In the U.S., winter holidays are just around the corner. That means the biggest season in the year for retail spending. Marathon shoppers know all about how to prepare for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and all their associated merchant-inspired lead-ins to this most mercantile of all seasons.<\/p>\n
Maybe you\u2019re a mad shopper who loves trips to the mall over almost every other excursion. Maybe you\u2019re more like me, and avoid at all costs even the idea of visiting a retail store during the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year\u2019s Day. Even if your winter holiday is less about what\u2019s under some ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Holiday-Lights.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
tree and more about what\u2019s in your own heart, as well as those of your family members and loved ones, I\u2019d still be willing to bet there are other occasions in the year where gifts are appropriate. And we all have that one person for whom gifting is excruciatingly difficult.<\/p>\n
For example, what do you give someone who spends most of their waking hours in front of a laptop or iPad either typing madly, querying agents and\/or magazines, or searching the maze that is Google for worldbuilding details and foundational setup?<\/p>\n
Never fear. Your auntie Drema is here to help.<\/p>\n
Above and beyond the obvious tech (a new computer or iPad or what-have-you) to make a writer\u2019s life easier, here are twelve fabulous gift ideas (in no particular order) for the writer in your life.<\/p>\n
1. Paid admission to a writing class (online or real-space). There are dozens online, and most major cities will offer plenty in real-space from which to choose. Even better, spring for a conference your writer would love to attend. If neither of you can afford airfare, hotels and meals, find one they can drive\/walk to. Writing, whether fiction, non-fiction or poetry, is an ever-changing business. The need for education and honing one\u2019s skill never ends.<\/p>\n
2. An all-expenses paid weekend of isolation at a retreat or residency where your writer can work undisturbed. I\u2019ve written about retreats and residencies before here (https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/03\/26\/sound-the-retreat\/), and have included a few suggestions in my links pages to get you started. But don\u2019t stop there. Search Google to find the dozens of others out there. Keep in mind that retreats can be pricey, while some residencies may even be free. But the important thing to remember is this: it doesn\u2019t need to be fancy. It just needs to be focused time where they can concentrate on writing without other distractions and obligations. Even a weekend in a hotel across town (without the family) can serve in a pinch. Can\u2019t afford that? Take on the household chores yourself (if you don\u2019t already do so) at least one day each month, then round up the kids and take them (and yourself) out of the house for a whole day. Bring back take-out when you come home.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/BookPile.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
3. Books on the craft of writing. There are plenty to choose from. Read the reviews; see what others had to say about each book. If you are paying attention to your writer\u2019s babbling (I know, we babble) about their current work-in-progress, chances are they\u2019ve mentioned some aspect of this writing business where they\u2019d like to improve their skill. Find a book on that. Find two. Buy them both. Also, buy newly released books in the genre in which they are writing. It\u2019s good for them to stay up-to-speed on what\u2019s selling and what isn\u2019t. As far as agents and publishers are concerned, selections on what gets published are all about marketability. Knowing what\u2019s already out there will help your writer be more spot-on. And besides, what writer doesn\u2019t love reading?<\/p>\n
4. Writing software. Personally, I use Scrivener. It\u2019s inexpensive, super powerful, and designed with writers in mind, so there are all kinds of helpful tools built in that make my job easier. I\u2019ve heard Mac users also have Pages software. I use a Mac, too, but have never played with this software. Microsoft Word is probably the biggie; in addition, in my experience, it\u2019s what I\u2019ve seen most often requested for formatting queries and submissions to magazines and agents. Don\u2019t forget training in how to use the software most effectively.<\/p>\n
5. Wrist braces and\/or cold packs. This may seem simplistic, but as someone who deals with the symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome, I\u2019m telling you wrist braces and ice packs are my friends. Anyone who spends an inordinate amount of time writing a novel longhand or working on a keyboard will need these two essentials, doubly so if their day job also includes keyboard work.<\/p>\n
6. Pens and notebooks that lie flat, or lots of paper. Some authors hand-write their early drafts (you heard me right). Find out what type of paper they prefer (lined? Three-ring and a binder? Bound lined books?), then buy then a good supply. And pens are crucial. No Bics, please. (No offense, Bic, but this is an extreme situation.) Splurge. Find a pen for people who write a lot. One with cushions for the fingers, one with ink that flows smoothly and doesn\u2019t blotch or smear. One that will write at any angle. One that can be refilled (then include a couple of refills in the gift box). If your writer pens fantasy or sci-fi, maybe they\u2019d also like a sketchbook where they can map their worlds; for this, they\u2019ll need a pack of pencils, a sharpener, and a good Staedtler (or better) eraser, one that won\u2019t just smear the pencil marks and leave a mess.<\/p>\n
7. A large whiteboard or corkboard they can hang on the wall, where they can affix storyboard notes ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Corkboard.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
for plotting out their next novel.<\/p>\n
8. Aqua Notes \u2013 a notepad that is waterproof and gives your writer a way to jot down notes even in the shower. This is not a joke; ask your writer how many times they\u2019ve had great ideas in the shower, only to forget them by the time they were out and dried.<\/p>\n
9. Subscription to Kindle Unlimited, or perhaps to your writer\u2019s favorite magazines\u2014the ones where they\u2019d most like to be published.<\/p>\n
10. A care package filled with healthy energy boosts, yummy teas, flavored coffees, healthy snacks they can pick up and eat without much thought, hand lotion, a back scratcher or other self-care niceties. I promise you, when your writer is lost in a make-believe world and does not have to break their train of thought to rummage through the kitchen for a bite to eat, they will thank you.<\/p>\n
