Tayari's Blog: Tayari's Favorite Things
Posted by TayariJones on November 22, 2005 11:04 AM
Filed under
Writing
Monday, Oprah announced her "favorite things" for the holidays. You can go to her web site to check it out. You can even click for a printable shopping list. I hope you have several thousand dollars to blow, because Miz O is drawn to high-ticket items. ($150 corduroys anyone? $10,000 watch?)
Anyway, I was thinking of a gift guide for the writer in your life, even if that writer is yourself. So here are some tangible things that have enriched my writing life:
1. The Synonym Finder. This is the grandmammy of all thesauri! four hundred pages of useful synonyms and antonyms. You can even use it as a party game. (This requires drinking. You choose a word like "ugly" and read all the euphemisms.) $12
2. Big-A coffee mug. When I write, I like to gulp java. My cup is large (about 24 ounces), and says GENIUS. $12
3. A good heavy pen. My favorite is the Aurora Ipsilon. It uses standard Parker refills. $75.
4. Huge Spiral Notebook. I tend to write with pen and pad. Why? Because it is portable. I can write on planes, in a park, wherever. Spiral notebooks don't crash, another plus. $5.50
5. Bib Overalls. I like to be unfettered when I write. I don't want to wear anything tight. I want to forget I even have a body when I write. Overalls are they key. Also, they have lots of pockets for you to stash snacks. Personal favorite: engineer stripes. $40
6. Wood pencils. Real wood pencils are disappearing, in favor of pencils made of the same rubber they use for fake wine corks. Splurge on the good stuff this holiday season. $4.00 for packet of 72
7. Electric pencil sharpener. Those pencils need to be kept sharp. I just love that crisp sound of a sharp lead against paper. $22.
8. Egg timer. I make myself sit for an hour a day to write. Even if I have nothing to say, I must sit there for the whole hour. My egg timer is in the shape of a pear. It is adorable. $5
9. Pretty Stationery. Nothing warms you up for a hard day of writing quite like writing a letter to a friend. $15 for box of 10
10. Application fee vouchers. Do you have a friend who needs some help getting motivated to make his/her writing career happen? You can motivate your pal by saying, "Look, you're a good writer. If you work up your courage to apply for this colony, this MFA program, this award, I'll pay the registration fee, I'll cover your postage."
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There are 4 comments on "Tayari's Favorite Things". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Frederick Smith
Great suggestions for any writer... and WAY more affordable than the things on the O list :-) Thanks!
fs
November 22, 2005 01:42 PM
Comment #2, by Ladylee
Great favorites list, Tayari and affordable too:) Your list beats Oprah's hands down!
The "ticking" noise of the egg timer doesn't bother you? I tried to use one of those to time my writing time. The "tick, tick, tick" noise was louder than a freight train. Wrecked my nerves!! LOL
November 23, 2005 09:21 AM
Comment #3, by Bernadette
Tayari,
You need to pitch this somewhere - I can see so many writers clipping it and taping it to the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator, wherever - to get what we want!
November 30, 2005 09:29 PM
Comment #4, by Nia
Nice. I think it's a great idea to have a writer's wishlist. Great website.
December 19, 2005 10:42 AM