The Difference Between WHAT to Write and HOW to Write It

Truthbomb:

You do NOT sit down to write a book and just… write.

 

While it’s NICE when the words pour out of you (and they might) – waiting for that level of flow isn’t sustainable.

Because it’s not HOW to write it (put words on paper.)

It’s WHAT to write:

  • Engaging stories that move the heart of your reader (so they remember)
  • Clear teaching that is talking to the reader, not at them
  • Showing your reader why and how you care
  • Moving from one story or teaching point to the next – in a way that makes sense for the reader

Which means you need a PLAN to write your message-driven book. Or… wait for it… a PROVEN SYSTEM.

That’s what you get in Finally Write Your Book. My proven system that has helped authors JUST LIKE YOU write their books and share their message.

In Finally Write Your Book we take a deep dive look at how to target your reader’s experiences so that you know everything you have in your book SERVES the reader. This means they:

  • Get the biggest transformation possible
  • Know how much you care
  • Are more likely to recommend the book to a friend
  • Can’t WAIT to become your client

And above all, you learn how to write your book in a way that is sustainable (no matter how busy you are) so that you can share your message with the world!

Join the Waitlist for Finally Write Your Book​

Why You Shouldn’t Use Your ‘Signature Talk’ as Your Book (and what to do instead)

There’s a myth out in “write your book” land – often perpetuated by other book writing gurus that says:

Take a transcription of your signature talk and use THAT as your book.

(After all, your talk is effective, your book would be too!)

No!

A talk does three things:

1. Positions the speaker as an expert
2. Gives the listeners a taste of the bigger transformation offered by working with the speaker
3. Makes an offer

From a talk, a listener DOES walk away with value – a tiny nugget of WHY they need to do something. (Often missing the HOW to do it; you get THAT when the speaker makes her offer into her course, program, coaching, etc.)

A 90-minute signature talk (or a speak to sell talk) IS highly effective at exposing the gap between where the listener is now and where they could be, then making an offer to teach the listener HOW to fill in that gap.

But 90-minutes of a powerful talk is way too short for a book!

  • There isn’t enough value.
  • It will come off as “preachy” since all the warmth, tone of voice, and changes in voice pitch and pacing are lost from a talk to a book.
  • When giving a talk, the speaker IS a Sage on the Stage.

But reading a talk, even an edited transcription, will leave the reader feeling sold to.

Factoid:

Talks ARE designed to give a bit of education and do a LOT of selling.

Talks ARE designed to give a bit of education and do a LOT of selling. Books aren't! (click to find out what a book DOES do.) Click To Tweet

Keep Reading!

5 Tips to Protect Your Writing from Computer Crashes

In the days or weeks after Thanksgiving, before the calendar flips to December, I always get on my annual soap box of why you need to

BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER.

Yes, YOU. Nobody is immune!

Why is this my late-November soap box?

Because waaaaay back in 2002, when I was just weeks away from my December graduation date from the University of Arizona, my computer hard drive died.

Not just died… POPPED and then smoked out.

And it ATE my honor’s thesis.

The one I’d JUST spend all Thanksgiving weekend assembling. Hard at work at the computer INSTEAD of hanging out with my family. I missed making tamales, watching the UofA/ASU football game, my trip to the used bookstore, and all the good turkey naps.

GONE.

That’s why, once a year, I take the time to remind you to take care of your computer system. Here are my top three tips for making sure your machine is in top shape.

1. Invest in an automatic, cloud-based backup
Personally, I use Carbonite. It runs in the background and automatically backs up ALL my files, as they’re updated. Yes, you have to be online for it to work – but there’s nothing you have to remember to actually DO.

And just last week, I accidentally over-rode an image file – a stock image I’d purchased. I might have let a quiet “shit!” slip out – and of COURSE Small Thing was right there and couldn’t WAIT to repeat it for me. But I digress…

With two clicks of my mouse, I was able to restore the “old” file and carry on my day. Whew!

I also love Carbonite because I can ask it to back up my audio and video files. So I know that as I’m creating trainings for my VIP clients, they’re automatically backed up.

For under $100/year, it’s a no-brainer investment. Here’s a link to enroll:
http://www.newfrontierbooks.com/carbonite/

2. Virus software is running and up to date
I’m not a techie expert. And while I don’t purposefully wander into dark corners of the Internet, it doesn’t take much to end up with a download of something really nasty!

Hey, let’s be real here:

You’re looking for a (free) piece of software that will convert a file or build an image, or a fancy font or plugin, you click on the big yellow button that says “DOWNLOAD” and realize, too late, that wasn’t the download for the open-source program but actually something nasty.

So making sure that my virus software is paid for, running, and up to date is something I just verify weekly. (I just check the little status on my computer on Mondays when I’m making my weekly plan.)

I’ve been using Webroot for YEARS and have loved them. It’s around $30/year. Here’s a link to enroll:
https://www.webroot.com/us/en/home/products/av

 

3. Emailing yourself a copy of anything important
This is 100% old-school. You just send YOURSELF an email of your manuscript, every time you work on it.

I prefer automated solutions, I really do. But the problem with an automated solution, like Carbonite, is that it has to have TIME to update the file. And if you’ve changed a bunch of files, or save and shut down, the software might not have had an opportunity to do its thing.

