As writers, we have the opportunity to give gifts that can't be bought. Here are a few ideas for unique gifts we writers can give:
- A poem--Write a poem to someone you love and/or appreciate. A family member, a friend, or a teacher. Make it funny, make it inspirational, or make it short and sweet. I've done this a few times for my hubby--for Christmas and Father's Day--and he loved it.
- A hand written note--These days it's all about emails, and we've lost the art of the hand-written note. There's still something lovely about writing in script on pretty stationery. I plan to jot down short notes for each of my sons about what makes them special.
- Character name--Name a character after someone you know. If they have a great sense of humor, and wouldn't mind, you could even make them the villain. Or the sidekick. Imagine them reading your story, knowing Uncle Harold was named after them. (Btw, my late Uncle Harold had a 2-quarter plumber's crack and played Boogie Woogie on the piano like nobody's business. Seriously.)
- Character traits--Does a friend or family member have unique traits? Got a grouchy uncle who knits blankies? A friend who only washes her hair on Mondays? Use it! Heck, you can even create a cross blend of quirky character traits. The cousin who always smells their food before eating will get a kick out of reading about it.
- Record history--Know an elderly person who would like to record their personal history? Writers can experience the joy of preserving history for an aging friend or family member. Imagine the amazing stories they'd have to tell.
- Pay attention--The best gift of all may be our time. We can set the laptop or notebook down and be in the moment. Sure, we can think about character or scene details, but when it comes down to it, the people we love want to know they matter most.
These are just a few ideas. Can you think of other ways writers can give unique gifts?
And if you've given a character the name or traits of someone you know, did you tell them? What did they think?