As a writer this is what I really want for Christmas
Time
We have all been inundated with very clever marketing the past couple of weeks. Every time I check my emails or pop on to social media I am confronted with a deluge of extremely tempting offers and deals. It’s not even junk - it’s gorgeous things from companies I love to buy from - quality knitwear, a tempting new shade of cheek colour, toasty winter trousers…. All items, I’d use and love. I want it all.
But it gets to a point where it’s not enough to know you would love and use something. I have limited funds, limited space and live on a planet with limited resources. Even high quality, well loved items become completely unnecessary if we have too many of them.
I sat down last week to watch Buy Now! on Netflix, about the manipulative techniques used to encourage over consumption and the incredibly high costs the planet is paying. Frictionless consumption (like one click purchasing and next or same day delivery) has created an ease that is really hard to resist and this ease is reflected in the increased amount we now purchase ( the number of items of clothing we purchase has doubled in the past decade). Though this documentary didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, it’s a sobering watch and a great reminder of the costs of hyper consumption.
But there is another element to this too. I’m constantly struggling between the twin pulls of earning money for my household (I’m the sole earner) and creating more time in my schedule for writing. Speculative work that has to be done before you are paid. For me right now that’s working on a novel but in the past it’s been months spent on book proposals. The more money I spend, the more I need to earn. The more I need to earn the less time I have to write.
When I started thinking about what I really want for Christmas, it’s not things at all really (although things are lovely, and I do love knitwear). It’s time to write. If someone handed me one of those giant cheques with 5 figures and asked me what I wanted to do with it I know immediately what I’d say. It wouldn’t be a fancy holiday, a new sofa, or clothes dryer or dishwasher (I own neither). It would be time to write. Time when I was under less pressure to earn enough to support my family and I could really get my teeth into my work.
This has turned into my little mental trick this week as temptation after temptation flies past my eyeballs. Do I want to spend precious time earning the money I just spent back? Or do I want to spend time writing instead?
I have a long way to go before I could be accused of being very frugal. Having a delightfully neurodiverse/disabled household means spending in some areas is just higher than it might be for others. And I do love small luxuries that can make a challenging day so much nicer (yummy food really does cheer me up a lot). But when I’m tempted to spend beyond what is needed (and I am very tempted), I have to ask myself - do I want this more than time to write?
When I work with writers, often just the act of paying for a session or program with me is a powerful enough act for them to give themselves time to work on their book proposal. Suddenly with money committed, the time then follows. This was very much the case for me when I began writing again after many years break and signed up for a City Lit course. Money paid, I was committed and it would have been wasteful not to spend the time on my writing.
In this spirit I started to think about all the gifts that a writer might want to drop hints about to find under the tree for themselves this Christmas, that all revolve around time to write (including a few things that can actually be wrapped and put under the tree).
So here it is, a gift guide for writers in which most of the gift is really just time. I love a gift guide, but unlike others you might see this has not got any ideas for your mum, your partner, your kids, your siblings or your kids teacher. This is just for the writers - you. Feel free to forward to anyone who wants to spend money on you this Christmas - let’s hope they are feeling very generous.
Organisation
Mslexia Magazine’s Writer’s Diary and Planner 2025 - perfect for keeping on track with writing goals, including competition and agent submission tracking
Going out on submission to agents in 2025? The Artist’s and Writer’s Yearbook 2025 could be a very handy gift
My absolute favourite notebook from Papersmiths part of all my writing planning
Have you been writing a whole book in Word or Google Docs and are tearing your hair out? The gift of Scrivener may save your sanity (and time)
Memberships
Want to feel less alone as you write and be held accountable? A
membership provides community, co-writing and events. What a gift!Are you a published author but not a member of the Society of Authors yet? Its a union, giving legal support and advice, and they have some fantastic grants which can give finance much needed time to write.
Food/Drink vouchers
Spend time in your local cafe writing? A voucher to spend on hot drinks and snacks to keep you fuelled while you write (and take up space). Many chains do vouchers but my local independent coffee shop does too - it’s always worth asking!
Course and Classes
Curtis Brown Creative offer gift vouchers that can be used on their online courses (both long and short) and their editorial services for manuscript assessments
Arvon Foundation Gift Voucher - for residential writing retreats, in person and online writing courses and masterclasses taught world renowned writers
Are you working on a non-fiction book proposal? The Book Proposal Group Program beginning in late January has an early bird sale mid December and the last few years some of the writers have been given this as a gift. Sign up to the waitlist to hear when the sale happens
Writer’s Retreats
My 2025 Cornish Writer’s Retreat has already sold out but the brilliant Lucy Beckley and
are running a Winter Retreat in February that I wish I could attend! Also check out Lucy’s solo retreats.From long weekends to single days
runs Ease Retreats with author’s including and - so many gorgeous retreats coming in 2025- and artist Lisa King have an upcoming writing and drawing retreat (and keep an eye on Alice’s newsletter, she run’s writing retreats regularly and they look fab).
Moniack Mhor hold lots of courses and retreats throughout the year in the stunning Scottish Highlands
Create your very own solo writers retreat at the Gladstone’s Library (don’t forget Society of Author’s members get a very hefty discount)
Bookish Gifts
A book subscription from Mr B’s is just about the most delightful gift ever (surprise book mail each month based on your interests - yes please!).
Bookshop.org have vouchers - So you can chose your own books and support your favourite independent bookseller
Childcare
The gift of adhoc childcare from friends or family so you can spend time writing (seriously, if you are a parent this is the best gift on the whole list, perfect for those of you who have loved ones who adore your kids and want to support your writing)
I’d love to hear what your dream gift as a writer would be!
Childcare. And solitude. Hard agree. No ribbon required.
100% on childcare so I can write! As a single mom, finding time when my brain is also working properly is the hardest part.