11. A break from the keyboard. Take your writer out to dinner. Maybe to a movie. Take them for a walk in a park or on the beach. Anything to give them a break\u2014bonus points if you can match the dinner\/movie\/activity to the theme of their work-in-progress. Not only will their perspective and focus benefit, their eyes will too.<\/p>\n
12. A massage. No kidding. Writing, whether by hand or by keyboard, knots the shoulders, arms, hands and back something fierce. A skilled massage therapist can help keep your writer relaxed and healthy. Heck, go all out. Arrange for the massage therapist to come to your house. Better yet, pay for a series of massages \u2013 two, three, six, a year\u2019s worth (one per month). If you can\u2019t afford to pay for a professional, do it yourself. A fifteen-minute shoulder rub will work wonders.<\/p>\n
A quick Google search will turn up a plethora of other ideas not listed here. Think about where the writer in your life could most use a boost, and go from there.<\/p>\n
The best gifts will come from ideas you get while listening to your writer. They will tell you, whether they know it or not, what they need most, and will certainly appreciate being heard.<\/p>\n
What other gift ideas can you come up with for the writer in your life?<\/p>\n
See you next week!<\/p>\n
Holiday Lights photo by Marina Khrapova<\/a> In the U.S., winter holidays are just around the corner. That means the biggest season in the year for retail spending. Marathon shoppers know all about how to prepare for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and all their associated merchant-inspired lead-ins to this most mercantile of all seasons. Maybe you\u2019re a mad shopper who loves trips…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1152,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts","category-on-writing"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8n0kX-iz","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":517,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2017\/12\/26\/greetings-from-slumpy-hollow-slumptavia\/","url_meta":{"origin":1151,"position":0},"title":"Greetings from Slumpy Hollow, Slumptavia","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"December 26, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"So it\u2019s been several weeks since I\u2019ve touched my novel to any significant degree. Weeks. Maybe more than a month. I\u2019m beside myself. I\u2019ve tweaked and revised several short stories, spent time researching markets where I might submit them, attended several classes, re-sent book 1 of my novel series to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1483,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2019\/08\/25\/speak-the-ocean\/","url_meta":{"origin":1151,"position":1},"title":"Speak the Ocean","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"August 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Rebecca Enzor REUTS Publications, LLC, ISBN: 978-1942111597 Paperback, 400 pages. \u00a92019 First, humans discovered the Merfolk were real. Second, humans learned that Mer performances drew thousands of paying tourists to marine parks every day. Third, humans discovered that the Mer are not like Ariel. They\u2019re lethal predators who can\u2014and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/SpeakTheOcean.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1026,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/03\/boost-the-power-shifting-perspective-in-a-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":1151,"position":2},"title":"Boost the Power: Shifting Perspective in a Story","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"September 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Now that the Pitch Wars submission window has closed and the pressure is eased a bit, I\u2019ve turned my attention to other projects. One of those, a short story entitled \u201c29 Langwood Street,\u201d has been lying around waiting to find a home. I admit I don\u2019t like to write something\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":260,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2017\/07\/24\/planting-seeds\/","url_meta":{"origin":1151,"position":3},"title":"Planting Seeds","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"July 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Years ago, I worked in retail and stood on my feet all day. Now that my day job involves sitting, and my \u201cnight job\u201d (writing) also involves sitting, I\u2019m getting sludgy around the middle. Walking outside is more fun than the cardio equipment at the gym, but weather gods don\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Blog Posts","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/blog-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":163,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2017\/04\/09\/choices\/","url_meta":{"origin":1151,"position":4},"title":"Choices","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"April 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I sometimes envy people who have had that \u201cAha!\u201d moment which inspires the words, \u201cThis is what I was born for!\u201d To have that certainty, that conviction, that gut-deep knowing that you have found your true purpose must be profoundly and life-alteringly fulfilling! It would, of necessity, focus you, give\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archived Writings"","block_context":{"text":"Archived Writings","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/archived-writings\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":861,"url":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/2018\/06\/18\/gifts-book-1-of-the-annals-of-the-western-shore\/","url_meta":{"origin":1151,"position":5},"title":"Gifts: Book 1 of the Annals of the Western Shore","author":"DremaDeoraich","date":"June 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By Ursula K. Le Guin HMH Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-0152051242 Paperback, 304 pages. \u00a9 2006 In the Uplands, where families pass on Gifts through their bloodlines, Houses are known by what their heirs can do. Some can move heavy objects without touching them. Even buildings. Even hills. Others\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Gifts-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Holiday-Lights.jpg?fit=5075%2C3383&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1151"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1155,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151\/revisions\/1155"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dremadeoraich.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nBookpile photo by Thought Catalog<\/a>
\nCorkboard photo by G. Crescoli<\/a>
\nPhotos courtesy of Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"