Out of Time: A Holiday Gift Guide for Procrastinators
The holidays are upon us, and if you’re anything like me, you’re wondering how we got here. I’ve been carefully tracking the days, and yet I still feel like I blinked and most of December vanished. In years past, I’ve enjoyed throwing out a few gift suggestions for those of you shopping for readers and/or writers, but this is by far the latest I’ve ever shared. Since we’re out of time to order items to arrive by the holidays, my focus this year is less on physical presents and more on experiences or items that arrive digitally or over the course of the year.
When it comes to digital gifts, we’re all well versed in the beauty of gift cards by email. But if you’re looking for something a little more creative than a digital gift certificate to a favorite book retailer, you might like to check out some of these options. (None of these links are sponsored or affiliate links, just products I love.)
Magazine subscriptions
A gift that gives all year long, a subscription to a magazine can be tailored toward the person’s interest while also supporting some of the wonderful publications that are struggling so much in our current culture. You can focus on craft magazines for aspiring writers or literary magazines for writers and readers alike. A few suggestions:
Or check and see if there’s a regional literary magazine published near where the person lives, or something published by their alma mater. For writers looking to publish short fiction/poetry/articles, a subscription (or 2!) can be really inspirational.
Software subscriptions/purchases
For aspiring writers, a great gift can be a copy of the software they have their eye on. Maybe they want to use Scrivener or they’d love to track story timelines using Aeon Timeline. If you’re shopping for a reader who likes to track their books, a premium subscription to The Storygraph could be perfect.
Online courses
The internet offers so many different opportunities for learning new skills, with courses available for every level and interest. MasterClass offers in-depth lectures with downloadable workbooks for numerous subjects, but I’m a particular fan of how many writers are on the platform sharing their tips, including the likes of N.K. Jemisin, Salman Rushdie, Judy Blume, Amy Tan, and Roxane Gay. If you want a gift for someone with an artistic or crafty bend, try CreativeBug. Subscriptions give access to the entire backlog of courses in a wealth of areas, from drawing to knitting to quilting to bookbinding, plus tokens you can trade in for continued access to favorite classes once your subscription expires. For more diverse offerings, check out Skillshare or CreativeLive.
Personal time
If digital gifts feel a little impersonal to you, give the gift of your time. Offer babysitting services for a couple of nights out or to give a writer some quiet time to work. Provide a certificate redeemable for a trip to a museum, on you, or a night at the movies complete with candy and popcorn. Share a skill with someone who would appreciate learning something new, whether that’s teaching them how to knit or crochet, how to make bread from scratch, or how to drive a stick shift. The skills themselves are a great gift, but the time spent together makes things that much more special.
Of course, there’s still a little time left to shop, and so I’d be remiss in not saying that a beautiful book, a lovely new notebook, or a fountain pen with some fun-colored ink all make terrific gifts for the readers and writers in your life. As do tasty snacks for munching on while reading though the holiday haul or working on that Great American Novel.
December Writing Challenge
Did you think I forgot? I’ve had quite a few messages and comments letting me know folks have been participating in this month’s writing challenge. Even if you’ve only managed to write a little bit each day, or a few days each week, I think you’ll find it makes a huge difference once we hit January and you have more time to get into your normal routine. Keeping those creative muscles in shape through the holidays can mean a terrific jump start for your New Year’s goals. Remember, all the words count. Doesn’t matter if you’re pushing toward a deadline on your latest novel or playing with a new idea or just working through a fun writing prompt. Making your craft a priority is a gift you can give yourself, one that will keep giving in the year to come.
I hope to post once more before the end of the year, so be on the lookout for some chatty discussion of writing goals and hopes for 2025. In the meantime, I wish you all the best this holiday season, whatever you celebrate. I hope you get to spend time with the people you love, eating some wonderful holiday favorites, and that you find time to read a great book or write something that excites you or just to be lazy and enjoy a few days off from the normal grind. 🥰