by Erin Dalpini

Once again the holiday season is upon us. Lately it seems my to-do list has been a mile long, the usual tasks drowning amidst a sea of holiday duties: deck the halls, trim the tree, buy that secret Santa/white elephant/charity gift, troll the ancient yuletide carol, etc., etc. Oh yes, and on top of that all the relatives are now asking what I want for Christmas! Hmmm . . . what to ask for for the gift exchange?

Luckily, I’ve never had a problem with asking for what I want, and you won’t either, once you check out Freelance-Zone’s top gifts for writers for this holiday season.

TRADITIONAL

Moleskine notebooks – Count yourself among the likes of Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway while penning your musings in these minimalist yet elegant notebooks. Perfect for travel, taking notes, sounding off, and sketching, Moleskines come in several sizes and styles. See how toting one around can inspire you to write whenever inspiration strikes.

TECH

Smartphone upgrade – What better way to keep up with client emails, remember the milk, and manage Twitter and Facebook accounts while on the go? If you’re a writer and you’re often on the move, a slick, upgraded smartphone like the HTC Droid Incredible (Verizon), Blackberry Bold 9700, or the iPhone 4 is one of those essential items one can’t help but covet. (Assuming you don’t already have one!)

E-book reader – To write well, one must, along with writing daily, read, read, read! One smart, eco-friendly way to keep up with your reading, e-books readers are the way of the future. And this year’s crop of products are sure to be top-sellers throughout the holiday season. For a great sampling of product reviews, check out pcworld.com.

I have to confess that I’ve been dreaming of an iPad from Santa, but am hesitant to put it on my list: word has it another version will be released in the coming year. Yet iPad’s easy-to-use interface that allows users to keep up with more than novels and nonfiction makes it an awesome present for avid readers of blogs and other web-based pubs.

TIPS

For all freelancers

Year subscription to Wooden Horse Publishing or Writers’ Market online databases – Keep up with the ins and outs of the publishing world world with a subscription to either of these online databases.

For writers of fiction

Subscription to Writer’s Digest or Writers and Poets – Subscribing to either of these magazines is a great way to stay up to date on the latest happenings and work in your field.

Writing advice

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott – Fantastic. Sarcastic. Funny. Useful. Lamott’s entertaining guide to writing is relatable, honest, and really quite practical. It’s a great gift to give or get. Take my word for it: you won’t be disappointed by this engaging book on writing and the writing life.

Well-crafted fiction

The Best American Short Stories of 2010 (edited by Richard Russo) – Be still my heart. I love, love, love this as a gift idea because these carefully selected contemporary short stories have received strong reviews and are a taste of what’s to come from these rising writing stars. Read and enjoy these gems, and take away something to think about in terms of plot and style. For more information, check out Russo’s interview with NPR about the book here.

TREAT

Coffee shop gift card – Perfect for those writers who haunt neighborhood coffee hot spots in efforts to get out of the house and be productive while sipping a cup of joe.

Now that I’ve listed my gift ideas for the holidays this year, I’m curious: what are yours?