believing…
One of my kids wants to grow up to be a writer. We’ve been to book signings so that she can meet authors and she’s gotten some really awesome advice from them.
She had a rough bit where she wasn’t sure she wanted to be a writer but recently she’s been very excited about some of the stories she’s written…and they’re really great. She’s getting so good at creating pictures with words.
On her Christmas list this year it says: Writer’s Kit.
So…I researched and I’ve created a kit for her, complete with a note that tells her she can live her dreams, practice her writing, and know that I’m here for her…and can’t wait to read every word.
What’s in this kit?
Verb blocks (green)
Noun/adjective blocks (blue)
Picture blocks (I found mine, lonely, in the card game aisle at Target)
First line of the story prompts (I made up lines, stamped them on washi tape on an index card)
A blank book to put her final story
A journal for keeping her own story
A note book for keeping story ideas
Spilling Ink (hasn’t arrived yet…keeping my fingers crossed it will get her tomorrow!)
Book Title cards (I made these up: for sparking the imagination)
All of the little blocks can be rolled (like dice) and she can use what every picture or word on the top for her story. There are lots of little ways to get a writer’s mind in gear…practicing, imagining, writing, and having a bit of fun.
I felt like I came upon an absolute gem in finding the Young Writer’s Survival Kit pdf! It’s chock full of so many helpful hints. It has lists of adjectives, verbs, and nouns, all at her fingertips. Melissa gives tips on story, ideas for a more interesting plot, and character development. I can’t wait to see what Grace comes up with having this resource available to her (I may borrow it!)
The world is open to Grace, she has gift for writing, and I can’t wait to see where she takes it. I’m so excited to give this Writer’s Kit to her and say, “I believe in you.”
Give your hopeful professional photographer a Photo Kit.
Every photographer appreciates a bit of push in the right direction…that one person who says: You can do this! Go for it!
Online through ebay or Adorama you can find an affordable camera to get your aspiring photographer a nudge without breaking the bank. My first practicing was on film cameras (which I still love today) and taking community courses. I got my Yashica on ebay years and years ago and my Holga at the Lomography website (but you can also find one on ebay). A Holga is also called a toy camera but don’t let that fool you. There are die hard creative artists out there shooting completely amazing work with Holgas.
What’s in a photo kit? (keep it basic to start)
Camera (you see a Holga and Yashica here-both film cameras)
Medium Format film
35mm film
Understanding Exposure book
A community course or Brooke’s Photo Basics online course (it’s amazing!)
Note to say: I believe in you like crazy!
A little nudge in the right direction with a “here’s to your awesome talent” kit will make someone you love smile. Just knowing that you noticed they had something that the world should see will give them the confidence to write that novel or create that photograph they’ve been dreaming of…
Make dreams a reality.
What ideas do you have for gifts that encourage talents or let someone know you believe in them?
(I’d love to hear in the comments!)
Have you gotten my FREE e-book, “The Art of Familyness Photography?” Ten tips to take better photos of your own awesome holiday celebrations! Click here to get yours.
Davina Fear is a Familyness Adventurer. She enjoys an awesome gift that says, “I see you. I know you.”
She blogs at davinafear.com and her favorite holiday moments are the ones she surrenders to…
9 Comments
can i just say you are amazing!!!! i am so happy to hear of all the wonderful things you are doing for your kids. i only wish i had more energy to follow through on all my ideas for Liana.
that will come though 🙂
happy christmas and i hope your kids enjoy all the fabulous gifts
xx
It sounds like you have a wonderful idea this year for Liana!
I’m not doing all of these ideas for my kids this year! I’ve done some in the past and I’m doing 2(that I’m super excited about) of these gifts this year (from the last few posts). I need to get my Christmas plans started much earlier next year in order to create the gifts I’d like to create.
This year has given me so many ideas for gifts over the next few years though. I love that my kids are making bucket lists…they will be fun to gift from!! 🙂
This is wonderful Davina! So much more meaningful than any store bought gift.
I agree, I love coming up with something not available at the store occasionally… 🙂
Davina, I love both of these ideas and am putting them on the list for birthdays coming up. I can’t find the Young Writer’s PDF. Maybe I’m missing it somehow? We gave our 3 kids art lessons this year. They will have a SCAD graduate teaching them different mediums throughout the year at our house one afternoon a week. After talking to their “teacher”, I put together a kit for each of them including charcoals, acrylics, brushes, pastels, chalks, clay, sketch pads, canvases, color cards, and so much more. I can’t wait for their first lesson! I love when, as a parent, you know you’ve hit the nail in the head with the perfect gift. Thanks for sharing your ideas! Looking forward to more!
Hi Kristen,
I just changed the Young Writer’s PDF to a different link since the other one wasn’t linking correctly. I hope that it works! Please let me know if you’re still not able to download. How awesome that you have set up such a fantastic experience for your kids this upcoming year with all of those wonderful art supplies. I love it!
Davina – I adore the Young Writer’s Kit. I would have *loved* to receive one of these as a child. What a wonderful, creative gift that Grace will treasure forever!
All the best Christmas wishes to you & your family!
Amy, we are having so much fun with it! We’ve started ‘writing lessons’. We’re going through Spilling Ink together chapter by chapter. It’s so fun! We’ve also started writing one page in our writing notebooks everyday. It only takes about 10 minutes but it’s stretching our writing muscles. And it’s not too long so Grace is staying really excited about how doable it is. :)I didn’t know you were a writer beyond your blog (which is great writing, by the way…)!
Oh my! what a great list of ideas! I love the idea of giving a gift of believing in someone! One of the best things you can do as a parent! Classes, lessons, books, tutorials, equipment, plus a bit of support and encouragement can prove to be a gift that lasts a lifetime 🙂 Great post!