Week of July 29, 2012 - Christmas and Birthday Present Ideas for Writers

By Joan Whetzel

When it comes to giving presents to the writer in your family, you may find it difficult to decide what kind of presents to give them for birthdays and Christmas. Writers can always use a wide variety of practical items, and some fun and creative influences as well. Take a gander at the following lists for some ideas.

Paper Products

Paper products are the kind of things writers can use to write by hand, and maybe some computer paper for printouts – if you know what kind they use. The kinds of paper for writing by hand could include:

·         Legal pads, large and small.

·         Spiral notebooks - college or wide ruled.

·         Organizational writing pads, the kinds that are arranged so that writers can organize their ideas.

·         Writing pads with separate areas for illustrations or sketches and for writing by hand.

·         Specialty stationary, for those handwritten notes that writers sometimes need to write, or want to write.

·         Colored paper, just for the fun of writing on different colored paper.

·         Note pads, small ones that fit into a purse or a computer case, or that can be left on the bedside table for jotting down those ideas that appear at the oddest times.

Pens

Another product for writing by hand, pens come in such a huge array of styles and ink colors, they can’t be anything but fun to write with. Many writers like specific styles of pens – gel pens, broad point roller ball pens, fountain pens – because they like the way the pens feel as they dispense their ink across the page. It’s also nice to have different colors of ink, either to mark different areas that need something changed, removed, or added to the writing, or because the different colors stimulate their imagination.  Consider these pen ideas:

·         Ink pens in blue, black, green and red, for editing purposes.

·         Gel pens, fine tip markers, fountain pens, or roller ball pens in multiple colors which appeal to the writer's creative nature.

·         Highlighters in multiple colors, also for editing purposes.

·         Metallic markers, also for creativity stimulation.

Office Supplies

Sometimes writers, especially new writers, need office supplies. Your writer may be happy with basic office supplies, but if there’s an upgraded version, a brand that takes their writing seriously and makes their writing space feel more upscale, than consider it. Also take a look at this list to see what it suggests:

·         stapler and staples

·         cardstock and brads for manuscript or script covers

·         printer paper and printer ink, if you know what kind they need

·         file folders

·         envelops, regular letter size and manila envelopes (10 x 13 inch)

·         Manuscript mailing boxes

·         paper clips

·         scotch tape

·         bulletin board and push pins

·         white board and dry erase markers

Music

Many writers like to listen to music when they are writing, Almost all of them like to have music for the different activities  in their lives. Most writers have a collection of different types of music that they change out, depending on what they are doing, like vocals for doing chores  or instrumental because it doesn’t interfere with their thinking process while writing; maybe some jazz, classical, world music, rock, country, gospel; some of it upbeat and some of slow and soothing. When considering music as a gift, besides purchasing the music in their preferred format consider the following ideas:

·         Their favorites styles and artists.

·         Whether they would like some more vocal or instrumental music.

·         Something new along the line of what they already like.

·         Something they wouldn't normally listen to, to jar them out of their thinking ruts.

·         Mood music that will put the writer in the mood of the piece(s) they are writing.

Lighting

Take a look at your writer’s writing space. How’s the lighting? Could the writer use another lamp? Maybe your writer has been looking at certain types of lamps that stimulate them visually or feed their writer’s soul. These lighting fixtures should probably one of these types:

·         task lighting

·         desk lamp

·         floor lamp

Artwork

Artwork feeds the writer’s creativity. It’s visually appealing. Consider some of the following:

·         some of your artwork.

·         frame some of theirs.

·         figurines, glassware, anything visually appealing.

·         art supplies so they can create some more of their own artwork.

Other

There are a number of ideas that can be added to the writer’s arsenal. Some of them can be a little on the expensive side while others are more reasonably priced: Find out what they might need and shop around for some of these ideas:

·         programs for novel writing.

·         Books about novel writing or article writing.

·         Thesaurus, dictionary, quote books.

·         Style Books: MLA, APA, Chicago Manual of Style.

·         Writer's Market books.

·         Almanac.

·         Atlas - geographical and road maps.

·         Other Reference books suitable for their genre: medical dictionary, legal dictionary, outdoor survival guide, boating manuals, or any other books that will give them the background info they need for their fiction or nonfiction writing.

The trick is to know what they have and at least a general idea of what they need or what they might enjoy using in their writing life. If you have an idea what they are working on, or what they will be working on in the near future, it could also give you some gift ideas.