Yeah, I may receive a “cease and desist” letter from the Peanuts people any minute for using that image as my header, so let me get right to my first “write” gift…the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.
What kidlit writer doesn’t love Schultz’s merry misfit, his pilot puppy, and a girl named after candy?
You get the sensation, right?
Oh geez, those York folks may be after me now, too.
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree With Blanket Tree Skirt
Available from Vermont Country Store. (And you may be reminded of Christmases past when I say “some items sold separately” and “some assembly required”.)
Now, time for booties.
No, not baby booties. Book booties…
I’m not the most organized writer, but this looks like it can help. It features an area for notes plus numbered pockets for keeping mind memos and snippets—maybe to represent each chapter?
Industrial-Inspired 12-pocket Wall Memo Board
You’ve probably heard the writing advice “B.I.C.”: BUTT IN CHAIR. But your butt may hurt after sitting a while. This funky stool by ErgoErgo “encourages you to make small movements that help circulation, breathing, and keeping your mind more alert. And unlike a stability ball, ErgoErgo looks cool and won’t roll away.”
Adult Active Sitting Stool
A good game during the holidays brings family together…so you can show off your word superiority and crush them all in a pile of defeat!
Anagram, The Ingenious Game of Juggling Words
Available from The Literary Gift Company.
I know, we writers have high shelf esteem.
Perhaps the writer you know is seeking a little R&R (wRiting and Relaxation). What better place to get away than the Highlights Foundation? Your own private cabin, three scrumptious meals a day, hikes through the countryside, a poetry garden…it is a marvelous retreat. When Highlights isn’t hosting a workshop, anyone can visit and create their own private UNworkshop. Genius idea for genius ideas to flourish.
Highlights Unworkshop
Available from Highlights Foundation.
Now, lemme ask some writer friends what they recommend.
How’s about Katey Howes, author of the upcoming BE A MAKER?
“For the writer with published books to promote, these tabletop chalkboard signs are a godsend. They pack up easily for travel to book festivals, conferences, and anywhere else you find authors and illustrators tucked behind tables of books and swag. Add a pack of brightly colored chalk markers and even the most introverted writers can get shoppers’ attention and communicate prices and details—without having to make eye contact or speak above a whisper. Not published yet? Use these chalkboards to post a motivational message on your desk or a Do Not Disturb: Writer At Work sign for your children to completely ignore.”
Mini Chalkboards
Available from Factory Direct Craft.
“Also essential for the writer on the go—this folding dolly can haul boxes of books to school visits, fairs and festivals. The removable bag is great for storing the posters, promo items, snacks and cardigan sweaters essential for author events.”
The Trolley Dolly
Available from dbest products.
‘Scuzi, Tara here again…Katey’s suggestions reminded me about these sturdy and portable book display stands. Bookstand.net displays are invaluable at book festivals and events. Your book gets displayed face-out and tilted slightly upward for passers-by to notice, plus there’s space on the front of the wood base to put a little sign. You can stack a few books on the stand so if one person picks up a book to read, there’s still another book on display. The dowels are removable so everything can be packed away flat and neat. These wood stands are far better than flimsy plastic photo holders (that keep falling over). My local indie uses them throughout their store, too. They come in various sizes and configurations for books big and small.
The Bookstand
Available from TheBookstand.net.
Next up, Laurie Wallmark, who will release HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE in February
A woman of few words (well, she is a picture book author), Laurie simply told me her husband received a several-month iPenBox subscription and loved it.
Good enough for me.
From the website: iPenBox is a curated subscription box for the pen, paper and ink enthusiast, delivering a monthly box of products to your door. Each month this mystery box will be filled with new, innovative, and sometimes unusual items from the pen, paper and ink world. We hand pick 4-10 items around a fun monthly theme! This way you’ll be able to discover and sample new items that you might not have heard of or tried before.
iPenBox Monthly Subscription Box
If you have any vegetarian writing friends, please shield their eyes. (Look away, Josh Funk, LOOK AWAY!) Paul Czajak, author of MONSTER NEEDS A CHRISTMAS TREE, is a real weisenheimer. And a hungry one, too. He sent me this gift suggestion with a short testimonial: “Because cooking with duck fat makes everything taste better. And yes, I mean everything.”
OK, so maybe your writer friend is looking a little under-nourished. Paul’s got your solution.
Antibiotic-Free Duck Fat
Available from Good Vittles LLC.
Then Jarrett Lerner, author of ENGINERDS, chimed in and said he would like ANYTHING from Montague Workshop. From duck fat to the whole kit and caboodle. Only here, folks.
“Brad and Kristi Montague are the brilliant individuals behind Kid President, and since then, they haven’t stopped creating more brilliant things. Whether it’s T-shirts, prints, cards, pins, stickers, or stationery, everything they make is warm, joyful, and inspirational. Their stuff is like the material equivalent of a good hug and an encouraging pat on the back. It makes me happy, and I just love it so much.”
I love it too, Jarrett. So I picked out this little goody…
Don’t Hide Your Magic Enamel Pin
Available from Montague Workshop.
We all need to be reminded of that, don’t ya think?
What would be a great gift for a writer? (OK, I mean, what do YOU want for the holidays?) Please share your selection below in the comments!
And HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
31 comments
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December 13, 2018 at 8:17 am
Kimberly Marcus
Fun! Love these ideas. I’ve gotten some great literary gifts from: https://shop.nybooks.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RC%20Stocking%20stuffers&utm_content=RC%20Stocking%20stuffers+CID_638db68cb08cfa5ab1b22d5c037239eb&utm_source=Newsletter
December 13, 2018 at 8:35 am
curryelizabeth
Great ideas here! Can you forward this to my husband? 😛 Happy Holidays Tara!
