TampaBLAB

With the holidays upon us, folks are making lists. Christmas card lists. House-cleaning lists. Guest lists. To-do lists.

Wish lists.

I helped my two youngest sons write their wish lists for Santa Claus over the weekend. Then my oldest, watching from the other side of the room, jumped into action, likely for fear of being left out and finding nothing to open on Christmas morning.

For most retailers, today's the last day you can purchase and still receive your merchandise before Christmas. So for the folks who have me on their list--maybe a few friends and family occasionally read my blog--here are a few ideas you might consider:

Patricia's Writing Wish List:

1. A super deluxe laptop and accessories all my own
   Enough sharing with the family, although I love seeing them inspired to learn and play online as much as outside. It's a big world and the Internet puts it all at one's fingertips.
   
   
2. An Alphasmart Neo
   For when the laptop is inconvenient but I want (make that, need) to keep writing.
   
   
3. An space all my own
   For getting away from the normal hubbub, away from the television, away from whatever is keeping me from writing. For having a space that breathes "Patricia", in it's decor and atmosphere, when I walk in the door (i.e. no toys to trip over). Something like...
   
   Soft yellow on the walls. A beautiful writing desk with comfortable yet ergnomic chair and footstool. A daybed with oversized, fluffy pillowsfor when I want to lie down and think my way through my latest writing puzzle. Framed inspirational quotes and pictures that evoke smiles, laughter, and happy thoughts on the walls. Fresh flowers, just not the pungent kind. A CD player/radio. A small flat-screen monitor on one wall. (I promise not to watch most of the time but even when I'm not writing, it will be cool not to have to watch ESPN or Cartoon Network). A calendar and corkboard on another. Organized filing cabinets. A water cooler and a big, playful drinking cup (at least 32 oz.) And big windows that allow the sun to stream in and inspire during the day and allow me to stare at the moon and stars at night.
   
   
4. Every craft book on my TBR list
   I'd love to reach up and pull just the right off a bookshelf, uncovering whatever pearls of wisdom will help me at the point where I'm stuck or have a question.
   
   
5. A set of hand weights and a workout mat
   For exercising my body. When I do, I find that I'm more motivated in all other areas of my life, including my writing. Actually, I purchased one set of weights two weeks ago and I've been using them. Another, 5-lb set, would be nice.
   
   
6. A dedicated block of time each week to do nothing but write.
   This feels near impossible in my hectic, working-mother-to-three-active-boys life. But hey, I found a way to knock on doors for President-elect Obama for 5-10 hours every weekend. I guess I just have to make the same commitment to myself...and get away to my office (see #3) or leave the house to make it work.
   
   So cross this one off. It's really my gift to me.
   
   
7. Paid memberships for RWA and ACFW
   
   
8. An all-expenses paid writing conference trip
   An opportunity to get away and immerse myself in the world of writers, agents, and editors. Win-win!
   
   
9. Paid subscriptions to The Writer's Digest, Romantic Times, Poet & Pen, and The Writer's Market
   
   
10. Paid professional editing for the manuscript I'm going to write in 2009
    
    
11. A $500, or any other denomination, Amazon gift certificate for book purchases

Off the top of my head, those are the things I want most. After the first three, they're in no particular order.

What would you like this year?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 11:03 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.