Favorite Things: Annual Holiday Wish List

Oh, yes! It's that time of year again. Each year as the holiday season approaches, the 24 Carrot Writing crew asks featured guest bloggers to share their favorite writing and/or illustrating gadgets, tools, or items that help them in the creation of their work. Sometimes they share a favorite tool they use in their daily creating; other times it's an item that brings them comfort, joy, or motivation as they work. It is our hope that this writers' gift list provides you with unique holiday gifting ideas, be it for yourself or for the writers in your life. This year, we're posting our list earlier than we have in the past to allow more time for perusing and, of course, shipping! So take a look, and if you have any favorite items that you use in your writing/illustrating, please share them with us in the comments section. We always love to hear from you!

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Lindsay Ward:
A friend of mine gave me this mug for my birthday this year, and it's just so happy! I get up to work really early in the morning before my boys get up, when it is still dark-- this mug is a bright spot of sunshine that makes me smile in the morning. Sometimes it's the little things that can brighten your day!

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Lindsay Ward is an author illustrator from Ohio. Her most recent book Scooper and Dumper launched from Two Lions in November of 2020. Her work has been reviewed in Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, and The New York Times and she is the founder of Critter Lit, a free online picture book manuscript and illustration critique service for up-and-coming authors and illustrators.

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Kirsten Larson:
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Here’s one thing I can’t live without.

A composition notebook. 

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​Each year, I use a simple composition notebook as a modified bullet journal, and I typically buy them at the beginning of the school year when they are on sale. I use my glue gun to add an elastic loop for my pen and a ribbon bookmark to track my place. I am not a diehard bullet journaler, but I always include a table of contents in the front so I can track story ideas, work on different drafts, notes from webinars, and from meetings with my agent, etc. In the back, I include an ongoing list of every single annual accomplishment/celebration, as small as finishing a draft or a school Skype visit, and as big as a book sale or a major review. Author Michelle Cusolito has wonderful blog post about bullet journaling for writers: https://www.12x12challenge.com/bullet-journaling-for-writers/. At the end of each year, I look forward to reviewing my accomplishments and making a plan for the new year.

Kirsten Larson is the author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE (Calkins Creek, 2020) and the upcoming A TRUE WONDER: The Superhero Who Changed Everything, illus. Katy Wu (Clarion, 2021) and THE FIRE OF STARS: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars are Made Of, illus. Katherine Roy (Chronicle, 2022). Learn more about Kirsten at kirsten-w-larson.com.

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Carrie Finison:
One thing I noticed in 2020 is that my butt hurt. A lot. I finally figured out that the reason was a combination of advancing age, and the hard dining room and kitchen chairs I was sitting in all day. Gone are the times when I can flit about to coffee shops and the library, snuggling into comfy chairs and sipping lattes while working. So, a few months ago, I decide that BIC (butt-in-chair) time does NOT have to equal BIP (butt in pain) time, and gifted myself a lovely office chair. It is supple, sleek, and supportive, and as Goldilocks said, JUST RIGHT. Trust me - the writer in your life will thank you! There are plenty to be had for under $200 at both Staples.com and Wayfair.com.

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Carrie Finison is the author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (illustrated by Brianne Farley), released in 2020 from G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and the upcoming picture book DON’T HUG DOUG which will arrive on shelves in January, 2021. Find out more at https://www.carriefinison.com.

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Terri Libenson :
It’s not very glam, but the one thing I love as a writer and doodler is my Pentel e-sharp mechanical pencil. I get seriously angry whenever someone takes it. I love that it always stays sharp and fine and lets me add the tiniest details or scribblings. The barrel also comes in different colors, which satisfies the kid in me. ​​

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Terri Libenson is a New York Times bestselling children’s book author and award-winning cartoonist of the syndicated daily comic strip, The Pajama Diaries, which ran from 2006-2020. BECOMING BRIANNA, the fourth book in her Emmie & Friends series released in 2020. Find out more at http://terrilibenson.com.

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​Kayla Miller:
One of my many organization/motivation tricks to keep myself on track while working on my graphic novels is marking my daily accomplishments on my fun and colorful Poppin Task Pad. 

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It's intended use is to keep track of weekly appointments and such, but I use it to create a visual representation of how much work I've done by marking each completed task with a stamp at the end of the day. When doing the art for a book that's 200-plus pages, the ritual of marking my achievements and watching them stack up over the course of the month feels rewarding... and always having the pad on the corner of my drafting table lets me know when I need to get my butt into gear to meet a deadline.

Kayla Miller is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Click series of graphic novels. The fourth book in the series, CLASH releases in 2021. Learn more about Kayla at https://www.kayla-miller.com.

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Ashley Yazdani:
I'm happy to be able to share two small, women-owned businesses that I love. 
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As an author/illustrator I'd like to recommend one useful tool from both sides of my craft. This past year I've become a tiny-notebook enthusiast, and over the summer I filled up two books with writing down ideas, observations, and notes from appointments and meetings. I also keep one on my nightstand for when inspiration strikes after dark. 

