Holiday Gifts for Bloggers: Blog Posts Sticky Notes

by Deb Ng

I have to admit…if someone I know stuck a package of Blog Posts Sticky Notes in my stocking I’d be touched. It would mean the people in my life sort of get what it is I do. It might also add a touch of practical whimsy to my stocking. These aren’t your usual post its, they’re not even from the same company.

Blog Posts Sticky Notes are from the Imagineering company. Each sticky looks like blank blog dashboard or comment form. But better. Blog Sticky Notes use advanced pencil to paper technology. No wires are involved. No cable hookup – just you and your favorite writing instrument. I know. The idea of putting pen to paper might seem challenging at first, but it can be quite freeing. Try it once and see what I mean. Read more

Black Friday Deals for Freelance Writers and Bloggers

Make no mistake. I will NOT be waking up at 3:00 am to brave the crowds for the latest new items. I will NOT be pushing through throngs of people to fight over the latest “big” toy for my son. On Friday, I will be home enjoying my family. In fact, I have no plans to step inside a store or mall for the entire weekend. I’m not that adventurous. However, I know a few members of this community get a charge out of all the Black Friday deals and so I present to you some items of interest:

Black Friday Deals for Freelance Writers and Bloggers:

1. Vista Print: 80% off premium business cards+ free shipping
2. Vista Print: 50% off all calendars
3. Dell has a variety of notebooks and laptops on sale Friday.
4. MacMall has plenty of MacBooks up for offer
5. I like this Laptop Backpack at Best Buy
6. Staples has an office chair for $20 off Read more

Holiday Gifts for Writers: Power Squid and Cricket Laptop Stand

Wait. Put down the pitchforks. I know I said just a post ago that writers don’t want boring gifts, and I stand by that. Still, most of us do get a balance of practical vs frivolous as gifts during our respective holidays and birthdays. With that in mind, I’d like to appeal to the gift giver’s practical side today. Beside, I think I’ve thrown in a pretty good mix here.

Before I toss out today’s offerings, I’d like to stress these are not meant to give as “THE” gift. I might even go as far as to suggest that if you will be presenting one of these to a someone special you tape something sparkly or gadgety to it as well. Trust me, on this, I know.

Power Squid - I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the power squid. At first glance it’s a glorified multi-armed extension cord. It goes way beyond that though. If you’re one of those people who have a tangled mess of wires hidden behind your desk screaming out “fire hazard” you’ll eventually thank me for this recommendation. I appreciate that the plug has a swiveled head so I don’t have to push out the bookcase to plug it in. A small thing, but a big thing nonetheless. Read more

Are Freelance Writers and Bloggers Boring?

Yesterday I contacted a sponsor for my Cookerati blog (Dunkin’ Donuts) to see if they would be interested in giving away a gift basket here. I thought it would be a nice change from the usual fare and an awesome gift for the winner. It occurred to me that I could do a lot more of these giveaways if I had enough sponsors and prizes. The thing is, whenever I put out word that I’m doing a gift guide or that I would like sponsors for giveaways, I get a whole bunch of self help books and laptop supplies. Now, there’s nothing wrong with these, but every blogging and writing blog in cyberspace are giving away ProBlogger books (been there, done that) and surge protectors. I was looking for something a little less….boring.

So I put out word that I was looking for fun gifts for writers and received an impressive response.  The problem is, my definition of fun, and some publicists’ definition of fun are two totally different animals. I had offers of extension cords, a heart rate monitor, a light for the inside of one’s toilet so the men in your lives don’t miss at night, and epoxy glue. Yes, epoxy glue. To give away to writers and bloggers.

I ask you…

Are these fun gifts for writers or bloggers? Read more

Holiday Gifts for Writers and Bloggers: Writer’s Remedy

by Deb Ng

Here’s a fun way to battle writer’s block: Writers Remedy is a bunch of magnetic words in a jar. Simply take out some words, pop ‘em up on the fridge and mix and match until you come up with some ideas. There are 300 words in the jar, enough to nudge you back to the task at hand.

The jar retails for about $15 at the Magnetic Poetry website.

Holiday Gift Guide: Jewelry for Writers and Bloggers

I’ve been accused of being too practical when choosing holiday gifts for writers and bloggers.  Today, I’d like to enter the world of frivolity with some jewelry suggestions for writers.

Typewriter Key Bracelet

Tell me you won’t be touched when a thoughtful person in your life buys you this typewriter key bracelet from eco.artware.com. It retails for $110 and we especially like that it’s made from the real thing, and recycling always gets thumbs up from the FWJ crew.

Typewriter Key Cufflinks

eco-artware.com also has something for our male readers. Typewriter key cufflinks. These retail for $43 for the pair but are on sale right now for $30. Read more

Holiday Gifts for Writers and Bloggers: Coffee 2.0 from Joffreys

by Deborah Ng

Last year Joffrey’s launched a Coffee 2.0 social media campaign to attract bloggers. They asked bloggers to sign up and sample their coffee. And what good coffee it is. I especially like that Joffrey’s gets the whole coffee/blogging thing. Did I mention the coffee is really good?

Joffrey’s offers organic coffees, flavored coffees, dark coffees, coffee collections, syrups, flavorings and more. If you’re looking to send your favorite blogger a coffee basket, when not send it from the people who actually GET blogging? A holiday sampler featuring a packet each of Mistletoe Mocha, Pumpkin Creme Brulee,  and Winter Wonderland will run only $25.00.  Not bad for a good cuppa.

Don’t miss my other suggestions for holiday gifts for writers and bloggers:

• Leather Wrap Journal from Kiki James of London
• Flash Drives and External Hard Drives

Holiday Gifts for Writers: The Leather Wrap Journal from Kiki James of London

by Deborah Ng

Here’s an elegant holiday gift idea for writers. I recently received a Kiki James leather wrap journal as a gift and immediately faced two dilemmas. The first was that it was too beautiful to write in and the second was that I couldn’t wait to start writing in it. Not bad dilemmas at all when you consider many gifts people give me go into a closet and are promptly forgotten.

As someone who sits in front of a keyboard all day writing what other people tell me to write, it’s a real treat to hand write in a journal. Indeed I have a file cabinet filled with notebooks. But journals aren’t only for secret “Dear Diary” type thoughts. My journals hold ideas for some ebooks I’m writing, ideas for blog posts, plans for my house and more. When it comes to journaling, it’s all in the mind of the beholder.

A journal from Kiki James is a gift that, I think, would touch the heart of any writer. The outside is soft, buttery leather or suede and the inside is open to many possibilities. If I had a nit to pick, it’s that the pages aren’t lined. I’m one of those people who couldn’t write a straight line if my life depended on it. Read more