It’s that time of year again—when Romanceland starts buzzing with talk of ebook readers and netbooks and laptops and Neos and more. Big ticket items every writer would love to have for Christmas. But if you’re 1) conserving money in the name of heat and gas or 2) have a husband (like mine) who doesn’t shop online, instead taking the kids out to shop for mom in brick & mortar stores, that doesn’t mean you can’t receive a gift that’s just for the writer in you.
Here are a few gifts I’ve received—or would like to—that would slide easily into a stocking or make the perfect gift from a loved one, all (but one) for $20 or less!
Sandisk 4GB Cruzer Micro USB Flash Drive: $17.88 at Walmart — Imagine all the documents and ebooks you could back up on that! And rumor has it, this little puppy will be a $9.00 Walmart Black Friday Doorbuster item!)
Moleskine Reporters Notebook: @ $12.00 at Borders or Barnes & Noble — This is a purely decadent luxury item. Classic, with sumptuous paper and just a hint of snobbery. Every writer should have one!
The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale: @ $17.00 at Borders or Barnes & Noble — 376 pages of synonym madness. An absolute must during that self-editing pass, and there’s no reason to make do with a standard Thesaurus. (It doesn’t make such a great stocking stuffer, however, unless you have one hell of a stocking.)
Black ‘N’ Red Twin Wire 8 1/2×11 Notebook: $8.99 at Staples. Okay, nine bucks is a lot of money for a single subject notebook, but the paper is pure pleasure to write on. And what better time than Christmas to splurge on a little writing luxury?
A kitchen timer: Target has a cool stainless steel one for $10 — While it’s not exactly something a typical person writes a letter to Santa for, this is perfect for timing your writing. Teach yourself discipline and increase your output by setting it for a set number of minutes and doing nothing but writing until it dings!
Fingerless gloves: — Have nice toasty hands without interfering with the typing! Target has a cute, textured pink pair of Xhilaration Gauntlets for $10.
Sony Microcassette Voice Recorder: $29.77 at Walmart — this one costs a little more, but they’re handy to have around. I prefer the microcassette version because 1) it’s cheaper and more dependable and 2) I find the digital ones to be unnecessarily confusing with folders and subfolders and whatnot. By the time I remember how to use it, I’ve forgotten what I was going to say. If you’ve never tried one, you might like it. Some people—like me—have trouble dictating the manuscript itself but use it for those random plot points and such that pop into my head, while some—like Alison Kent—dictate pages, essentially writing on the move.
Tis the season for friends and family asking what we’d like for Christmas, so feel free to share your ideas for small gifts and stocking stuffers for writers and readers!
No related posts.
Lots of good ideas but the fingerless gloves sound like heaven!
Oooh, those all sound so wonderful.
Got anything for writers prone to Tendinitis?
One of my fave gifts was a light up pen. Great for those inspirational middle of the night ideas when you don’t want to switch on a light and disturb your partner
Light up pen? WANT!!!!!!!!!
Small pocket notebooks that you can tuck into your purse. Because I get my best plot ideas when riding in the car or sitting in a restaurant. I can’t tell you how many plot notes I’ve jotted on a restaurant napkin. Though the voice recorder would be nice for that. But just in case you aren’t comfortable recording your own voice, the notebook in the purse thing is a lifesaver.
Oh, and pens. Really nice fat juicy pens. A writer can never have too many pens (Unless you go to a lot of conferences in which case you probably come home with a million of them). Pens in the purse and in the car are essential too. No sense in having the notebook if you don’ t have a pen to jot down those notes. Then you have to steal the waitress’s pen at the restaurant. (Not that I’ve personally done this or anything
)
As a reader, I love a good Christmas romance in my stocking.
OOooh, can I print this list and hand it out to everyone who asks what I want for Christmas?
I’ll add to it, as well. When I write by hand I often do so on loose leaf paper or will at least tear it out of the notebook when it comes time to type it in, so I love those “Page up” note/page holders. The large ones can hold a full size sheet of paper at just the write angle. I’m pretty sure most office supply places and book stores have them for under $10.
I always ask for those gift cards to Borders or B&N. By the way, I saw Target had the Sony Ereader for sale in their Sunday ad. Still out of my range. My daughter wants a Kindle.
Kimber An wrote: Got anything for writers prone to Tendinitis?
For writers with wrist tendonitis, I recommend the IMAK computer glove ($14.95). An orthopedic elbow support sleeve (most are around $25) help cushion the joint and provide support for attacks of elbow tendonitis/bursitis. There are a bunch of different hot/cold wrap-around type pack products that work well, too; I usually buy the Comfort brand reusable gel kind I can toss in the fridge or warm in the microwave (around $10 each, but they last for months.)
Any sort of herbal therapy bath salts are wonderful for writers who like to soak in the tub. My cousin sends me a eucalyptus/mint variety from England that soothes the senses as well as the tired muscles.
When writing I love a lit candle, a CD playing, a cup of hot tea, and … always … chocolate. Items always on my hint list for hubby and sons!
Oooo, I’m writing down the name of that flash drive and putting more micro cassette tapes on my list!
I don’t have problems with tendonitis (yet) but I get it between the shoulders, at the base of my neck. (Posture posture posture)
Great gift ideas! I’ll be passing on a couple to my husband.