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They're small enough to carry everywhere, so as long as you've got a pocket and a pen or pencil, you're good to go. Sometimes I make my own notebooks, but these are very nice ones from the CW Pencil Enterprise, one of my favorite small businesses - they used to be dedicated to selling only pencils (plus erasers and sharpeners), but are about to expand to carrying a variety of other writing tools as well, "prioritizing brands that are local, small and have great sustainability and ethics practices". Excellent! For a really special treat I'm eyeing this bright book.

I use watercolors for my illustration work, and am always excited to find a new paint to try out. A few years ago in San Francisco I stumbled across a tiny shop dedicated to handmade watercolors called Case For Making, and I've finally treated myself to a palette and some paints from them. Each color is blended and made by hand in their San Francisco shop, and the business is very small, woman-run, and speaks out about important causes, so I feel  good supporting them. Many of their colors are unique, filling gaps I didn't even realize existed in my well loved watercolor palette. 

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Ashley Yazdani is a picture book author/illustrator, reader, and nature lover.  Her Golden Kite Award winning debut book, A Green Place to Be, is currently available from Candlewick Press and can be found at your local bookstore. To learn more, visit http://www.ashleyyazdani.com.

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Qing Zhuang:
As a writer-illustrator and teacher, the Time Timer is my #1 trusty tool in school and at home. If you are like me, your concept of time is that of a lounging cat. This timer helps me keep track of time during my Zoom classes, in the kitchen while cooking, and it works well with my attempts at the pomodoro technique while writing and drawing. It is originally meant for school children but it actually works well for anyone who is more visual.

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Qing Zhuang is the illustrator of “How Long is Forever?” (written by Kelly Carey and published by Charlesbridge 2020). She is currently writing and illustrating a new book tentatively titled “Rainbow Shopping” due to be released by Holiday House Summer 2022. Visit www.Qingthings.com and follow her on Instagram @Qingthings for more news and information! ​

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Jordan Standridge:
As a marketer, there’s a lot to plan, keep track of, and check off on a daily basis. I recommend Moleskine’s 12-Month Daily Planner.

​I know what you’re thinking – yes, this is a chunky brick – but it’s necessary when you have a lot to get done! With a page per day, I find this is ideal for all the virtual meetings and author events being scheduled, as well as the to-do reminders to handle. You can also zoom out, and utilize the month-by-month feature, noting tasks for further out consideration. So, if you need an assistant, look no further! This planner lives permanently on my desk beside me.

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Jordan Standridge is a Marketing Associate at Charlesbridge Publishing. He makes sure authors, illustrators and books gets out into the world!  To learn more about Charlesbridge and the books Jordan works with visit the Charlesbridge website by clicking here. 

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Kelly Carey:
​Sometimes curling up on the couch with a good book seems more doable then sitting down to write a good book. This is where my Verilux light swings into action!

This light is just the pick me up I need for those early morning – egad – it’s still dark out writing sessions and those mid-afternoon I could really go for a nap pushes. The Verilux light wards off winter blues by giving you a dose of sunshine. I’m grateful to the writing colleague who suggested it. As a bonus, it works great to shine an extra light on my Zoom meetings so even if I don’t always feel bright and cheery, at least I have a shot at looking it! 

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Kelly Carey is a co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing and the author of How Long Is Forever? (Charlesbridge, April 2020). Learn more about Kelly by visiting her website. 

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Annie Cronin Romano:
My favorite items this year were small, spiral bound blank journals dedicated to specific writing projects. I have discovered when I'm working on a novel, it's incredibly convenient to jot down all my notes in one place, hence these journals. Any research questions, chapter outlines, character charts--they each get a section in my "novel notebook," to keep all the information together. These particular journals were homemade by me. For one, I repurposed the cover of a damaged book (and one of my favorite titles) from a thrift store; the other was made using chipboard and scrapbook paper for the cover. Of course, any spiral bound notebook will do! 

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Annie Cronin Romano is a co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing and the author of two children's books: Before You Sleep: A Bedtime Book of Gratitude (Page Street Kids, 2018) and Night Train: A Journey from Dusk to Dawn (Page Street Kids, 2019). To learn more about Annie, visit her website at www.anniecroninromano.com.

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Amanda Smith:
My favorite and most useful writing tool this year is my Zen Art bullet journal. I love the just-right B5 size, the two ribbon book marks, the handy-dandy paper pocket inside the back cover, and that it comes in a variety of colors with contrasting Japanese edging. For me it is the perfect combination of pretty and practical. Check out this blog ​to learn more about how I used it to stay on track this year. 

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I am also absolutely in love with my DesignSter Resin Bird Coat Hooks. They are awesome for office organization, and a whimsical place to hang library totes.

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 Amanda Smith is a co-founder of 24 Carrot Writing. Her poems "Stingray" and "Cuttlefish" can be found in the Writers' Loft's newest illustrated anthology FRIENDS AND ANEMONES: Ocean Poems for Children. Learn more about Amanda at AmandaSmithWrites.

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