Plus, when I’m anxious about losing my work, I like the “Destiny in my own hands” aspect of saving and then emailing.

Keep Reading!

Best Gifts for Authors 2022

Wondering what gift to buy the writer in your life? Look no further! THIS is the definitive Best Gifts for Authors 2022 Edition. There are over fifty gifts for authors, writers, or folks who love to journal that you can choose from and there is a gift for all budgets.

Continuing this year, I’ve broken it into five categories:

Technology Gifts Authors Need

Food and Drink Gifts to Fuel Your Writing

Creativity Gifts for Authors Beyond JUST Writing

Thoughtful (or Novelty) Gifts for Authors (that they may buy themselves)

Kind Actions to Do for Writers

And I’ve also gone deep to REALLY vet as many of the products and services as I possibly can. You’re getting MY personal recommendations here!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for products that I personally use and believe have value to my readers. When you purchase using my affiliate link, I earn a small commission. (It doesn’t cost you anything extra.) High-five for your support!

Any images or logos belong to the companies they represent!

Definitive Best Gifts for Writers 2021 Edition Click To Tweet

To make your gift shopping a bit easier, just click on the name of the gift to be taken directly to where you can purchase it! At the time of publishing these gift ideas for writers, all the links work. But as the Internet changes, I can’t guarantee that they’ll all continue to work.

Best Gifts for Writers 2022

Technology Gifts Authors Need

Ahhhh, tech. In certain circles, it’s rather sexy. And while most authors have a deep love for the computer where they do most of their writing, most technology is looked at as a necessary evil. Here are the top tech tools that every writer needs.

Amazon Prime

First off, if you don’t already subscribe to Amazon Prime… you need to! This is the BEST way to get millions of products with free shipping. Plus, MANY small businesses warehouse their products through Amazon so you get to support small businesses AND get all the benefits of Prime shipping. Not to mention their streaming services!

I live in a rural area so it’s 35+ minutes every time I leave my door to go shopping. Far easier to have it come to ME. In the past month, I’ve had Amazon send me four printer cartridge (my laser printer has one for each color), a 2022-2023 wall calendar so I can see my plan, refills on my favorite coffee, an air mattress for an upcoming adventure, and a few books. The time savings… PRICELESS.

Plus, when you use MY link, you’ll get a 30-day free trial!

 

Backup Service – Carbonite

When I was in college, long before cloud-based ANYTHING, I spent Thanksgiving weekend away from my family, working on my Honors Thesis (so I could graduate!) Come Monday, the computer had a catastrophic systems failure and literally melted. All that work… almost gone. I had emailed a draft of it to my professor – and she was able to send it back to me. (I still lost serval hours of work that I had to redo.)

So I’m serious about having a back up service! It’s not practical to save EVERYTHING to the cloud, and I often find that those systems are a bit complicated, one more thing for me to remember, and not quite as stable as I’d like. (That COULD be because I live in a rural area and my internet isn’t always stable itself.)

Carbonite has long been the gold-standard in automatic, offsite, cloud-based backup software. My annual subscription is 100% a no-brainer.

 

USB External SSD

This is a an external solid state drive (SSD) so you can make an in-person backup as well. Earlier in 2022, my computer did a wonky. And while my Carbonite WAS up and running, there were certain file types that weren’t set to automatically back up. Not to mention a few GIANT Zoom files that were just too big.

On the recommendation of an art teacher (Cat Coquillette) I grabbed this USB External SSD as a backup to my backup. They are spendy — but worth it! Watch for regular sales from Amazon (Black Friday and Prime Day.) Just be sure to USE it!

 

Domain Name Registration – Namecheap

As an author, you should own YourName.com (or YourPenName.com) at the very least! There’s something very professional about giving your email address as Name@YourName.com that makes your writing career feel real.

Other options include BookTitle.com – but know that this can get expensive quickly if you have a habit of buying domain names “just in case.” (A-hem! Me!)

My favorite domain name registrar is Namecheap.

 

Website Hosting – Siteground

No, you DON’T have to rush off and create a full-blown website. In fact, I think you need to spend your time writing your book and worry about the website closer to when you’re publishing the book.

But in order to make your email address work, you do need a webhost. And I’m all about SiteGround.

Much like switching off a too-expensive email list provider, in 2021, I also dumped my past hosting company and went to SiteGround. They have both phone and email support (ahhh), really fast load times for my website, and are all-around easy to use.

 

Email Mailing List – ConvertKit

Let’s face it, I’m a Beast-Mode Marketer. And I believe that EVERY author and entrepreneur needs an email newsletter list. You need to be able to talk to your readers, fans, and clients – and social media is NOT where that’s done! You need to be able to control where and how you talk to them.

There are dozens of smaller email marketing providers out there – and then there is one that is PRICED like a little guy buy FUNCTIONS like an industry leader. Oh, and it’s easy to use to boot!

That’s ConvertKit. In 2021, I made the switch from the overpriced and bloated Keap to ConvertKit and it was the BEST thing I’ve ever done. I cut my monthly costs by 2/3 AND still get all the functionality. Plus, ConvertKit has a GREAT free level!

 

Freelance work like typing, graphics, book covers – Fiverr

If you want inexpensive and relatively good, then you’re looking at Fiverr! I say “relatively” good because for every top-notch designer, transcription, or typist on the platform, there are others who are crap. Be sure to read it carefully!

