Tayari's Blog: Holday Dos and Don'ts
Posted by TayariJones on December 14, 2007 10:31 AM
Filed under
The Writing Life
It's that time of year again. It's time to go shopping for the writers in your life. As we all know, there is a fine line between a good gift and one that sort of sucks. Here's a little help to get your good intentions on track.
DON'T give a book on How to Get Published. The last thing a writer needs is outside pressure to produce results. It's like giving your single sister and book called "You, Too, Can Find A Man!" It's just not nice.
DO give a book about writing. For beginners try Bird by Bird by Anne Lammot. I also recommend On Moral Fiction for people who are father along. This gift shows that you take their writing seriously, that you respect thier intellectual activities.
DON'T give a book that is very similar in plot to a project that he or she is working on. I know you just want the writer to know are thinking of her, but it is such a buzz-kill to find out just how many people have already explored your idea. For example, when I was working on Leaving Atlanta, the last thing I needed was a copy of Toni Cade Bambara's book on the same subject. Of course I understand that there room enough for more than one book on the same topic, but Those Bones Are Not My Child, would have been a disaster as a holiday gift.
DO give a book that is thematicaly related. If your friend is writing a story about mother-daughter relationships, she couple probably enjoy a book on the same theme set in a completely different era or setting.
DON'T give a pen just because you like what it looks like.
DO give a gift certificate to a pen shop. Many writers like a nice pen, but choosing a pen is like choosing a pair of jeans or a handbag. You really need to handle it and try it out first.
DON'T get too specific. The writer in your life will appreciate writing-related gifts, but dictionaries, thesauri, pens, and journals may be just a little on-task sometimes.
DO give her something just shows that you appreciate her and know that she works hard. You can make any gift a meaningful gift for a writer if you affix a card. A sinple gift like a bath set can become a vote of confidence for the writer in your life if you put a little note saying "I know you have been working hard on your novel. Here's a little something to help you relax."
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There are 2 comments on "Holday Dos and Don'ts". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by kgs ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
What a terrific list. My only disagreement is about the gift certificate for the pen. I use cheap ballpoints for scribbling in my trusty purse-sized notebook, and aside from that I'm a keyboard gal. I am also so specific on my writing notebooks that a particular store wouldn't meet my needs. I have piles of unused notebooks. (A new wrist-rest for my computer... that would be nice. Mine is terribly grotty.)
December 15, 2007 08:07 AM
Comment #2, by carleen
Very thoughtful suggestions. One of the best gifts I ever received was a Mont Blanc from my baby brother. If you don't handwrite your ms, you can use a nice pen to sign books when you're published.
December 15, 2007 11:08 AM