Hello, readers!
Phew! It's hard to believe that November went so quickly. I won NaNoWriMo this year. Okay, I barely won, but I did write 50,002 words, so that's winning. Okay, it's possible I had to change my timezone to Pacific time to get that last 1,000 words in, but that's still winning. Okay, I cheated. I admit it. But I'm still calling it a win!
But now, I'm totally burned out. It's all I can do to keep from running from the room screaming when I see my laptop. Clearly, I need some intensive therapy to help me get over this PNSD (Post NaNoWriMo Stress Disorder). And what kind of therapy is better than retail therapy? I can't think of any.
Luckily for me, it's finally December, so I can shop (for others, of course) with reckless abandon. Of course, one of my favorite activities (other than writing) is shopping for other writers. And, if Mr. Wryte-Goode happens to read this and get some ideas, well, that's not a bad thing either.
So, where to start? Well, first off, if you didn't read last year's list of gifts for writers, those are still all awesome ideas. You can find last year's list here.
Now, that list is far from comprehensive. In fact, a few short hours spent shopping on the internet has turned up a myriad of other fabulous gift ideas. For example, did you know that there are artists out there in the world who are making all sorts of amazing handcrafted gifts for writers? I visited Etsy, typed in "gifts for writers" and found thousands of unique gift ideas. One of my favorites, this ampersand necklace (Jewelery and punctuation? Perfection!) is only available on special order, but look at this necklace. What writer couldn't use a reminder to persevere. In fact, what human couldn't use that reminder each and every day? I know I could.
But the creativity available on the internet doesn't stop with Etsy. Far from it. Sites like Cafe Press and Zazzle have amazing gifts for writers. For example, check out this bag for cozy mystery writers. I can think of three close friends who would love this bag...and countless others who might benefit from the warning it imparts. And take a look at this mug for writers having a good day, and this mug for writers whose muse isn't quite so friendly.
Of course, what good is a mug without something delicious to put in it. I was delighted to find Bingley's Teas, a premium tea company with a line devoted to Jane Austen's beloved characters. Whether you're a romance writer drinking Longbourn Wedding Tea or an adventure writer drawing inspiration from The Captain, you can't go wrong steeping your writing process in the taste and fragrance of high quality tea.
Now, some writers' tastes prefer something stronger than even the blackest tea. If your writer friends prefer Anthony Burgess' Martini Method to productivity, they might enjoy this Dorothy Parker Martini Glass to keep them motivated. Now, the Martini Method doesn't necessarily need to be alcoholic. Writers might enjoy other rewards for completing their word counts. For example, I bet if I could finish off each writing day with a Godiva Chocolate, every month could be like NaNoWriMo. This box of chocolate could get me through months of productivity.
Writers need more than motivation, however; they need good ideas. And ideas come upon us at the strangest times. For that reason, gifts such as Aqua Notes (which allows you to take notes IN THE SHOWER! How perfect is that?) and Quiver (an ingenious way to make sure you never lose your pen), and a NEO (a nifty little keyboard that runs on just three AA batteries and gives you more than 700 hours of writing time) are always a good idea.
We also need to remember that writing is fun. To imbue whimsy in what can be a fairly mundane activity, I suggest such fun-loving gifts as this wooden keyboard and mouse, or this adorable book laptop cover. For writers who appreciate the "good old days" of typerwriters, while still loving the "great new days" of backspace keys, this USB Typerwriter is an amazing gift. Look at that thing. Just look at it! I mean, how cool is that? It can hook up to an iPad if you have one, but it also works with a standard computer or laptop. Sa-woon!
Okay, that last one was a bit pricey, I'll admit. But there are other gifts at higher price points that writers would love. For example, you could send your favorite writer on a writer's retreat. There are opportunities for writers to retreat from the cares of the world all over the place, but Wellspring House in Ashfield Massachusetts, has come to my attention because they recently cut their prices for winter retreats. Imagine writing amidst the trees and the snow, far from the ringing phone and internet...okay, I better give this some thought, but still, I bet it'd be really great for my writing, and my sanity.
If your writer is suffering from the opposite of overexposure to the world, perhaps some international travel would be more appropriate. In that case, you might consider giving your writer the chance to learn a foreign language. I've heard great things about Rosetta Stone, so definitely check them out. And a note to all you writer spouses out there, a romantic getaway to an exotic location is always a good idea!
If your writer is looking for inspiration, a more affordable alternative to international travel is the Creative Whack Pack. You might also find this Shakespeare Insults Collection Print useful in writing dialogue, or responding to critiques.
Finally, a couple of gifts that writers might enjoy in their non-writing hours, this temporary tattoo lets the world know where your heart is, and this updated Scrabble: Book Lovers Edition is perfect for writers and readers alike.
As always, I urge you to support your local community as much as possible. Bethlehem area shoppers should check out The Moravian Bookshop, Christkindlemarkt, and the Bethlehem Visitors Center, in addition to the many wonderful shops in downtown Bethlehem and the surrounding towns. New Jersey residents should stop by Clinton NJ, home of the Clinton Bookshop and many other wonderful merchants, and if you live in Bucks County, no Christmas season is complete without stopping by Lion Around Books during Quakertown's Tree Lighting extravaganza! Keep your eyes open for my fellow members of the Bethlehem Writers Group. A signed Christmas Sampler: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales makes a great Christmas gift as well!
So, those are my ideas, but I'd love to hear your ideas for gifts for writers. Please feel free to contact me via the Submissions/Contacts Page, or via Twitter @BettysTips.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Betty Wryte-Goode
Betty Wryte-Goode is a writer, mother, and wife who lives in the Lehigh Valley. Her passions include writing, reading, shopping, gardening, and exploring the internet. Betty is always looking for writing tips, so if you have any you would like to share, please send them to her through our Submissions/Contacts page.
Mixed Up Words of the Month:
Who vs Whom
Unless you are Dr. Seuss or a rock band, "who" is a pronoun referring to a subject. "Whom" is the same pronoun when it is used as an object. In other words, "who" refers to something that is doing something, while "whom" refers to something that is having something done to it.
Here is a nifty little holiday trick to determine when to use whom. Think about Santa Claus. It is correct to say "Who delivers presents on Christmas Eve?" because the answer, "Santa Claus delivers presents on Christmas Eve" has Santa Clause, the noun which "who" replaces, as the one doing the action in the sentence. It is also correct to say "Santa Clause delivered presents to whom?" (setting aside the debatably incorrect placement of a pronoun at the end of a sentence) because the answer "Santa Clause delivered presents to Billy" has Billy, the noun replaced by the pronoun, as the object, the one having something done to him. Santa Claus is still the subject.
Too confusing? Another quick way to test who vs whom is to remember that "whom" is used in the same sentences as "him". You would not say "Him delivered presents," when discussing Santa Claus. Instead you would say "He delivered presents." Who delivered presents? He did. But the answer to the question "To whom did Santa Claus deliver presents" would be "To him." You would never say "Santa Claus delivered presents to he."
Now, when it comes to Dr. Seuss and rock bands, we have the Who that Horton hears, and The Who that concert goers hear. Since these Whos are nouns, not pronouns, all bets are off.
The sentence "Whom did the Who hear and who went with him?" might be very correctly answered with "He heard The Who with Santa Clause who heard The Who with him." But, when would that ever come up?