Still, Fiverr is MY go-to for artwork, typing up handwritten documents, and more!

AND here’s the direct link to MY amazing cover designer

https://fvrr.co/342yUzW

 

Now what about video… Vimeo

If you’re an author who also wants to create a course, you’re probably going to need a video hosting service. And that service is Vimeo.

Now, there’s some fine print that is so fine it’s REALLY hard to find. And that is that IF you’re using Vimeo for commercial content, i.e. training videos, you MUST have a paid account.

(And yes, I do recommend Vimeo’s paid service over YouTube’s free. It’s a better platform and you have more control!)

 

 

Food and Drink Gifts to Fuel Your Writing

Let’s talk yummies! This list are the food, drinks, and culinary accessories that I think every author should invest in. (Or be gifted!)

Fun Mugs

You know we authors drink a LOT of hot beverages. Okay we MAKE hot beverages and then drink them cold!

So you need to have a collection of fun mugs! I personally love handmade, heavy-duty pottery mugs. I get all mine from Made In Jerome Pottery in Jerome, Arizona. They do not, however, have an e-commerce website.

But if I HAD to pick another one, I want this one!

 

Hydration

When I was pregnant with Little Bean in 2020, I had a whole HOST of weird, uncomfortable, scary symptoms. Blood pressure, blood sugar, and all labs came back fine so my midwife was understandably puzzled and concerned. She sent me to a perinatologist (specialist) who chatted with me for 15 minutes and declared me massively dehydrated, ordered me to drink 120 ounces of water a day (a gallon), and sent me on my way.

Turns out…

I was MASSIVELY dehydrated.

So I’ve been on a quest to hydrate OTHERS as well. Here are my top three picks for getting in the water:

 

Copco tumbler

These are insulated (yay), have a lid and a straw so are pretty much spill-proof (yay), dishwasher safe (although they do better hand washed), and are big enough to hold 20 ounces PLUS ice.

 

Hydrant

Not gonna lie, these have a pretty mild flavor so I usually double up. They offer the salt, sugar, and magnesium a body needs WITHOUT artificial sweeteners or stevia, artificial colors, or a ton of other crap.

My favorite flavors are fruit punch, blood orange, and lime. (Two of the lime packages in 16 ounces of water KINDA tastes like a margarita!)

 

Drink Up!

I’ve long been on a quest to drink more water (and to nag my dad into doing the same.) And sometimes it’s just…

Boring.

So I wrote a book on the subject! I provide you 100 TESTED combinations of things you can diffuse in your water to give it a little extra flavor without any extra calories, sugar, caffeine, etc.

 

Caffeine Delivery via CrateJoy

You know I love coffee…

But I also love tea!

For years, I loved the IDEA of coffee buy couldn’t really drink the stuff, until I got pregnant with Small Thing. Then it was coffee and I couldn’t stand my tea. Which is an awful thing to do to a pregnant lady who can’t have caffeine!

Still, authors typically run on caffeine.

A GREAT gift would be a coffee or tea subscription. While I haven’t personally tried these, I’ll happily accept a gift of one of them. (Hint! Hint!)

Tea Subscription

Coffee Subscription

 

Coffee Gift Box

Earlier this year, I gifted this gift box to my authors in the VIP Writing Mentorship. It was simple to ship directly from Amazon and they seemed to REALLY like it! I used my Amazon Prime benefits to ship it directly to them — for free! All I needed was their current mailing address.

I chose this gift box for the wide variety of goodies IN it. Plus those socks were just too cute to pass up! (I also priced out a TON of gift boxes in other places and this one met the price/value/coolness factor I was looking for.)

 

Snacks

Years I go I hired an amazing coach, Kristen Nolan, who got me back on track with food – what could I eat for actual energy. (She’s since retired but I STILL use her snacking system!) Kristen was big on snacks that had a carb, fat, and a protein.

Examples would be like dried fruit and a cheese stick. Apple sauce with a protein powder and a dab of peanut butter.

Healthy but easy to get. Nothing crazy fancy.

When I’m deep into writing, here are some of the things I always have on hand!

 

THIS protein powder

Vegans, keep on scrolling.

This is tasteless and dissolves almost instantly in any liquid. I have been known to pop it in my coffee early in the morning. I also love it mixed into a little cup of applesauce. I buy the individual serving packets and keep one in my purse to mix into a McDonald’s smoothie for Small Thing on the days when he refuses to eat breakfast before a stomp.

All around, this is the BEST powder I’ve found that doesn’t need me to whip out the blender and make a smoothie. (Behind the Scenes Info: I don’t even LIKE smoothies!)

 

Nuts.com

They offer really great almost-daily deals that include free snacks or free shipping. A healthy variety of dried fruit AND a bunch of “dried fruit” that is heavily sugared (so read the descriptions!)

Favorites in my house are:

  • Dried apricots
  • Dried orange slices (float them in your water)
  • Dried strawberries (LOTS of sugar but the kid loves them)
  • Dried blueberries (some sugar but great in trail mix)
  • Banana chips
  • Dried apple rings (chewy, not crunchy!)

