Gifts for Kids and for Writers
Don’t look now, but the holidays are right behind you.
I hope you had a gratitude-and-family-filled Thanksgiving.
If you enjoy online shopping, today’s your day.
It’s Cyber Monday.
In addition to Amazon, check out uncommongoods.com, live-inspired.com and basbleu.com
Here are some gifts for kids and another for the writers in your life (you?).
KIDS AGES 8-12
(This list is primarily games. A book list is coming soon.)
1. Spin to Survive Adventure book. It’s a game-in-a-book, along the same lines as the Choose Your Own Adventure books. The premise is that after an emergency landing, you’re stranded on a snowy mountain range with limited supplies to help you make it out alive. The pop-out spinner determines your destiny, whether it’s taking cover from an avalanche or avoiding falling into a deep crevasse. Turn to the page number you land on to see what happens next. Along the way, you’ll also read stories from real-life wilderness survivors and learn about survival techniques such as how to build a snow shelter, treat a wound, or start a fire. $30. Available from uncommongoods.com or Amazon.
2. Chroma Cube Game. This puzzle challenges you to arrange the cubes in their tray using the clues on each card. After the puzzle is solved, it can be left out on the coffee table like modern art! The helpful twist with this game is that a mind that’s focused on one challenge will often come up with solutions for another challenge it’s working on. Perfect for ages 8+. $20. Available from uncommongoods.com or Amazon.
3. The Storyteller’s Handbook is full of 52 beautiful illustrations to use as story prompts. is full of 52 beautiful illustrations to use as story prompts. You’re only limited by your imagination. $24.95. It’s available from Compendium (live-inspired.com) or from Amazon.
4. Superpowers! This book is an invitation to become a Super Hero! It’s an awesome collection of activities and funny questions to make your child see just how Super they are! $16.96. Available from Compendium (live-inspired.com) or from Amazon.
5. Poetry for Neanderthals. It’s really not poetry. It’s a game where you try to get everyone to guess your word or phrase by only using single-syllable clues. If you use more than one-syllable words, you get bonked on the head with an inflatable club. $10. Available at game stores and Amazon.
6. After Dinner Amusements. Great stocking stuffers, each 2 ½”-square tin features 50 cards with thoughtful questions. Try Family Time or Do you Remember or Gratitude. There are nine tins. $8.95 Available from basbleu.com or Amazon.
FOR WRITERS
1. Sturdy file folders. Stop using those flimsy manilla folders! I love these from Amazon, available in various design styles (I’m partial to the flamingoes). Graphique, extra-sturdy. $10.53 for nine.
2. Novel Analysis. Check out Authors.ai.com. It’s a product with a lot of potential for writers. It will analyze your novel through an annual or monthly plan or as a single purchase. You’ll get an analysis of your novel in less than 15 minutes. The analysis includes comp titles for subject matter and writing style, narrative arc and plot structure analysis, story beats placement, pacing analysis, cliché finder, repetitive phrase finder, sentence stats and readability score, dialogue versus narrative breakdown, and repeateduse of adverbs and adjectives finder. I did the single purchase plan and received a 16- page analysis. Then I signed up for the annual subscription and received a 30-page analysis. Free/$45/$199.
3. Bubble Wrap Calendar. You know how fun it is to pop bubble wrap? This calendar has a bubble over each day of the year, requiring you to pop the bubble each day! What fun! (Just me?) $25. Available from uncommongoods.com or Amazon.
4. Canva.com. If you’re self-publishing or if you have a blog, check out canva.com which offers some great artwork, photography, and templates. Free/$12.99 per month.
5. Bulletin board. You need somewhere to pin your thoughts and inspiring quotes. There are some nice ones on the Pottery Barn website. But you can also find them at your local stationery store, Target, or Amazon.
6. Binders and Tabs and a three-hole punch. A binder is an excellent place to store notes about your novel-in-progress. Use a section for each character (include a photo!), the plot, the theme, synopsis. The tabs will make your notes easier to find. A three-hole- punch makes the binder usable! Alternatively, you can slip your pages into plastic sheet protectors that are already three-hole-punched. I’m using a two-inch binder for one of my projects, but I wish it was three-inches. These items are available at your local stationery store, Target, or Amazon.
Happy shopping.
Be sure to check out Uncommon Goods and Bas Bleu and Compendium (live-inspired.com).
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