This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Our pick of the best Christmas Gifts for the writerly types we love. Note to friends and family – any of these would do for me…
1. A pen that is also a USB stick
Yes. It it a pen AND a USB flash drive. Genius. This one even comes with a laser pointer just in case you fancied doing a presentation of some sort and needed a laser pointer.
2. A pretty laptop bag
You have to lug your laptop around here, there and everywhere. May as well make sure it's safely packed away in something purty. John Lewis do a lovely selection. This Cath Kidston laptop bag is pretty damn cute. If you're after something a bit more serious then this purple Aspinal of London bag could certainly do the trick.
3. A Sticky Whiteboard Roll
Remember this from Dragon's Den? Writers are forever making notes and plans and plots on bits of paper and post-its. These fantastic whiteboard sheets enable you to create a whiteboard anywhere in seconds. They're wipe clean and re-usable. This pack has 25 A1 sheets so you could pretty much make an entire whiteboard wall!
4. The Major Works of Charles Dickens
Penguin have done this fabulous Charles Dickens Boxset. Great inspiration for any writer.
5. A Massage
Being hunched over a laptop and typing away for hours on end can be pretty painful. Ease the tense muscles of your writerly loved one by getting them a nice massage. You can purchase gift vouchers from most local beauty salons.
6. A subscription to a Writing Magazine
I got one of these for Christmas a couple of years ago and it's been absolutely invaluable. You can get a subscription to Writer's Forum or Writing Magazine for as little as £10 for 3 months from isubscribe.
7. A selection of DVDs about writers/novelists
Our suggestions –
- Misery (Haha!)
(All DVD links to Amazon)
8 – The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook 2012
With a directory of agents, publishers, magazines, courses and competitions as well as articles on craft and industry, The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook really is a must-have book for anyone wishing to make a career out of writing. Amazon aren't dispatching these at the moment, but they are available from Waterstones.
9. Stamps
Posting submission to competitions, agents and publishers costs a LOT. Go to the Post Office and get your writer friend loads of stamps!
10. A Coffee Machine
It's lovely writing your novel in a coffee shop, but sometimes you just cannot be arsed to leave the house. Shove the instant stuff to the back of the cupboard and have some of that delicious fresh coffee at home. This Bosch Tassimo Coffee Maker has been reduced by almost £50 and is now £74.97. This gorgeous Gaggia Classic one has 45% off at the moment! Mum, If you're reading this – I'd like that one, please.
Do you have any suggestions? What writerly things would you like for Christmas this year?