Small Thing is a BIG fan of a handful of raisins lightly sprinkled with fine sea salt. It’s like the salty raisins from trail mix — but without the kid-choking almonds! (Or the fact that any kid will JUST eat the M&Ms from trail mix and leave the rest!) Pair it with a cheese stick and you’ve got a balanced snack WITH electrolytes (from the salt.)

 

Alcohol

I’m pretty sure that ALL writers got the idea from Hemingway that we also need to love booze.

Sorry, I’m pretty much guilty as charged. BUT as a mom, I’m also a total lightweight so make half drinks and then toddle off to bed!

My two favorites are a dark beer – the blacker the better! And whiskey, any type of whiskey.

When you’re looking to give a gift to your (drinking age!) author, find out what type of liquor they like. Then get the GOOD stuff.

So skip the cheap stuff and buy a more expensive bottle. And yes, it’s totally okay to give it JUST because you like the label! THAT, my friends, is marketing in action.

BTW: THIS chocolate whiskey is amazing. Just saying.

 

Creativity Gifts for Authors Beyond JUST Writing

Yes, I work exclusively with non-fiction authors. That doesn’t mean that we’re boring, dry-as-dust, and all right angles. (That was mostly in my past life when I worked with accountants!)

My authors are highly creative people. Who sometimes get into a creative rut. So here are some fun gifts to boost creativity, passion, and fun.

 

Annual Membership to Skillshare

This is my personal go-to to take classes in drawing, painting, and photography. Do I DO all the classes (as in do the exercises)? Nope. But I also believe in filling my brain and heart with LOTS of passion.

Here are really well-done classes I highly recommend:

Sketching
Teacups in gouche
Modern Watercolor Techniques

 

Live Big Book

I’m going to brag on a client here for a moment and say:

Rochelle wrote an amazing book. Then she worked tirelessly with her fabulous designer to create a BEAUTIFUL experience to READ the book.

Everything about Live Big just says YES! Be Creative!

Live Big is available used from Amazon or brand-new from Rochelle’s website.

 

Journal Sparks: Fire Up Your Creativity with Spontaneous Art, Wild Writing, and Inventive Thinking

I found this book in summer 2022 through one of my watercolor groups on Facebook. Let me tell you… I DEVOURED it. This is a great resource for all-around creativity. And it’s PERFECT for the author suffering from writer’s block — just use it to do something new, different, and highly creative!

I honestly can’t recommend it enough. It’s still my go-to when I’m feeling stuck (and just flipping through the pages is often enough to get the creative juices flowing!)

 

 

Art Box Subscription

I’ve had my eye on this idea for a while now… I love the idea that EVERYTHING you need just arrives on your doorstep and you’re ready to create.

I also think that stepping OUT of our words-only comfort zone is key to juicing up the creative centers of the brain.

I would personally love a subscription to EITHER of these:

SketchBox

I’ve heard REALLY GOOD things about this one from my watercolor artist friends. I think it would be fun!

CrateJoy

And if you’re looking for something that can REALLY tie into their tastes, then here is CrateJoy.

They offer TONS of different subscription boxes. I love the idea of a craft box that comes with EVERYTHING I need but they also offer boxes, teas, and other gifts.

 

 

REALLY nice notebook and pen


This is more of a “buy it for yourself” gift because every author I know has very personal preferences for what makes a REALLY nice notebook and pen.

The type you just love to use, can’t wait to pick up, and fully enjoy.

For me, I like these Bic Atlantis pens. I love the slim body, the weight of the ink, and the fact that they are ball-point, not gel. (I REALLY hate gel pens unless they are THESE ones, in white, that I use on my watercolor paintings.)

I have my black ones I use in my Important Business Writing Work and the colored ones I use in my annual Leonie Dawson Goal Workbook and for my to-do list.

As for a notebook, it all depends on what I’m using it FOR. I typically prefer spiral, MUST be college ruled (or unlined), and have a pretty cover.

See? It’s really hard to buy these things for someone else – we all have personal preferences. And while all authors (and entrepreneurs) love getting office supplies, we often want to purchase it ourselves.

Black
Colored

 

Now, let’s talk notebooks!

Authors want beautiful AND function. Some authors love a notebook that is spiral bound and others prefer a saddle stitch or perfect bound. Lined? Grid? Unlined? College-rule or wide-rule?

While we PREFER a certain style, authors always LOVE getting a beautiful notebook or journal as a gift. It’s a sign that you support our writing.

This year, I’ve found a great collection from Lang. They have all types of stationary in all types of binding!

 

 

MY Workbook


The Writer’s Goal Setting Workbook: A Step-By-Step Process to Getting Your Writing Done is a tool I wrote just for you. This workbook allows you to take stock of where you’re at in your writing, where you want to get to, and make a plan to do that.

And it has a YEAR’s worth of tracking for your mini-goals! While this is a perfect-bound paperback, I designed it to take to your local copy shop to have them trim off the biding and add a spiral. (Offering it with a spiral makes it REALLY expensive; cheaper to have it done yourself. My local place charges me about $5!)

 

Calm App

When I was stuck in the La-Z-Boy chair during my recovery, I watched a LOT of HGTV. It is the one channel that Small Thing and I can both agree on (and it’s pretty kid-friendly with no cussing and a minimum of TV invented drama.)

And every so often a commercial would come up for Calm. I don’t even think it had a voice-over! Just the sound of rain and the words to take a deep breath. After a few times seeing this ad, I went searching.

