Writer Unboxed

Did you hear about Australian Santas being asked not to say HoHoHo because it might be offensive to women? Seriously (HERE). HaHaHa just doesn’t do it for me, though.

I can barely believe we’re into the days before Black Friday. Anyway, this post was written for the forward thinking among us–those braving the shops, pulling together naughty/nice lists, thinking cookies and sending out hints. Here, some gift ideas for YOUR wish list.

Check out the t-shirts, mugs, hats and books at the NaNoWriMo store HERE and help Chris Baty along with his philanthropic efforts. Plus, fun stuff!

There are some great e-reading gift ideas on the Romancing the blog site HERE

This Agent Ate My Baby t-shirt HERE is worth a laugh.

There are a bunch of fun writerly items at Signals:

* Create, Inspire, Imagine Jewelry HERE

* A book lovers spin on Monopoly, Bookopoly (buy, sell and trade classic works of literature) HERE

* Calendars HERE, including:
365 New Words A Year
Scrabble, Page A Day
Common Errors in English Usage

* Shhh, Reading Door Hanger HERE

* Never Judge A Book By its Movie t-shirt and sweatshirt HERE

* What’s Another Word for Thesaurus t-shirt and sweatshirt HERE

* Careful, Or You’ll End Up In My Novel t-shirt and sweatshirt HERE

* As Soon As I Finish This Chapter t-shirt and sweatshirt HERE

How about a great new briefcase at the National Geographic site (ladies, HERE; ladies and gents HERE)?

Last year’s WU gift idea post has plenty of live links. There are old and new offerings at Shakespeare’s Den HERE, including those cool Much Ado About Nothings sticky notes whose name I couldn’t recall last year, and some literary jewelry.

If you’re ready to market your work, look no further than the Writer’s Digest series, including the Writer’s Market, the Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, and the Guide to Literary Agents. Great tools that will make your life easier.

You know there are oodles of ideas at Amazon.

* How about a new novel or craft book? Our favorites: Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel, Renni Browne and Dave King’s Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Noah Lukeman’s A Dash of Style, Raymond Obstfeld’s Fiction First Aid, Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey, Ralph Keyes’ The Writer’s Book of Hope, Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art, and Stephen King’s On Writing. (Did we miss your favorite? Illuminate us.)

* Something purported to stimulate right-brained creativity–the Ball of Whacks (HERE) is a 30-sided “rhombic triacontahedron” with “magnetic pyramids that can be arranged in an infinite number of conficurations. A creativity workshop in a ball.”

* Kath has this cool writer’s exercise kit, called The Observation Deck. Brainstorming in a box, it can help to inspire a lackluster muse.

* The jury’s still deliberating over Amazon’s new electronic wireless reading device, the KINDLE, though you might want to check it out.

* Does everyone have an ergonomic keyboard, mouse and chair? (THIS could be fun. I’ve spent time using my exercise ball as a chair in the past, though I usually end up feeling motion sick. ) Do you need a new desk? Could you use something to help with wrist strength?

Though expensive, a subscription to Publishers Weekly can go a long way to helping you get published. Get yours through the mail or read the less expensive and more earth-friendly virtual edition. Check out an electronic PDF sample HERE.

If you’re really good, maybe you’d like to ask for a Neo or Dana, the next generation of Alphasmarts. Check them out HERE. Both are powerful writerly tools with supra-long battery life, easy portability, a screen that promotes the drafting process (since you can’t see more than 4 lines at a time and editing isn’t easy) and a large memory. Kath and I highly recommend adding Alphie to your wish list, if you don’t already have one.

Perhaps the best gift yet: a weekend (or longer) at a B&B or nice inn, with time away from regular household responsibilities. Write, read, relax, get a massage. Reinvigorate your muse. Every hard writer deserves this at least once a year.

Anyone have a gift idea to add? A cookie recipe to share?

HaHaHa, Merry Holiday. (See? It just doesn’t work.)

Photo courtesy of Flickr’s Michael

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