| Tis the season to be jolly, but you don't have to break the bank to show us how much you care. The best gifts come straight from the heart, but alas, aortas and arteries tend to dry out over time, so here are some practical and fun gift ideas for your scary loved one.
All writers work at their writing space, be it a desk or table top, but have you ever seen a writer struggle to balance a notebook on the arm of a couch to jot stuff down while watching TV? Pretty sad, isn't it? Why not give them a lap desk for Christmas? Seriously, they're the in-thing for writers this holiday season, and they can be used practically anywhere. To get an idea of what a lap desk looks like and how they function check out the following links: Levenger Tools for Serious Writers has a lap desk for $38 at http://www.levenger.com Stacks and Stands has lap desks ranging from $8.99 to $49.99 (Some are foldable, making them portable, while others are cushioned underneath for extra comfort and stability.) http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/product505_0.htm Does your loved one have book signings lined up? A personalized pen set makes a nifty gift: Gift World Collection has them from $23.99 to $34.99 at http://www.gift-world-collection.com/pepe.html Organizers/Pocket Calendars: These come as either electronic handheld or in paper notepad form. (I prefer the paper organizers myself, which can be found at any stationery store, but for those who like electronic gadgets, PDAs cost around $200 and up. Best Buy, Circuit City and RadioShack carry them.) I found an interesting Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer's Weekly Calendar & Planner here: http://writersweek.com/ for $12.58 (However, at the time I wrote this article, they didn't have the 2005 calendars up.) How about a year's subscription to writer/artist market magazines such as: Hellnotes Newsletter: www.hellnotes.com ($23.00) The Horror Writer: http://horror.fictionfactor.com/writerstore.html ($17.95) (the reference books on this page make great gifts as well) Or a six month subscription to Cemetery Dance magazine? www.cemeterydance.com ($27) For stocking stuffer ideas, try wrapping up small items such as: Post-It sticky pads Pens/Pencils (include a couple red pens for editing) Ink Cartridges (for inkjet printers) Charcoal Pencils, Kneadable Erasers, India Ink, Fountain Pens (for artists) Paperclips, Staple refills (for heaven's sake, keep 'em in the box!) Solid Brass Fasteners (for scriptwriters) Nothing warms the writer's heart like finding a couple of big boxes of InkJet paper under the tree. The best for writing is 24 lb. weight with a brightness of 92. Georgia Pacific Convenience Packs hold three reams each, that's 1500 sheets of paper total, and sell in Wal*Mart for around $12. Notepads make good gifts, too, if your writer is the kind who prefers writing by longhand before typing it out. If so, you'll know what kind of pad they like. Same goes for artpads for artists. Homemade gifts: Children really enjoy making gifts, so why not have them create a pen/pencil holder for their parent's desk. It's best to use a round cardboard container (the kind Quaker Oats or corn meal comes in), and have them decorate it with construction paper, cloth, buttons, beads, yarn, etc. They can also glue photos on this. One word of advice: don't let them use sprinkle glitter. In very short time, it will flake off and you'll be constantly cleaning it from your desk. You'll find it under the keys of your keyboard and floating in your cup of coffee or tea. Editors won't be impressed to find glitter in your submissions, trust me on this. If they must use glitter, try glitter-glue (the glitter is already mixed into the glue), or mix glitter beforehand with good old Elmers. Older children/teens can make a lapdesk for their writer/artist parent. They'll need: a large wooden cutting board (I found a 14x16 Farberware cutting board at a salvage shop, brand new for $8, so shop around and get a good deal.) hot glue gun one bean bag (sew a cloth bag approximately the size of your cutting board and fill with dry beans. Be sure to stitch the top of the bag after filling!) Using the hot glue gun, simply glue the bag to the bottom of the cutting board and let it cool. For the truly crafty, with a wood burning kit, you can burn your loved one's monogram into the top, or applique designs (just be sure to apply a couple coats of clear polyurethane afterwards). For a less serious gift, try: Johnson Smith: Things You Never Knew Existed www.johnsonsmith.com/website/aspfiles/home.asp They have a stockpile of excellent stuff for horror lovers--click their 'Scary Things & Halloween' button! Last year, my son bought me a refillable skull pen to use at signings. It's the coolest thing, and you can find one at Johnson Smith. May everyone have a warm, joyous and jolly Yule! |
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| Gift Ideas for Horror Writers & Artists
By TM Gray |