When my doctor PRESCRIBED daily meditation, I knew I was onto something.

The app has a lovely selection of background music and soundscapes – perfect for SOME noise while writing but not anything too distracting. Plus lots of different guided meditations on all types of topics. My personal favorite is “The Daily Trip” because I like his voice.

 

Sand Timer

This goes hand-in-hand with my process on mini-goals. I’ve told authors and artists around the world about the power of a 15-minute sand timer – and it works!

What I love the most is that when you’re in the flow, this doesn’t interrupt you when it runs out. And when you’re really struggling, you don’t have the ability to stare at numbers counting down – it quietly encourages you to get back to work.

And yes, I get it from Amazon! I have one of the cheapy plastic ones because KIDS. But you can spring for a lovely glass and metal version as well. I’d love this one AND I’m very happy with my plastic version too.

 

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Gift Ideas for Writers - Big Magic
This was gifted to me by my bestie (hi Jess!) and I promptly fell in love. Gilbert shares a lot of the ideas I had always held as truth about the power (and responsibility) of having an idea, being creative, and bringing forth amazing beauty in the world.

 

Julie & Julia on DVD

Gift Ideas for Writers - Julie & Julia DVD

Yes, this is BACK again. Why? Because this is my personal go-to for when I need a feel-good movie about two authors who keep following their dreams – and make it. It’s feel good, funny, and has ZERO dark parts.

Now, someone had the AUDACITY to point out to me that the real-life Julia went on to become kinda a jerk in her real life. Seriously! Don’t ruin the Hollywood magic for me.

I reach for this movie whenever I feel like I need a boost of “you can do this!” that is specifically around writing, being an author, sharing a message, having a passion – AND having a loving romantic relationship. Julia Child’s husband, Paul, is just a delightful character in the movie!

While this story SEEMS to be about cooking, this movie is really about the writing journeys of two women – separated by years but brought together by supportive husbands and a love of butter. (Seriously, what could be better!)

Or get the book! (Yes, I’ve read it!)

 

Story Generators

Authors usually have no problem coming up with ideas. But it’s that “usually” that can kill it – because sometimes, you WANT to write, to create, and you’re just… stuck.

It’s like being creatively constipated. And it’s absolutely no fun.

So here are a few fun options to get the ideas flowing again.

Story Cubes

Story Generator

Magnetic Poetry

 

Thoughtful (or Novelty) Gifts for Authors (that they may buy themselves)

We’ve moved beyond the Highly Practical gifts for writers and into the things that are fun, frivolous, and going to bring a smile to the face of the authors in your life. These are just FUN! Many of these were ALSO requested by YOU — through my 2021 survey!

Fingerless Gloves with Book Quotes

112415-FingerlessGloves

Available in a variety of literary patterns, these gloves just look so cool! And they are soft, don’t bunch, and BEYOND fun. (Yes, I have them!) My office gets chilly for a pair of fingerless gloves is a MUST so I can keep typing away  – without having to turn on the furnace for the whole house!

And if you must wear fingerless gloves… Then THESE are the gloves to wear!

 

Literary Scented Candles

I personally don’t use scented ANYTHING but these just looked too fun not to share as a perfect gift for writers! Created by Frostbeard Studio these are hand-poured soy candles in a variety of literary scents. I think the “Bookstore” candle (pictured) sounds interesting — and my second choice would be “Christmas at the Burrow” from Harry Potter.

 

 

Librarian Action Figure

Courtesy Archie McPhee

(Because literacy is a superpower!)

Archie McPhee (retailer) made the Librarian Action Figure, based on Nancy Pearl, to honor the heroic librarian. Talk about underappreciated! In a world where information swirls around us like a tornado, librarians are there to keep it all organized for us and let us know about the best of it. The Librarian Action Figure is an homage to those warriors of the printed (and electronic) word that keep fighting for literacy in the face of dwindling budgets and the decline of the printed word.

 

Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty

Get the 4 oz can so you have plenty to play with. This is a great gift for the author who is suffering from tired, aching hands! Give those fingers something else to do and a different way to move and work. Available in soft or firm.

And if someone is looking for a gift for ME for 2022 — this is what I want to try! (Just make sure there’s no smell; I can’t STAND perfumey stuff.)

(Recommended by Teresa Taylor)

 

Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad

The perfect writer’s tool when you have a water-induced brainstorm. Because let’s be real: jumping out of the hot water to write a note on the steamed-up mirror isn’t practical! The Aqua Notes notepad is the perfect solution to capture your next great water-induced idea.

 

Bathtub Caddy

I got one of these back in 2019! And it’s been a lifesaver since then. I love to read in the tub and this holds my book and drink. Lately, I’ve been doing watercolor painting from the bathtub and this holds my paper and paints.

If you’ve got a bath lover on your list, THIS is the gift for them. This is especially nice because I don’t personally like smelly stuff so I wouldn’t use a bath bomb or anything but natural bath salts.

Aroma therapy

Essential Oil Diffuser

A request from SEVERAL authors has been for aroma therapy supplies. I think THIS diffuser looks like a good deal. It’s small (so not a lot of desk space and WHEN you knock it over, less water to make a mess.) I like that it has both a continuous and intermittent setting AND an auto-shut off.

