It's been a weird, hard year, especially the last few months.
We did not do our annual Haunted House for Halloween, though we did have a Halloween party for the family, which was I think was good for everyone, and I'm sure what my father-in-law would have wanted. I also did not write a Christmas book for anyone this year, which is the first time in a very long time. My mood was just so bad for most of the year, and then with everything that was going on in the fall, my head was just not in the right place. I hope the kids are not disappointed. I know I am.
The good news is I have been writing a bit again, and I've got a few things well underway. Here's looking forward to a fresh start in the new year.
But anyway, before we mope too much, let's jump to this month's question...
December Question - As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received?
I've been thinking about this for a few days, and believe it or not I can't think of a writing-related gift I ever received for Christmas. Maybe a journal or something? I hate getting fancy journals though, because my thoughts are not worth writing down in something so nice and expensive. I have received gifts related to my other creative interests, like paint and brushes, models and crafting tools, but never anything for related to writing.
I keep asking for a gift certificate for book editing, but my wife tells me that's not a Christmas gift. Then time rolls around to actually pay an editor, and I'm like, "See, don't you wish we had paid for this months ago?"
In a related tradition, we do a book gift exchange with my extended family every year on Christmas Eve, in the tradition of Iceland's Jólabókaflóð (literally, "Christmas book flood"). We draw names and give a book secret-Santa style. Usually we make wish lists so people know what to get (there's a lot of readers in my family so it's hard to know what people have and have not read), but sometimes we have special themes, like gifting a book we loved from our childhood, or something a bit obscure that we think the other person would like. And yes, I have gifted several books from IWSG writers. Originally we did it just among the adults, but this year our youngest is old enough, so we've invited the kids to join. It will be sad because we're also short one person overall this year, but I suspect everything about Christmas is going to have a bit of sadness hanging over it.
Anyway.
On an related note, I found this blog post I wrote many years ago about the first time my father-in-law played Dungeons & Dragons with us. It has some tabletop RPG references in it you might not get, but I enjoyed reliving it. Many of my RPG posts from this period were terrible, but I thought this one was pretty good.
Anyway, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone out there in IWSG land. May your year end on a high note and your new year start off positive.
Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
