I’ve been spending some time every day cleaning out my email feeds, all those newsletters and updates I maybe signed up for. But, who knows for sure? So much of it does not look familiar or even in my range of interest.
Purging like this is good; it’s satisfying when the results finally become evident, when the sight of my email doesn’t send me into an instant anxiety attack. I can relax and take the time to read the messages I’m interested in.
Many of my favorites are writing related. Today I received a very nice email with a link to a list of best gifts for writers. I guess maybe I’m supposed to forward it to the people I think might be buying me gifts this year? Or maybe, it’s assumed that as a writer I have writer friends I’ll be shopping for.
I have to admit, I do love these lists. There are always new and needful things to discover and after today I know exactly what I want for Christmas. Anybody reading this can feel free to send one or more of these my way. I’ve been a good girl all year.
This Querkywriter keyboard is at the top of my list. I mean, how perfect is this? I have several mid-century typewriters and they all work, but no way will I ever write my second (or third or fourth) novel on one of them. Do you have any idea how much work it is to literally cut and paste? This gives me all the swag and all the ease of modern tech.
I have a thing about fountain pens. The half dozen I own are office supply grade, nothing special to speak of. To be honest, I cannot for the life of me figure out what makes a fountain pen worth more than $20 – tops, but I have found the pen of my dreams and I won’t rest until it’s in my fingers. Did I mention that I’ve also always had a love affair with rose gold and pearls. I mean, my God, they made this pen for me, right?
It’s even perfectly named for a writer—Sonnet Great Expectations. And its on SALE!
May as well throw in a bottle of this Diamine Shimmer Ink in Firefly red as well. Not that I need to be signing any publishing contracts in blood or anything, but I already have teal, black, blue, green, pink and purple fountain pen ink.
Also, since I work primarily from home, I’m bringing back silk loungewear. I’d like something a little more reminiscent of the Hollywood glamour era, but this set from LilySilk will do for now. May as well go with a theme and make it red.
And I need to see something beautiful every day. I also need coffee every day. Yes, it’s a peacock mug, because peacocks are beautiful and well, cocky. You need that in this business. Almost as much as you need coffee.
I would also like a journal with marbled end papers and gilded page edges to write inspired words in while I’m drinking my coffee. Apparently marbled end papers and shiny gold edges in the same journal are too much to ask. This one is nice, though. I can maybe use a gold marker or ink pad to spiff up those edges.
Finally, a little inspiration is always helpful and I tend to find mine reading classics by the seaside, where it’s warm. So I’m heading for Florida soon.
I haven’t completed my reading list yet, but I like novels with complex and flawed characters, moody settings, and lots of intrigue. Wuthering Heights was a favorite classic, The Book of Ruth, Sharp Objects and just about anything Alice Hoffman and Sue Monk Kidd have written has satisfied. I also love a juicy, true crime novel I can sink my teeth into.
That’s my list, twice checked.
I’ll just watch my mail now . . .
Judith Liebaert 