Essential Oils on Amazon

I KNOW there is a huge amount of discussion about the quality of essential oils. I’m 100% NOT getting into that! I will say that I have zero problem using the “cheap” ones if I’m just diffusing. I use the expensive if I’m having them touch me. And I NEVER take them orally because they are just way too concentrated for safety. (A past client was a naturopathic doctor who gave me that advice.)

  • And do your research before diffusing any oils around kids or pets; some may SMELL nice but can be too harsh for smaller bodies.
  • My favorite oils in my diffuser are lemon or mint – for brain power.
  • Lavender to relax.

And if you’re looking for more expensive oils, here is a link to YoungLiving — that’s who *I* use for the better quality oils. Affiliate link through Holly Doherty.

 

Ceramic diffuser


Personally, I got a tub of air-dry clay and made little disks. Then I drizzle my essential oil on it and let it do its thing. I like this with lavender for the kids’ rooms – no water to knock over, no mess, no electricity.

You can totally DIY like I did OR you can grab this adorable sunflower diffuser.

 

Kind Actions to Do for Writers

MOST of these things are gift requests you can make for other people – perfect when someone asks you what you want to receive AND you don’t actually want or need any more things to dust. (Seriously, that is ONE of the criteria I use before I buy something: do I want to DUST this thing?!)

Babysitting/Playdate

I’m a mom of two with one on the way and I don’t trust my kids to just anybody. (Okay so almost NOBODY.) One of the best gifts I’ve given myself is two afternoons a week, just 12-3 on Mondays and Tuesdays, where the 18-year-old neighbor comes to hang out with my kids.

It’s a win-win-win for all of us. I get time to write, work, or just REST. She gets money for her car fund. My kids get to play with somebody who is NOT mom or dad. (And when Ben is home, he uses this time to work too!)

A few times a month, I borrow a friend’s kids for an afternoon. I don’t get much done but it’s a BLAST watching the boys play (13, 8, 5) and Little Bean got to play with the toys WITHOUT her brother telling her what she could and could not touch. I got to do a few house projects and had a BREAK from kid TV and “Mom! I’m HUNGRY.”

My friend knew her kids were also off screens and playing outside.

 

Buy Their Book

Seriously, I put this on the gift guide every year. If you have a friend who is an author, BUY THEIR BOOK.

If it isn’t you cup of tea, then use your Amazon Prime benefits to send it directly to a friend as a gift. OR donate it to your local library, senior center, church, etc.

Authors work really hard. We love what we do. We WANT to help people and we WANT to sell books. Unfortunately, often times the people closest to us are the ones who SAY they’ll support us and then… don’t.

So buy that book!

 

Listen to Them

Authors love to talk about their book. But often the “usual” listening ears get tired – quickly! When I was in college, getting my degree in Creative Writing, all I wanted to talk about was… writing! My goals, my plans, my characters, my latest piece, contests I was submitting to, and my latest publication. (At the time I did think I wanted to write fiction and I did write a lot of poetry.)

I have a “friend” pull me aside and tell me that I needed to stop talking about writing all the time, that it was boring to listen to and made me seem immature. Basically, she told me I needed to grow up and stop talking about my dreams.

It gutted me. For an afternoon. Then I realized that a REAL friend would be supportive – even if I was obsessive! She might have been boy-crazy, I was writing-crazy.

However, this isn’t the only time this has happened to me OR an author I know – that someone with fewer life passions (or zero manners) has asked us to shut the f up!

Don’t be that person. Take your author friend out for coffee and LISTEN. Ask good questions. Share in their excitement.

 

Invite Them Out

Authors spend WAAAAAY too much time in their heads! And that can translate into too much time with computers, notebooks, and reading. All these solitary activities are great… until they aren’t!

In October, I took my kids to the pumpkin patch. I REALLY wanted to invite my best friend Holly and her family BUT I made up all these excuses about why they wouldn’t be able to come. Holly and her family were planning a trip to the same pumpkin patch and she really wanted to invite me and the kids… and she make up all these reasons why we couldn’t come.

Thankfully, God didn’t listen to either of us and arranged it so we were going on the same afternoon!

So, don’t assume that the author in your life DOESN’T want to go out and do something! Invite them.

Now, not all authors are introverted, shy, or socially awkward – so don’t hesitate to invite them to social gatherings, parties, or more intimate events like running errands together.

Holly and I learned (remembered) that we’re both adults: the other party can and WILL say yes or no depending on availability. We don’t need to make assumptions for the other party!

Follow @inspiredtowrite on Instagram

This account has daily doses of inspiration for why the world needs you – as a creative person – to continue to put stuff out into the world. I love that these hand-written messages also take the pressure OFF endlessly creating, and back into the hands of fun, play, imagination, and rest.

Now, I’ve never watched her Instagram lives so I have no clue what she shares there!

These reminders of what it’s like to be an artist were part of what inspired me to pick up paint brushes again – after twenty years – and to share my creativity with the world. This is especially important.

If your author isn’t on Instagram or doesn’t know how to find this account, help them out! It’s worth it.

 

 

Gift Card for Massage or Yoga

Okay, this isn’t an action that YOU are going to do – it’s one that you buy for your author.

Authors spend long hours in strange postures with words on paper – computer, phone, notebook, Kindle, paperback… And we get SORE and TIGHT. A massage or a yoga class is JUST what is needed to get the knots out, circulate the blood, and re-energize the brain.

