May you take time to cherish the moments of the holiday season with family and friends! Celebrate the writing goals you achieved, be gentle with yourself on those best intentions put off for another day, and relax and rejuvenate your creative spirit. See you in 2025 for another year of kidlit camaraderie!
~The 24 Carrot Writing Crew

Cedar Pruitt
That moment when I can actually focus? And even (just maybe) create something new? I don't exactly get there with ease. It comes from days of conditioning, almost like an athlete. I sweep away chores, eat well, choose herbal tea instead of wine, hit work deadlines, and...work out. An ideal writing day is preceded by an exercise day, whether it's a winding bike ride through the woods, an upbeat run along the river, or some playful cardio dance in my basement. That's why I want this "With Ease" top - and yes, I'm a sucker for the name as much as the pretty pink. May we all get a little ease in our writing! 

Kristi Mahoney
We have a mantra in my family to “expect good things” and I try to embrace that positivity whenever I can. Yet, as we know all too well, a writer’s journey is a roller coaster of highs and lows. It can bring joy, fulfillment, and celebrations, but also stinging feedback, months of waiting, and countless rejections. In order to persevere on this path, writers must not only be passionate– they must be incredibly strong. Here are two gifts that serve as a reminder to that enduring strength. The first is “Sunshine in a Jar” – word-ly reminders for those times a little positivity is needed. The second is an audiobook (read by the author) I find so inspiring that I re-listen to it every single year: Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Both gifts are filled with heart and hope – much like a good children’s book. 

Pam Vaughan
The Rocketbook. It's an infinitely reusable notebook. 
You write on the pages with Frixion pens and it wipes clean with water.  The cooler thing is, (before you wipe the pages clean) you can digitize /scan your notes with options to where you want to send them!
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In particular, I love to use the Rocketbook for picture book drafting/dummies. The 6x8 book I have has 32 pages, so it is helpful for working on page turns and pacing and to see how it feels as a real book. 

Susan Lynn Meyer
​A favorite drink I have enjoyed this year is iced brewed cacao, prepared in the French press and then kept in the fridge.  It is like coffee but with a chocolate flavor.  Quite delicious!   I just add milk, and it is like liquid chocolate with no sugar.  But beware: although it says it has no caffeine, it does have theobromine, which is a stimulant and has a caffeine-like effect, so don't have it late in the day. 

Jaya Mehta
Four things that support my writing life: 
The first is a balsam candle, which I burn whenever I am reading or writing, throughout the winter. I find the fragrance so evocative of forests and snow, Christmas carols and cardinals. 

Second is a lap desk, that raises my laptop to the right height when I am working in an armchair, and saves neck fatigue. It can be opened to store supplies inside.

Along the same vein is a laptop stand, which accomplished the same thing when I am working at a table.

And finally, a beautiful wooden desk tray in which to keep notes and other writing-related writing. 

Annie Cronin Romano  
​I love working at my desk, but sometimes--especially when in a creative mindset--I need a change of scenery. My lap desk is the perfect portable surface to take onto the patio, the living room couch, or anywhere I feel like diving into my next writing project. I recommend looking for those desks that have good cushioning beneath the flat surface for added comfort. Some designs come with extra features, such as a phone holder, wrist rests, and even a light and charging port. 

Kelly Carey
​I’ve been to a few book fairs recently and I’m always interested to see how my fellow authors set up their space. I was a tablemate with the lovely Jannie Ho a few months ago and fell in love with her collapsible book stand. The beautiful wood stands are handcrafted in Maine by The Bookstand. The product is offered in bulk, so if you need gifts for a dozen writer friends, here is a great practical gift that will allow them to show off their work. 

Hope Lim
​Last month, I did a book event and received this lovely yellow notebook and green pen. I immediately connected everything about this gift to my book, Sourgrass (Beach Lane Books, 2024). The striking yellow is the same shade as the sourgrass flower, and the green in the pen seems to represent its leaves and stem. The bright pink bow adds joy and happiness to the gift. The pages come together to create sunflowers, which made me think of how each word we put on paper contributes to a story as a whole. How wonderful to be reminded of something special in the gift I received! A notebook with a personal note is a gift I always love and one that makes me happy. As a writer and lifelong journal keeper, and as a person who practices a morning journal routine, I always put notebooks to good use. 

Colleen Paeff
I like to have a hot cup of tea beside me while I'm writing, but if I'm not careful my hot beverage becomes a sneaky procrastination tool. (Tea got cold, better make a fresh cup...again!) Enter the VOBAGA coffee mug warmer. I plug it in, set my mug on the heated pad, and that beverage stays nice and hot––which means I will keep my butt in my chair and keep writing.

The mug warmer on its own makes a fantastic gift (it was the most coveted White Elephant gift at my husband's office last year!), but if you really want to impress your writer pal, pair the mug warmer with a beautiful handmade mug like the one my critique partner Liz Tracy gifted me. I feel her loving support every time I use it!

Nancy Tupper Ling
Need a cure for writer’s block? Or need to take your mind off of an unresolved plot issue? Taking a break and trying a completely different activity like hiking in the woods or swing dancing can do the trick. I’ve definitely found a variety of “breaks” brings new life to your work. A bit of “mindless” knitting has often been the key to finding a solution with a stubborn story or two. Still, I’ve been intimidated by various sock patterns over the years. This time I found one that doesn’t involve the dreaded double-pointed needles. By following this step by step tutorial with Tina from Simply in Stitches, I created my first cozy pair of hand-knit socks, which I don while crafting a new story.

Speaking of writing stories, several years ago my youngest daughter, Sarah, gifted me this amazing journal. I’m sure most writers have an abundance of journals at their fingertips, but this Peter Pauper Press Voyager Refillable Journal takes the cake. With three removable notebooks in one, it’s compact enough to carry in your back pack or purse. I love using each section for a different area of my life, from my “To Do List” to my “Notes with Agents/Editors/Crit Group.” When one section is complete, I can easily remove it, and replace with a new insert. This leather bound journal also comes with two storage pockets where I store business cards or other keepsakes. Recently, a writer friend admired this system so much, she went home and immediately ordered one of her own.