising, considering you’re dealing with a
person who can have anything he or she wants – in their imagination, of course!
But buying
for writer friends or family needn’t be a chore. And it needn’t be expensive,
either. Of course, the latest word processing programmes, computer technology,
a library full of 
books or a year’s rental on a retreat to a villa in France,
would all be welcome gifts. Bear in mind that the latter could be very pricey
indeed, because most of us writers are broke much of the time so you’d
definitely have to throw in air fare and stock the place with food.
books or a year’s rental on a retreat to a villa in France,
would all be welcome gifts. Bear in mind that the latter could be very pricey
indeed, because most of us writers are broke much of the time so you’d
definitely have to throw in air fare and stock the place with food.
But for more
realistic purposes, here are a few writer pleasing ideas.
1) Fancy pens, pencils, cute notebooks,
or other desktop gadgets. Sure, we know we’re in the age of high tech, but
there’s nothing like the allure of a clean, virginal page or a fancy new gel
pen.
2) A really good diary with at least a
page per day for notes. Or more than a page, to help keep track of word counts,
deadlines, book signings, talk events, submission dates, etc.
3) The online version of The Writer’s
Market.
4) The online version of Writer’s
Digest
5) A comfy cushion for the desk chair –
you’d be amazed just how numb one’s posterior can get after a few hours of
typing madly, butt in chair….
6) One of those little desk puzzles, to
give the brain a break from words. Careful with the choice, though – nothing
too difficult. Writers are all too familiar with failure, and not being able to
do the Rubik’s Cube, for example, can begin a slow slide into depression as
fast as any rejection letter.
7) A pair of those woolly fingerless
gloves, for typing when the power is out – or has been cut off – and there’s no
heat.
8) Woolly socks with tops that will fit
over flannel pajama bottoms.
9) Flannel pajama bottoms.
10) A gift card for Starbucks or Tim
Horton’s, so that your writer won’t get black looks after sitting in the warm
café for hours, typing without buying…..
11) Probably the very best gift for a writer costs nothing: Time. Yes,
time to write without interruption is such a gift! Be a friend. Don’t take
offence when your writer buddy rolls her eyes at your suggestions that the two
of you go out, when you know she’s on deadline. Offer to take the kids for a
couple of hours, cook a meal, pick up groceries, dry cleaning, kids from
school. Don’t talk for hours on the phone. Listen when she needs a sounding
board, otherwise give her some space.
Trust me,
she or he will eventually emerge from the writing cave, eager and ready for
human interaction again……one the writing is done. Until the next book, of
course….