And, most authors forget that massages or yoga (or their favorite brand of exercise) isn’t a luxury; it’s like an Olympic athlete training for their sport.

And you’re thinking, “Whoa! Big leap there, Kim!”

Author’s main “muscle” is the brain – but that can’t get out of the brain without using their shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. Not to mention the upper back and core – just for sitting! To take care of the ideas, you’ve got to care for the body.

Bonus points if you’ll go WITH the author to the yoga class!

Does your author use a text-to-speech software instead of typing or writing? That puts strain on different body parts so they STILL need a massage or yoga classes.

Now, if you want to be the Hero of the Holidays – buy them a SET of massages or classes. One is great but something they can use weekly or monthly for a while is even better.

And if your author isn’t into massages (weird, but it happens!) then a Percussion massager is a decent substitute.

 

Donate in their name to a literacy organization


Sometimes, your author really won’t need or want anything. Or all parties have gone on a “don’t give me anything that could ever become clutter” kick.

So take what you’d have spent on that gift, and make a donation in their name to a literacy organization. Dolly Parton has a great one that gets books into the hands of underprivileged kids.

Or Make Way for Books

Or Reading is Fundamental

And never hesitate to call the local library in your author’s hometown and ask if you can make a donation THERE, in the name of your author, to be used in the library. Authors LOVE libraries!

 

Ask Your Author What THEY Want as a Gift

Hollywood has made it seem like we’re bad friends, partners, family if we can’t guess what the PERFECT gift is for each and every person in our lives.

Give me a break!

I can love a friend (husband!) to death and STILL have no clue what they want as a gift. It’s okay to ask. In fact, this part of the Gift Guide was designed to be handed to you, the Friend-Of-An-Author to give you ideas of actions you can take.

There are other pages that give ideas for the author to either ask for or buy for themselves.

So don’t let your author give you the BS excuse…

“I don’t know. I don’t need anything.”

They want and need gifts – they may not actually articulate it.

Amazon gift cards, as cop-out as it can feel, are ALWAYS a good bet.

Me? I LOVE McDonald’s coffee and would love a gift card to McDonald’s. (I only drink Starbucks in airports, go figure!)

Authors love office supplies – just not journals and pens. We’re VERY particular there. But you can’t go wrong with novelty paperclips, notepads in fun shapes and colors, or…

 

Stickers!

Here are some really fun reading/writing related stickers on Amazon. PERFECT for a “gift” to go along with a gift card.

 

 

But trust me, the best gift for writers…

Buy their book!

 

 

P.S. No, there was no Gifts for Writers Guide for 2020. I was personally very sick and just couldn’t manage it!

And as always, you can always see past year’s Gift Guides Here:

2013 – 20 Great Gifts for Writers)
2014 – 20 Gifts for Writers Under $20
2015 – 25 Gifts for Writers
2016 – 20 Gifts for Writers 2016 Edition
2017 – 5th Annual Gift Guide for Writers
2018 – 17 Unique Gift Ideas for Writers
2019 – 20 Uncommon Gifts for Writers
2021 – Best Gifts for Writers 2021

 

P.P.S. Many of these links ARE affiliate links. If you purchase through that link, I may receive a small commission. (Or I may NOT. Some affiliate programs ARE a bit… sketchy.)

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5 Tips to Avoid Procrastination

There’s a line between waiting for inspiration to strike and sitting down to write – with or without the ever-illusive… inspiration.

When I was in college, my mom gave me a poster that said,

If your ship hasn’t come in, swim out to meet it.

And inspiration is a lot like that! Some days, you just won’t be feeling it. I’m sorry, it’s true. As a mom, MOST days I’m not feeling it when it comes to the Triple B’s (bath, books, bed.) I just want to skip ahead to the BED part and be done with it.

But as soon as the kids are happily splashing away – or as soon as we’re cuddled up with a book – it’s not so bad.

Here my PROVEN tips for beating procrastination in your writing!

1. Turn OFF Social Media
Do you remember life before Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and all the OTHER social distractions? I do! I remember when the Internet wasn’t always “ON” but was a privilege we bought as 100 minutes a month for $100 a month!

If you were still paying for Internet by the minute, I guarantee you’d spend a lot less time cruising Facebook!

There are a dozen apps that you can install that will lock you out of social media – if you need that. For me, just closing the Facebook tab is enough. (And I do NOT have the Facebook messenger app installed on my phone!) I’ve ALSO turned off all notifications (especially the sounds) for all my social media accounts. When you don’t have those “dings” chirping at you a million times a day, it’s easier to ignore your online social life.

If you need one more reason:

Take a look at the feed of somebody who’s life you envy. The one who looks PERFECT from the outside. The one who is always organized, lives in a neat and tidy house that is color-coordinated, and ALWAYS finishes projects. Then imagine that their life IS perfect… It’s exactly how it looks from the outside.

Wouldn’t you rather be the friend that OTHER friends are envious of – because of your PUBLISHED BOOK? Be the role model for getting.it.done so your other friends can think YOUR life is perfect. (It won’t be perfect, but having your book written and published can be the truth!)

2. Hone your Bullsh*t meter for when you’re working (or not!)
How often is your “research” just a fancy way of procrastinating? I completely understand that for most of us, especially writing non-fiction, a certain amount of research IS required.

