Jennifer Bray-Weber's Blog, page 46
December 3, 2015
Holiday Gifts for Writers 2015
Ahh…the elusive writer. A temperamental creature seen in various forms—curious, distracted, giddy, maniacal, exhausted, joyous, feral—depending on where in the creative process they reside at any given moment. A strange, often reclusive, being that only others of its ilk understand.
So what do you get that special writer in your life for a holiday gift? No worries, my friends. I have some ideas that are beyond the usual journals, writing implements, and retail bookstore gift cards. Though chocolate, coffee and alcohol (my favs are spiced rums, flavored vodkas, and blush champagnes *hint, hint*) are always appreciated, think outside the writer’s block, er, I mean box.
Here are 15 ideas sure to please writer friends and loved ones and won’t break the bank, because, let’s face it, writers are starving artists.
1. Writing gloves—because hands get cold!
Available at Storiarts. (click image)
2. Caroline Myss Archetype Cards—for character building
Available online and in bookstores everywhere.
3. Rolling cart or suitcase—handy for carrying books to signings
Much better than shlepping a heavy shipping box.
4. Tickets to a museum/play/tour/cinema/dinner theater—all great for inspiration!
One ticket to inspiration, please.
5. Sealing wax—because it’s grandly ceremonious, my good man.
Hubs got this for me last year. So cool!
6. Home decor matching the writer’s brand or series theme.
I write pirates and so I love my skull clock and replica padlock.
Blood Bath Mat for the thriller writer.
7. Quirky t-shirt or loungewear with cute sayings from online stores like Zazzle, Cafepress, or Vistaprint. Some fun examples:
“Romance Novelists Do it Between the Sheets”
“I’m a Writer. What’s Your Superpower?”
“Based on a True Story”
“Careful, or You’ll End Up in My Novel”
“Writer. Because Freakin’ Awesome Isn’t an Official Job Title”
“Prose Before Bros (or Hoes)”
“I’m Plotting Against You”
8. Christmas ornament with the writer’s book cover
Shameless promo alert
9. iTunes gift cards—for mood music
Great for soundtracks!
10. Novelty timer—for writing sprints or limiting Facebook procrastination
Tick…tick…tick…
11. Lessons or classes for ballroom dancing, sword fighting, cooking, gunsmithing, private investigating, speech dialect, painting or anything that might be contributed as research
It’s never too late to learn something new.
12. Coupon for uninterrupted writing time—great for moms/dads with young ones
I give you the amazing gift of time.
13. A massage—oh, yes!
Mmm…
14. Weekend’s stay in a hotel alone with room service for nothing but writing
Go Away! Genius at work!
15. One last GREAT and cheap gift…buy the author’s book and give it a REVIEW!
5 Stars! One of the best gifts to give an author.
Now get out there and have fun shopping. ☺
December 2, 2015
Hump Day Kick Start – Got Ya! Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
What better way to start hump day than by force. Just sayin’.
So who is our prompt today? (Bonus points if you know who this couple might be.) Tell me what’s going on. Are they sneaky hustlers? If so, who is conning whom? Is he a special agent, a young James Bond prodigy? Would she be a hired distraction or a woman desperate for help? Did she just jump on him in a surprise attack, meaning to choke him with his own tie, until, that is, she saw his quirky smile? I don’t know…I might hesitate, too.
You know what to do. Tell me a tale or caption the photo.
November 26, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving
Though today is America’s Thanksgiving holiday, the message is worldwide.
Life is full of Give and Take.
Give thanks and take nothing for granted.
And for goodness sakes, laugh!
November 24, 2015
Link of the Week – Be Paid for It, Yo
A few weeks ago, actor and cool guy, Wil Wheaton, wrote an article about the seven things he did to reboot his life. It’s pretty freakin’ awesome. And, the Huffington Post thought so, too. So much so, they wanted to repost it…for free. *snort*
Today’s Link of the Week is his response—which is also pretty freakin’ awesome—to the online news aggregator’s suggestion that exposure outweighed compensation.
P.S. You are worth it.
November 18, 2015
Hump Day Kick Start – No-shave November, Week 3 Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
Continuing on No-shave November, I give you today’s prompt.
My, oh my. Who is this guy? What is that expression? What or who has caused his reaction? What is he reaching for in his jacket? Is this the obvious—the undercover vice cop going for his gun? What if he is the clandestine pilot of a puddle jumper in trouble at a remote South American airport and he’s reaching for his license, passport, or weapon. Could he be reaching for the razor his retreating woman gave him, determined, if not a bit disagreeable, to not lose her over a little bit of facial hair? Maybe he just has an intense itch.
You know the deal. Caption the pic or tell me a tale.
November 17, 2015
Link Of The Week- Shut Up The Internet!
Fall and winter seems to be a great time to get a ton of words written- especially if you are participating in NaNo. Here are a few places to make the rest of your computer be quiet-
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045816/9-apps-to-shut-up-the-internet-and-get-back-to-work.html
http://www.labnol.org/software/disable-internet-connection/26235/
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/disconnect-from-the-internet
You’re welcome.
November 11, 2015
Hump Day Kick Start – No-shave November, Week 2 Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
Continuing on with a whiskered month, I give you today’s prompt.
Tell me about this pic. Note the expression on their faces. What’s going on? After being chased by drug-running pirates, were they stranded on a tropical island after their catamaran sank and his shaving kit just washed up on shore? Maybe they’re strangers thrown together by circumstance and the heat—either from the sun or their attraction—has finally gotten to them. Just look at his smirk. Let’s assume they are enemies and he’s smiling because he tricked her, daring her, provoking her—she gets to shave his face and, if she doesn’t slit his throat, he gets to do whatever he pleases with her, which would involve the shaving cream.
Did she convince him it was no longer November?
Caption the pic or tell me a tale. I’d love to hear from you.
November 10, 2015
Link Of The Week- Totally Satisfying
Be prepared for a completely narcissistic post…. My book is live!
I’m proud to present Echoes Of The Heart is for sale online around the world. It’s a bit surreal, but I wanted to share my moment with all of you.
Echoes of the Heart (Esterloch) (Volume 1)
by Stacey A. Purcell
Link: http://amzn.com/1519116918
November 4, 2015
Hump Day Kick Start – No-shave November, Week 1 Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
Is it no-shave November already? I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of this bewhiskered fad. My own special guy gets in on the action by growing out his goatee. While he’s handsome, I’d much rather he trim. Still, there are many fellas who ooze some wicked primal masculinity with all that extra facial hair.
So, for today’s prompt we’ll start off mild. Who is he and what is he doing? Could he be wiping his mouth of the kiss from the woman he simultaneously loves and hates? Why? Is he refusing to speak to the enemies holding him captive? What if he is a prophet about to reveal dark days ahead? Maybe he is just hiding from the clippers.
What’s your take? Caption the pic or tell me a tale.
November 3, 2015
Link of the Week – Tongue in Cheek – Dumbest Mistakes New Authors Make
We all need a laugh now and again, lest we board the crazy train. Here’s a fun article on the Dumbest Mistakes New Authors Make found on Writer UnBoxed. Enjoy.
http://writerunboxed.com/2015/10/17/the-dumbest-mistakes-new-authors-make/
