Tag Archives: fun

10 Unique Christmas Gifts for Writers: Part 2

by Diane Holmes, (a) Chief Alchemist of Pitch University, (b) lover of learning, and (c) writer of fiction, non-fiction, and the occasional manifesto.

Amaze Your Writer Friends

Punctuation, Hell, and fake websites were in the list of our first 5 gifts.  The last 5 are filled with sugar plums and the dust of ground-up elves.

Or maybe something even better.

(But seriously, who doesn’t savor the nostalgic scent of ground-up elves sprinkled lightly on sugar cookies?  So spicy, so wickedly good.  Like cinnamon, red velvet shoes, and high-pitched laughter in every, single bite. Yummy-yum.)

Gift #5  This is your life. Do what you love. And do it often.

From Core 77, I was introduced to the Holstee Manifesto Poster.

This is Your Life

It’s like someone figured out how our writer-hearts keep on beating, and wrote it down for the world to see.  Poster, $25.00.

Who is that someone?

Mike, Fabian and Dave who have a company together.

“It wasn’t about shirts and it wasn’t about their old jobs. It was about what they wanted from life and how to create a company that breathes that passion into the world everyday. It was a reminder of what we live for.”

Gift #4  Your Own Theme Song

Ever since Ally McBeal I’ve wanted my own theme song.

Dr. Tracey: You need a theme song
Ally: I need a what?!
Dr. Tracey: A theme song. Something that you can play in your head to make you feel better
Ally: Am I on one of those hidden camera shows?
Dr. Tracey: Theme songs are vital.

See?  They’re vital, I’m tellin’ ya!

And someone agrees with me. Raleigh Coaching offers MUSEic Coaching.

“Our lives can be thought of as movies with their own unique soundtrack.  YOU PICK THE GOAL | WE PICK THE MUSEic.”

Tell Santa about this.  He’s all about the jolliness of music.  And he believe in theme songs, too. That’s why there’s so many songs about him at Christmas.

Gift #3  Rain

Nothing makes me feel cozier or want to write more than the sound of rain.  You curl up inside, just you and your imagination.  A warm cuppa joe. Comfy socks.  And a writing project all your own.

It’s like you’re cut off from the world, safe, warm, and full of dreams.

(Don’t give me that look.  It’s not just me, you know.)

As the Rainy Mood website says, “Rain makes everything better.”

And it’s a free website.  Who are these generous rain lovers, anyway?

Also, there’s an app for IOS and Android (not free but for $4.99 you take the mood of cozy with you).

Gift #2 GeoPalz

Kick in the ass, anyone?  No, wait, I mean, get off your ass and walk.  No, wait, it’s just wrong to say ass on a Christmas gift list.

Yet, that’s how I think about it after I’ve been sitting in a chair writing for 8 or 12 hours a day, months on end.

Geopalz

Honey, it’s time to do something about your a**, and I’m so psyched about this kid’s pedometer, I can hardly stand it.  (Yes, I said it’s for kids, but we’re going to ignore that and buy it anyway.)

Okay, get this.

A) You log onto their website, track your steps, and win prizes.

B) In the “parent” role, you can buy things to put on your prize list (in addition to what’s there), and then set about winning something you care about.

C) You can create a family of other writers and cheer each other on.

D) The pedometer ($25.00 or less) is ten times better than the one I’m wearing right now.

My pedometer:

  • The buttons are easily mashed so that the steps are zeroed out randomly all day long.
  • The display is too small to see (multiple modes, can’t tell what mode I’m in).
  • The clip will barely fit over the waist of my pants.
  • It can’t be worn anywhere else.
  • It’s an ugly gray.
  • And (sob) no prizes.

GeoPalz?

  • It does a great job at counting steps.
  • The pedometer has an attached cover (no accidental resets).
  • It comes in many designs to make you feel happy when you look at it.
  • There are prizes and friends for accountability and good cheer.
  • The website is free (and free for those who don’t have Geopalz).
  • The new version 2 (out now) stores 21 days of data, so you don’t have to enter number of steps into the website each day, and it automatically resets at midnight. Plus this new version will track minutes of moderate/heavy activity, can be mounted on your hip or shoe, plus it’s waterproof!

GeoWOW.

Gift #1  Creativity Gets In Bed with Organization (ooh la la!)

Daniel Wessel at Organizing Creativity…. He’s a genius!

Daniel WHe’s figured out the thing that sinks most writers (and other creative-types): how to organize your creative process (the key to your business) so that it’s even better. And how to actually troubleshoot the Gordian knot that is a finished product.

