Last Minute Christmas Gifts for Neurospicy Writers

Christmas is almost here, if you have missed the shipping deadlines, here are some last minute gifts for the neurospicy writer in your life.

1. As neurospicy writers ourselves, we have found that writing with a deadline works well for us. NYC Midnight contests were the catalyst for us to start writing. We prefer the microfiction story contests with short deadlines. The short deadline can be stressful but it goes by quickly and the accomplishment feels great. They also get feedback from judges.

2. Writingbattle.com is another writing contest we have recently discovered. The genres are unique and can be a little challenging. They have two different types of challenges,Oowl which is judged by professionals and Raven which is peer reviewed. Adriana and Lena did the Harvest Raven contest and we had to review 10 stories in 5 duels. It was a fun challenge, but very time consuming. We’d recommend giving your writer an Owl contest entry for their first writing battle.

3. Gift an audible subscription. Reading and listening to books helps writers learn and develop their own writing skills. Or help them download the Libby app! 

4. Digital or audiobooks about ADHD. At Guilded Monocle we were both diagnosed with ADHD in the last few years. Listening to audiobooks about ADHD (on 2x the speed for Lena) has been a great way to understand more about it and ourselves. Some of our favorites are How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe, ADHD for Smartass Women by Tracy Otsuka, It All Makes Sense Now: Embrace Your ADHD Brain to Live a Creative and Colorful Life by Meredith Carder, and Invisible ADHD: Proven Mood and Life Management for Smart Yet Scattered Women by Shanna Pearson.

5. Give them writing software. Scrivener is a great way to organize your novel white you write it and it has a one time price, their site has instructions for purchasing Scrivner as a gift. (As a dyslexic Adriana likes https://reedsy.com/studio/pricing The main part is free. 

6. Gift cards to Guildedmonocle.com. Let them choose the box and other writing accoutrements. We have 15 different boxes to choose from and the option to customize. 

7. Give them a gift of learning with online writing courses. Masterclass currently has a holiday discount for a monthly subscription giving them access to their catalog of classes. Udemy.com has a plethora of online writing courses to choose from that are also currently on sale.

8. Research writing groups in their area and gift them a calendar or schedule of different writing groups, places and dates in their area for the upcoming months. Shut up & Write is a free global writing group. Their public library events page would also be a great resource to find writing groups in their area. This would be a great gift for a new writer that might be a little reluctant to write or someone that needs accountability when writing, a writing group with set meeting times can help with that.

9. Help them by supporting their boundaries and their writing habits! If there is a certain time or place they like to write, you can try not to distract them. Or even better write letters, do a crossword or work quietly at the same time! You can even make them a coupon or agreement on paper of some sort that serves as 4 additional and unique times you promise not disturb them.

10. Let them know their creativity and work is important! Even if they don’t let you read anything:) (Really this is a gift. Think about how they best accept praise and if receiving it in front of others is uncomfortable find a way to verbalize it privately or in a card.)