Writing Wednesday---Gifts for Writers

I'm trying to get into the holiday spirit so I though this week I'd talk about gifts for the writers on your gift list. 

Or maybe just some suggestions of what I'd like, but they are such great ideas, I'm sure everyone will want them. 

1. An Alpha Smart. Mine was stolen and I haven't replaced it yet, but I miss it. Basically an alpha smart is a keyboard w/a small screen where you can see about 4 lines of text at a time. It's battery operated most do not have internet capability. It's great for writing when you are doing your first draft and don't want to go back and edit (I prefer to do my editing on my computer and you can easily transfer your files from Alphie to pc). I'm also hesitant to take my 17" laptop to the local coffee shop for writing because then anyone around can see the naughty things I'm writing and I'm not sure I want to be that public about it. It's small and easy to use almost anywhere and if you are easily distracted by access to the internet (this is a big one for me), the Alpha Smart will help you get your writing done. The link goes to Amazon, but I think they can be found used on ebay as well. I've used this in the car too, so a great idea for those of you who spend time waiting for kids after practice etc. 

Alpha Smart

2. Lap desk for lap tops. There are a wide range of options available to make it easy to write in bed or away from your desk. 

3. Gift certificate for a manicure that includes a paraffin treatment and hand massage. Writers need to keep their fingers limber, right? 

4. Crockpot. I've found that I just get on a roll late in the afternoon and I don't want to stop what I'm doing to whip up yet another gourmet meal (ha!). With a crockpot your favorite writer can dump a bunch of ingredients in during the morning and have a nice dinner without taking a lot of time for preparation. 

5. Housekeeping services. Well, who wouldn't like that? 

6. Fun mugs and coasters for motivation and a good laugh. Plus, if you have enough mugs you don't need to do dishes as often. See gift idea #5. 

7. Comfy clothes, because you can never have enough sweat pants. 

8. Books on Writing. One of my favorites is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. 

9. An ereader. Can't believe I almost forgot. Everyone who loves books and even those who are just fond of books, ought to have one. I'm surprised by the number of writers I've encountered who don't have one. 

10. Encouragement. When your books sell well and you have lots of nice reviews, life is wonderful. But, when sales slump or you get an ugly review or you just start to wonder if any of it matters or if you'll ever be able to write anything worth reading again, a little dose of encouragement can work wonders. If you know a writer, make sure you give them sincere encouragement (as opposed to blathering) on a regular basis. 

What about the rest of you? What's on your wish list? Any other books you'd recommend?