Organize Your Creativity PosterResult?  Yes, indeed, a book of epic coolness.  You can get the pdf for free-ish.  Just pay if you find it useful.

Daniel, dude, even your pricing is creative. (I’ll be applauding with money soon!)

And the rest of Freelance-Zone readers?  Check out his blog.  It totally rocks.

I hoped I rocked your world…

…with these gift ideas. I feel like I’ve seen all the usual gifts for writers and something needed to be done about that.  We needed something unusual.

May your gift giving be inspired and worthy of ground-up elf.  Happy holidays.

clip_image001[4]Diane writes two columns for Freelance-Zone: (1) Fiction-Zone: Leaps in Fiction Mastery and (2) Marketing-Zone: Marketing Yourself and Your Writing.

10 Unique Christmas Gifts for Writers

by Diane Holmes, (a) Chief Alchemist of Pitch University, (b) lover of learning, and (c) writer of fiction, non-fiction, and the occasional manifesto.

Ho-Ho-Ho

This week, Catherine embraced the Christmas Spirit of Marketing (yes, Virginia, apparently holiday goodwill can be harnessed to help you market your writing!), and I, too, must get my ho-ho-ho on.

(Yeah, I’ll wait while you realize that didn’t sound right….  )

Today, I bring you 10 gifties for you and your writer friends.  May the delight of giving lead to milk, cookies, and a  Grinch-y ”heart that grows three sizes that day.” 

#10  Punctuation Saves Lives

I think we know this deserves a t-shirt.  Why, look at that!  A t-shirt perfect for gift giving.

punctuation saves lives

This shirt is yours for $15.99 over at Cafe Press.

#9  Going Straight to Hell

Some clients, some projects—they’re hell.  Just sayin’.  Why not get a passport to make your trip easier, something that doubles as a journal for these trying times? 

Yes?  Hells, yes!

Hell Passport

Travel instructions included.  Just $2.95 at The Unemployed Philosopher’s Guild.  Wild site.  Fabulous gifts.

#8  Everything is Better if It Looks Like a Book

I sob at the practical nostalgia of BookBook, a case/wallet for your iPhone.

Book Book for Iphone

I found it at that gift-giving-extravaganza that is Amazon, just $59.95 for iPhone 4 & 4 S, same for the new Iphone 5.  Suddenly you’re not working, you’re spending quality time with books.  Totally different.

#7  Old Book Smell

Many of us fell in love with writing as a child, in a dark musty library (one of the 2,509grand structures built by the Carnegies, no doubt, where the motto “let there be light” made every reader feel heroic).

If you miss that good ol’ musty book smell, good news, you can buy it and successfully make the transition to electronic books smell intact.

Smell of Books

Smell of Books offer Classic Musty and New Book Smell for $9.99 each.

But be careful.

Please use in well ventilated area.

May cause dizziness and hallucinations. May cause itching and runny nose.

If symptoms persist for longer than eight weeks please consult your physician.

Not for use on “real” books.

Do not use while riding public transportation.

Discard empty container with hazardous waste.

Not for use as a room deodorizer.

Not for use on burning books.

Do not use on a Zune.

Keep away from the Kindle Fire!

(Plus, it’s not a real product. But the hilarity of this site alone should inspire you to pen your own faux site as a Christmas gift to those you love.  Or even customers and readers.  Everyone needs a good laugh for Christmas.)

#6  Paint a White Board on Your Wall

IdeaPaint is proof science makes the world a better place. Proof, I say!

IdeaPaint

It comes in clear, white, and black.  Enough to cover 50 sq. ft. is $225.00; 100 sq. ft. is on sale for $315.00 (for clear).

I found this goodness at an equally awesome site called Idearella: Creating Glass Slipper Ideas in a Wicked Stepsister World. Their 2010 list of Christmas Gifts is super-awesome-sauce.

TO BE CONTINUED.

clip_image001[4]Diane writes two columns for Freelance-Zone: (1) Fiction-Zone: Leaps in Fiction Mastery and (2) Marketing-Zone: Marketing Yourself and Your Writing.

A Great Gimmick

Sometimes the right kind of calling card or gimmicky merchandise is all you need to leave a lasting impression. Check out this great idea from Says-It.com. Go to Says-It and fill in the blanks at the Vinyl Record Generator and you’ll get your own custom vinyl album graphic for free. Choose between a full-length album, 45 single or even an old-fashioned 78! Best of all, you can buy merchandise with your custom image printed on it, including three inch stickers, coffee cups, travel mugs, keychains and more. It’s a cool idea sure to keep ’em talking wherever you hand your personalized trinkets out…I wish I had thought of this one first.