December 13, 2018 at 8:41 am
mariaordish
This is awesome! Thanks, Tara! And yes… Duck fat makes EVERYTHING taste better. (Sorry, Josh)
December 13, 2018 at 8:51 am
bookseedstudio/jan godown annino
Joy from artsyletters.com This is the snazzy ETSY shop of Haiku poet & picture book author Robyn Hood Black. Her websites link to the ETSY
shop is: http://artsyletters.com/?page_id=43 I love her typewriter key creations, notecards, bookmarks – have gifted all to writer pals.
Always look forward to this gift-giving post, Tara! Happy Holidays from FLA.
December 13, 2018 at 8:57 am
Suzanne LaLiberte Lewis
What a great Christmas list! You had me at the Charlie Brown Christmas tree!! La, la, la, da, da, da, de, dum, la, la, lum (imagine the Vince Guaraldi Trio playing “Dance”). Merry Christmas, Tara! Thanks for all the inspiration and encouragement you’ve so generously shared this year.
December 13, 2018 at 9:08 am
Andria Rosenbaum
Colored pens of all kinds. Especially sparkly. Also cozy slippers to keep toesies warm while writing.
December 13, 2018 at 9:15 am
ptnozell
A good chair for keeping butt in tops my list this year. Happy holidays! Counting the days until StoryStorm!
December 13, 2018 at 9:17 am
Lenora Biemans
I told me husband: no jewelry, no tech and no knick knacks. That means: I’m getting another online writing course for my gift!
December 13, 2018 at 10:01 am
Sue Eyerman
Good Morning and thank you for the awesome gift suggestion. These items would be fun to own!!!! Blessings to all!
December 13, 2018 at 10:21 am
Johnell DeWitt
Oh those boots!
December 13, 2018 at 10:55 am
Claire W Bobrow
Those ergonomic stools (yikes – the name!) look amazing. And in orange, too! I’m adding that to my wish list 🙂
December 13, 2018 at 11:41 am
Melanie Ellsworth
Wow, what a list. I kind of want everything.
December 13, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Gabi Snyder
Okay, I want all of these! I’m also a big fan of Decomposition notebooks: https://decomposition.com/product-category/recycled-notebooks/
December 13, 2018 at 1:08 pm
writeknit
I look forward to you Christmas list every year!
December 13, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
Some funky, wild, and useful ideas here. Love your thinking outside the box. Thanks for compiling the list.
December 13, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Stephen S. Martin
love Em!
December 13, 2018 at 5:28 pm
seschipper
Your suggestions are always the best …and so are you!!!
My list always includes new calligraphy pens (not that I am very good at that art!), journals, and gift card to an indie bookstore or a book..haven’t really “met” one, book that is, that I didn’t like!! 🙂
December 13, 2018 at 7:28 pm
kathydoherty1
Christmas gifts already mentioned: a journal, a workshop in Honesdale at The Barn, a membership to SCBWI . . . BOOKS! LOTS OF BOOKS!
December 13, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Nancy Rose
What a great list..I am checking websites for several of these things! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
December 13, 2018 at 8:49 pm
Linda Mitchell
I have my eye on a Highlights workshop for nonfiction writers. I’d better go have a chat with Santa
December 13, 2018 at 10:28 pm
Lucretia
Thanks for the suggestions, Tara. I’m in the midst of my first on-line writing course (The Lyrical Language Lab)–and I’m really enjoying it! I highly recommend this particular class for those who’d like to take their poetry and rhyming skills to the next level. I’d love to be gifted another one for when I’ve completed this one!
December 14, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Margaret Greanias
Love these ideas. I also really like Rocketbooks.They are notebooks that you can write on and then reuse by wiping them with a wet cloth (they work with Pilot Frixion eraseable pens). I find that when I’m brainstorming, I end up with piles and piles of notebooks that I will never look at again. This way, I can take a picture of the page, upload it to the cloud, without wasting paper.
https://getrocketbook.com
December 14, 2018 at 2:51 pm
tiffanydickinson
Reblogged this on Tiffany Dickinson and commented:
I know it’s been a REALLY long time since you’ve heard from me. I am working on a fantastic blog post at the moment… But, in the meantime here are some great Christmas gift ideas for the writer (no, I’m not sending hints), or almost anyone, on your gift list. Cheers!
December 14, 2018 at 2:52 pm
tiffanydickinson
Tara, this is an original fun list. I re-blogged it. Thanks. Cheers!
December 14, 2018 at 6:48 pm
Writer on the run
Great ideas! Merry Holidays and I am hoping for a Highlights retreat!
December 15, 2018 at 11:28 am
denitajohnson
Great ideas, enjoy your holidays!
December 15, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Angie
Oh, there’s about 10 of those items I would love! Especially the Unretreat! Great ideas! Don’t forget, gift certificates to bookstores are always wonderful gifts. Speciality (and fun) pens and writing tools, cool notebooks and papers, those fancy file folders with cool themes. Wish my husband read this book! Merry Christmas!
December 15, 2018 at 4:23 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Great gift ideas, Tara. May I add mentor books, books about writing, or books about writers are also good choices depending on the wants/needs of the giftee. 🎁🎁
December 15, 2018 at 7:58 pm
mariagianferrari
Love Groove bag shoes–got some dog & chicken themed ones! So cute!
December 17, 2018 at 11:26 am
Carol Gordon Ekster
I definitely don’t want the duck fat! Chocholate, a french press for a delicious cup of coffee or nice teas are a great gift, too! Beautiful journals always are sweet for writers. Happy holidays to all you #kidlit folks!
December 28, 2018 at 4:29 pm
carmelamccainsimmons
Carmela McCain Simmons checking in. Happy New Year, Tara!