bags – Writer's Treasure Chest

Christmas presents are not easy to pick. But it might be even more difficult for a writer. (Unless you’re together with one, have one in your family or as a friend, then it’s not.)

In my experience, many writers like the following items more than anything:

pens
desk organizers
paper notebooks
planners
more pens
coffee & mugs
briefcases & bags to transport their books & accessories

Pens

Let’s start with one of the main and most important tools of a writer. Without pens, we’d be lost. I found out, that even though we all have modern computers, many writers still prefer simple pens and paper for personal notes, agendas, calendar entries, and more. A handful of pens to secure a writer’s work is, therefore, always a welcome present.

Now, don’t make a bad mistake here: even though many of us, steal P.R. pens whenever we have the chance to and carry them around with us (I belong to those writers too!), …

… if we get those ‘cheaper by the dozen’ pens as a Christmas present, you could say, we could be a little ‘miffed’.

We love beautiful pens! We enjoy how they feel and we celebrate the time we use them! We just don’t carry them around with us permanently because some of us are a bit absentminded and we tend to forget our pens somewhere, misplace or lose them. Our ‘good pens’ are at home with us! A nice ‘Parker’ or ‘Waterman’ pen as a present, is just the right thing.

Desk Organizers

Of course, there are clearly outlined modern designed desk-organizers around that you can buy at every ‘Office Depot’ or ‘Staples’… and you won’t do us, writers, a favor. We prefer the extraordinary. Something that not everyone has, something unique, that makes us feel special.

So this isn’t recommendable:

Try to find something that we don’t see every day. Something personalized, maybe?

Paper Notebooks

You can kick us, but as soon as we see paper notebooks, we forget everything around us and focus on that inner voice that tells us: ‘Want – want – want!”

Of course, we’re not talking about a regular scholar 5-subject ring book you can buy at every supermarket. We are talking about extraordinary, leather-bound notebooks! Antique looking ones that we plan to write on with that one special pen we got from you last birthday. And make no mistake: You buy antique, you’ll get rid of it – because we don’t give a hoot does it look antique or is it really old! We will use it!

Planners

Now, with the planners, I’m a bit insecure. At this place, I can only talk for myself and many other female writers. We need to plan our publishing, our marketing, how many words we write a day, a week, a month, any upcoming events, and many more things. But we’re not at the office, we’re not at our job, we want to work our writing with lots of fun and some unconventional tools. We like planners, of course! But please, don’t pick the ‘business planner’. We’re not at work – we do what we love! Pick the fun one!

(And if there are any male writers who would prefer the fun ones too, please let us know in the comments! We love to be educated!)

More Pens

Of course, if a simple Parker or Waterman pen isn’t enough, just for our Birthday or Christmas that will do, but for Anniversaries, Valentines Day, or Wedding (In case our favorite car model has sold out), we would NEVER say no to a pen that’s worth a bit more than the Staples pen we use to write down the shopping list.

Meisterstueck Geometry Solitaire Champagne Gold Midsize Ball Point Pen

Montblanc

MASTER BALLPOINT PEN

Versace

SANTOS DE CARTIER ROLLERBALL PEN

Cartier

Caran d’Ache 1010 Diamonds Limited Edition

Coffee & Mugs

Many writers love drinking coffee before writing, during writing and after writing too. (Mine often gets cold, but who cares…) I love to drink it in a special writer’s mug. (When I moved I couldn’t take mine, so I’m open for new ones. LOL)

Of course, a coffee mug and coffee for a writer is a a ‘side-present’, considering it’s a necessity. But I particularly enjoy the brands here below. (They can be bought at World Market)

Briefcases & Bags

Depending on the writer’s age, we have to admit that carrying a bag, over the shoulder or anywhere else, ain’t as easy anymore as it once was. With a heavy heart, we decided on a rolling office bag to transport our valuables. (which normally means our current, the newest, the latest, and a couple other books, the Work in progress, pens, paper, extra paper and pens, electronics, Kleenex, cables, chargers, hand cream, and tweezers, because you never know…)

In clear words: we take half of our office, if not 2/3, and expect our bags are holding it.

Good Luck!

Desert Cart Organizer – Everything Mary