Fun and Funny Gift Ideas for Writers and Readers

FUN GIFT IDEAS FOR WRITERS AND READERS

I just added a new post to the Wordpress blog that lists all my Christmas gift ideas for readers and writers. I didn't want to repeat the same post here - so here's a link to the Wordpress post if you'd like to see more details about all the designs below. I hope it helps you find a good present for the writer or reader on your list!

Fun Gifts for Writers and Readers

-MK

All designs © MK Hess

Funny Novelty Gift for Writers: Story Board Dartboard

INTRODUCING THE "FUNNY STORY BOARD FOR WRITERS" DARTBOARD

I'm excited to show you my latest design on Zazzle because it happens to be for writers. This one took a lot of detailed work to complete. The result is this funny dartboard for novelists and screenwriters:

Funny Writers Authors Story Board Novelty Dartboard With Darts
by LaborAndLeisure

As a writer, what do you do when you run out of story ideas and writer's block sets in? Now, instead of staring at a blank screen, you can hang the Writer's Story Board on your office wall and "Take a Shot - Make a Plot."

The slightly tongue-in-cheek novelty dartboard is very detailed. Hit the thin outer ring and get a character motivation, such as lust, jealousy or greed. Hit the large outer ring and get a story starter or theme, like "lost in the wild," "relationship turmoil" or "crime spree." The thin inner ring gives pictures designed to get your mind thinking, like a snake, a mask or a key. The large inner ring offers up genres, from comedy to horror, fantasy to thriller. Finally, the bull's eye looks like an explosion.

The Writer's Story Board is a fun way to entertain yourself or use as an imagination exercise. Make a game of it with your friends, too: tell a story based around the subjects you hit. It makes a humorous, very unique gift for the brilliant writer in your life and works well for screenwriters, novelists or English / Creative Writing teachers. This is how bestsellers and blockbusters get written!

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The dartboard appears in one of my newest stores, LaborAndLeisure, where I'm slowly building a collection of designs for writers as well as other jobs, hobbies and interests. Keep stopping in to look for more designs (and better organization) soon! And don't forget to check out the other Zazzle stores at the link below.

-MK
on Zazzle
on Amazon

All images copyright MK Hess

Writer Prompt: Back to the 1800's

Lately, I've been experimenting with vintage images in my graphic designs. In my hunt for images, one of the sites I've visited the most is the Library of Congress page. Going through all the newspaper and magazine ads there, it's easy to get immersed in the culture of another time. In the world of a century or more ago, bicycles and typewriters were new and exciting. The ladies' fashions looked very uncomfortable. Pianos seemed to be hot sellers. Political opinions looked to be just as varied and heated as they are today.

What better way to learn about a society than to study it directly? From looking at the articles and the ads of that time, I've discovered that the people of the late 1800's and early 1900's loved a scandal just as much as the people of today. They loved entertainment (circuses, early movies, music). They sought cures for their ailments. And you could buy a new purse for 25 cents.

WRITING PROMPT: The Library of Congress images are a great place to start if you're looking for historical or steampunk story ideas. Browse through the newspapers, periodicals, photo collects, etc, in search of character tidbits, historical nuances to really round out your setting, or even find the inspiration for your plot in the headlines.

Here are a couple to get you started:

1. There are a lot of want ads on this page from 1898. Have your character respond to one. What happens?
2. This headline from 1907 would certainly make an exciting premise for a steampunk or retro suspense novel: Latest Discoveries Indicate that [Mars] is Peopled by a Race Superior to Mankind!

 Search the collection yourself and time travel into the past.

-MK
on Zazzle
on Amazon 

MAKE BELIEVE MONDAY: Write a Story Set on the Island of Mustique

 WRITING PROMPT #3: Mustique Island

     Inspired by chronic snowfall, negative temperatures and cabin fever that's turning me into Jack Torrance, I've been randomly viewing sunny tropical photographs online in order to keep myself slightly sane. Then, a couple days ago, while browsing news articles, I came across a story about Kate Middleton / Duchess Katherine taking a family vacation to the Caribbean island of Mustique.
     Out of curiosity - and a thirst for more sunny pictures - I read about this privately-owned island and decided it would be a great place to set a story. So, for today's writing prompt, write a story set on Mustique or another Caribbean island frequented by the wealthy. Here are a few angles to get you started:

FUNNY T-SHIRT FRIDAY: Random Weird T-Shirts

     Sometimes, I'm good at making t-shirts with a particular audience or occasion in mind. But other times, I get a weird phrase or image in my head and it seems funny to me, so I jot it down and make it. Over the years, I've discovered that I have an odd sense of humor, though. I'm never quite sure if anyone else will laugh at - or even understand - my strange designs. Here are a few that fall into that category.

MAKE BELIEVE MONDAY: Inspiration for Writers of a Utopian Future

     Last week, I wrote about dystopian / post-apocalyptic settings. This week, I'm going to write about the opposite: utopias. This is a much harder topic for me to discuss. I'm one of those people who's fascinated by old crumbling houses and rusted-out abandoned cars. I also like science-fiction more than fantasy. But I do have one manuscript I wrote - and it's my favorite manuscript, in fact - where my character lives in a utopia. It seems to be a utopia, anyway, but she soon discovers that it isn't. That's usually the case with these "perfect" places, where everything is supposedly harmonious and happy. Either there are dark secrets below the surface or some malicious outside force threatens the peace. Whatever you decide, I thought I'd brainstorm some utopian settings here and show you some inspirational pictures. (Remember: there's a lot more to building your utopia than setting, though. You'll need to decide everything from government to religion, philosophical belief, how your characters live day-to-day, etc).

MAKE-BELIEVE MONDAY: Inspiration for Writers of a Post-Apocalyptic Future

     Whether the zombies have taken over or the flu virus has taken out a large portion of the population, when you write your story or novel set in a post-apocalyptic future dystopia or gothic past, it helps to have visual inspiration. I like to set stories in the future and have always had a fascination with crumbling buildings, rusting cars, vacant houses and stores, and old schoolhouses.