Stuck for what to get the writer in your life for Christmas? Need a few stocking fillers? There are loads of literature-inspired gifts out there but for practical useful gifts, here are my recommendations:
Coffee. All the major chains do gift cards, or you can get beans delivered. Being a Nottingham-based lass, I recommend you try Roasting House, a local company who do a coffee club and, if you’re from round here, will deliver by bicycle. (The rest of you it’s the postman.)
Snacks. Every year Santa puts a packet of digestives and a jar of Nutella in my stocking. Make your writing snack of choice known to him and he may do the same for you.
Notebooks. I can NEVER have too many of these. But if your writer friend is like me and will feel nervous about ruining a beautifully bound notebook with their scribbles, perhaps consider getting some that they will actually use. Waterstone’s do packs of three paperback covers for around a tenner. They also do lovely journals with literary quotes on the front – I love the Little Women and Anne of Green Gables ones.
Printing options. Printing a draft can be a fraught process. It’s only when you’ve unjammed the printer for the fourth time, prayed that the ink cartridge will last the whole thing and the pages are all over the floor that you realise that you’ve forgotten to put page numbers on them. So why not try a voucher for your local print shop? Mine printed 300 pages from a USB stick in five minutes and boxed it all up for just under £20. As cheap as a printer cartridge and much less hassle.
Writing maps. We all need a spot of inspiration once in a while. Writing Maps do a series of writing prompts on beautiful illustrated foldout maps that are just the right size to carry around with you. And this week they have a sale on (till Thursday).
Babysitting. Finally, the greatest gift you can give a writer is a spot of quiet writing time. Why not offer a voucher for a day’s babysitting services?
That’s it. I’d be happy to see any of these this year. Happy shopping!
Susan E Barsby 