But are you focused?
Is it necessary before you move on?

Or are you following the rabbit holes of the Internet and gobbling down click bait the way bugs eat insect poison… and then die leaving piles of little insect corpses in the corner of the room?

Because, trust me, watching a TV show is NOT research even if it IS remotely related to your topic… Here’s an advanced tip when you’re procrastinating your dreams: Imagine the actors in your FAVORITE show or movie. Imagine all they had to do to get to where they are. Send them an energetic “Thank You” for the entertainment they’ve brought you. Now imagine what YOUR life would be like if that same actor hadn’t pursued their dream… YOUR life would be the poorer for it – and by not writing, you’re making your reader’s life poorer!

Keep Reading!

What’s Your Give-Up Moment?

There is a point in your writing journey when every author realizes that the next, and only, step is:

Write The Book.

To spend the time, day after day, week after week, to put words on paper.

The learning is over, the doing has started. And yes, through the doing, through the writing, skills are honed, stories are told, and progress is made. After all, you are harnessing the power of mini-goals, right?

But what happens when you feel like you’ve stalled out? Like the finish-line is so far away that you might as well give up?

I get it!

You see, there’s a moment on every backpacking trip where I feel the same way. And it’s always on the way BACK to the truck! It’s the moment when my legs are burning and shaking, I’m hot and sweaty, the backpack has gotten heavier…

It’s the moment when the water in the CamelBak is too warm to be refreshing, (or has run out entirely!), the pick-me-up snacks in my pocket have all been eaten, and my back hurts, my shoulders ache, and my blisters have blisters.

The give-up moment has arrived.

For an author, giving up is a choice. It’s rarely a conscious choice; usually days go by without work on the manuscript. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and then the dream dies quietly and only guilt and dried up ideas remain.

That’s not what I want for you! And right now, in this week, you’ve got a special opportunity for your writing.

It’s the free training, “5 PROVEN Steps to Finally Write Your Book.”

Register Here

This is happening on November 1 at 1 pm Pacific / 4 pm Eastern. And yes, there WILL be a replay – but you have to register to get it.

During this free training, I’ll teach you:

  • Why you SHOULDN’T use your ‘signature talk’ as your book… and what to do instead.
  • How to get MORE writing done… without giving up Netflix, your kids soccer games, or locking yourself in your office.
  • Debunking the Mental Monsters™ that keep you from even getting started… including my brand of Monster Spray that is sure to work.
  • And walking you through my PROVEN system to write a message-driven book… so that you can reach the people you’re meant to reach!

And yes, it’s FREE. Reserve your spot today.

To honor my action takers who register NOW, I’ve got a great package of goodies for you over the next two weeks. These are valuable resources to help you get the most from the training.

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It’s Not Too Late for Your Book in 2022

Tomorrow…

It’s a word that’s ripe with promise. It feels shiny and new. There’s so much that can be accomplished… tomorrow.

Now, I’m not an expert on overcoming procrastination. In fact, I’m just as good at procrastinating as you are (and maybe even better!). And I’m all too familiar with the seduction that tomorrow holds.

Or this weekend.
Or next week.
Or in the spring.

It’s the beginning of October. Soon it’ll be fall break, then Halloween. November brings Veteran’s Day.

And that starts the slide into The Holidays – that time when we feel that we’re in limbo and everything has to wait until … AFTER. After Thanksgiving. After holiday shopping. After the kids go back to school. After. After. After.

Plus the weeks between Christmas and New Year’s? It’s a limbo period on the calendar. When one year is winding down and the next looms on the horizon, fresh with promise of a new beginning.

It’s all too easy to put your dreams on hold – waiting for the New Year. It’s all too easy to write off the rest of 2022 – and forget about a more powerful word:

Now.

More immediate than even today, NOW is a word of power.

It says that your message matters – now. And that you’re going to take the wonderful steps to start to craft your message – now.

You’re not going to wait for the tantalizing promise of tomorrow.

Because tomorrow, while shiny and new and exciting is also so easy to wait for. To let it creep up softly and then… have the time slip away just as softly, just as easily.

And nothing is worse than looking backward into time at all the yesterdays that weren’t used up. At the weeks and months and years that have passed between idea and action – even if you’re dabbling along the way.

Please make the decision with me, now, today, that you’re going to work on your book NOW. That you’re not going to wait for the “tomorrow” of New Years, or January, or Spring – when “you’ll have more time”.

The only time we all have is Now.

Because, trust me, you’ll be just as busy after New Year’s, or in January, or in Spring as you are in this moment. Busy will fill your life to full. And really, that’s okay. It really is. Because you’re not going to wait for life to fill up – you’re going to write right now.

We never know how much time we’ve been given. It’s as much as mystery to a 38-year-old new mom as it is to a 77-year-old retiree. But we all have the same moment in time:

NOW.

Here’s the action I want you to do – right now.

Join the free 5-Day Writing Challenge.

I’ve 100% cherry-picked some of the BEST pieces of my PROVEN book-writing system, simplified them, and am bringing it to you over the course of five days. Each day is designed to give you an easy-to-follow action step that builds upon the day before.

And at the end of the challenge, you’ll have a chapter of your book roughed out.

Register Here.

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