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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The Gifts of Writing

It's my birthday later this week. People keep asking me what I want for my birthday, but to be honest, I don't want all that much. I'm a writer, so I like writerly things. So what are some things you could buy a writer friend for their birthday? Here are some suggestions, and for all the writers out there, here are some ideas you could give to your loved ones when they ask you what you'd like for your birthday:

1. Vouchers. Namely for bookstores, but I'm sure some writers like vouchers for stationary stores too.

2. Books. Buying your writer friend the book they really want to read but don't have is always a nice gesture and it saves them the trouble of buying it themselves.

3. Books. Again. If there's a book you think your writer friend might really like that they haven't read yet, gift it to them.

4. Notebooks. If your writer friend likes to draft longhand, or carry something around in their backpack/handbag for jotting down ideas, or if they're a visual thinker and like to have something to physically draw mind-maps etc. on, cute and awesome notebooks of all shapes and sizes with fun and colourful covers might be an ideal little gift. Leather-bound/moleskin covers are really cool too.

5. Sticky-notes. Not just ordinary sticky-notes, but cool and quirky sticky-notes. This is especially for if your writer friend is a visual thinker or likes to jot down little ideas and reminders for later and stick them all over their writing space. Exciting sticky-notes with smiley faces and pretty pictures are always great.

6. A proofread. I think I saw someone suggest this as a gift before on another blog, but if your proofreading skills are decent, most writers will agree that it doesn't hurt to have a second pair of eyes go over your work, or at least a part of it.

7. A combination of the above turned into a sort of mini-hamper. Especially if there is a group who want to get a present for someone. Everyone put in a little bit of money to get a few little things that make something big and special.


Earlier this year, I was watching the Game of Thrones television show as the new episodes of season 3 aired. One of the guys I've become good friends with through my course hinted that he was going to get the first book of the A Song of Ice and Fire series for my birthday, because I NEED to start reading them.

On Monday, I was presented with a large slab of something in colourful wrapping paper. It did not look like a single book, nor was it from just that one friend. It was a collaborated gift from six of my writer friends...

My academic success is over. I have been provided with the ultimate distraction. 
And this was the card they gave me.
People have been saying to me all year that I look like Daenerys Targaryen
or at least Emilia Clarke (the actress). I don't see it, but I'm not complaining! 
I love having other writers as friends. Like, seriously, THANK YOU SO MUCH to the six beautiful people who contributed to that amazing present. You guys are the best. Ooh and the poster of Westeros and the Free Cities that came as a freebie in the box-set is now up on my wall. I'm a very happy birthday girl. I love you guys!

While I'm on the topic of A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones, I have been DYING for an excuse to share this video with my fellow bloggers and I think this might be the opportune moment. WARNING: anything ASOIAF/GOT related is bound to contain strong violence, course language, and sexual themes, but this is funny so you should watch it anyway.


Have you received any really awesome writerly presents? Have you read any of the A Song of Ice and Fire books? Thoughts on the Game of Thrones Ultimate Birthday Rap Battle? 

- Bonnee.

15 comments:

  1. If you have anything that needs proofread, or critiqued fully for that matter, I'd be happy to do so.

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  2. Comment in odd, list format. I don't know why.
    A) Happy birthday! College friends are great--last year, my daughter's friends chipped in for a very nice set of fancy art pens.
    B) Speaking of pens, as someone who likes to write long-hand, the gift of pens may be better than notebooks, especially when you're particular about the pens you use (like I am)
    C) Coincidentally, this is my birthday week, too.
    D) I'm currently on book 3 of the Ice and Fire Series, passed the Red Wedding last night--oh, talk about making me want to throw the book against the wall (in a good way)!
    E) I haven't watched any of the show. The video was good, reminds me of the Shawshank in a Minute (I may have put that on my blog once, can't remember; it's classic).
    F) Love the card.
    G) Celebrate well!

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    Replies
    1. Lists are great!

      A) Fancy art pens are nice.

      B) Why didn't I think of that as a gift, seeing as I thought of notebooks? I love writing with colourful gel-pens. It just makes everything look so pretty! What sort of pens do you like? I vaguely remember you making a blog post about this.

      C) Happy birthday!

      D) Apparently, the Red Wedding is very different in the books to how it was done in the t.v show. I watched the episode with a group of ressie kids and we were all stunned into horrified silence at the end of that episode. I can't wait to read the book version of that scene.

      E) I must now watch the Shawshank in a Minute!

      F) I also love the card!

      G) I will!

      Thanks again for visiting, JeffO!

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  3. I happen to know the guy you mention at the start...he's awesome ;)

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  4. You're so subtle :p Ha ha I still can't get over that you did that. You are pretty awesome ;)

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  5. Happy (almost) Birthday! I hope you have a lovely day and that this year is your best one yet! :)

    Ooh, and I second the pen idea. Even better if they're gel pens in a rainbow of colors!

    (Also - it's not letting me put in my name/URL anymore, so I'm just commenting via my Wordpress account.)

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    Replies
    1. Haha thanks Shari! Pens are definitely a good idea.

      (I have a feeling that might be my fault! I disabled anonymous comments because I was being flooded with spambots. Sorry if it's an inconvenience! I'm hoping to re-enable that feature again soon, and hopefully the spammers will have gone away by then.)

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    2. Oh, no inconvenience at all. I totally understand! :)

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  6. Just stopping in to wish you a happy birthday! Nice gift--very thoughtful. I haven't read or watched Game of Thrones, but that is high on my wish list!!

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    Replies
    1. Oh thanks so much Angela :) I'm hoping my awesome new gift won't distract me from my studies too much. Hope you can get your hands on a copy of these books some time soon too.

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  7. Happy Birthday (time to update your profile on the upper right side) and you have good friends giving your these presents. I took a look at the pictures of Emilia Clarke and don't see the resemblance, but maybe you do when you have a photo looking straight ... but you look very nice. I watched a little of Games of Thrones, but don't follow it really. Best wishes for a great birthday cake.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Giora :) My friends are amazing, even if slightly delusional. My ressie neighbour ended up making me two cakes and another housemate helped her decorate them with an Avatar: The Last Airbender theme. They were delicious! ... the cakes, not my housemates.

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  8. """Southgate provided an opportunity.t>> Grealish in the national team"""

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