Do you tell yourself you need a couple of days when your calendar is free from distractions before you can sit down and start to write? Then when the weekend arrives you sleep late, catch up on correspondence, watch a movie, and maybe make time to stare at a blank screen. In a block of eight hours without any other commitments, you’re lucky if you spend an hour or two actually writing. Are you convinced that next chapter will get written while you are away at a writer’s retreat? When you get there do you enjoy the camaraderie of kindred spirits indulging in literary conversations, visiting the tourist attractions, eating meals together, and checking out a nearby bookstore or art gallery? In a block of five free days, you might actually write a total of 10 hours. Have you looked at your watch and sighed with disappointment that there isn’t enough time to write before you have to a) go pick up the kids from school b) meet someone for lunch or c) rush off to your next appointment? Instead you Tweet #amwriting when you’re not, take a photo of your desk and post to Instagram, and check out what other people are reading on Facebook. Do the dishes have to be done and everyone else asleep in the house before you can start to work on your manuscript? Exhaustion and all the day residue defeat your best intentions to write. Have you joined a Facebook group with other writers…

  The world is coming to an end. At least, that’s what it feels like. In contemporary fiction, apocalyptic stories have captured the attention of young adult readers. Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave, and Veronica Roth’s Divergent series—these novels found millions of fans and have become immortalized on the silver screen. But why? One answer that comes to mind involves the stories that flood the news and internet every day. The Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando was a hate crime that claimed 49 lives in a matter of minutes. Videos of police officers killing blacks surface on a daily basis. The environment is being destroyed faster than it can be renewed. These are only a few of the many problems that plague the United States. My generation grew up in a world where we assumed the future looked bleak, so naturally literature which shares this world view appeals to many young readers. Stories of the apocalypse are not new. The nuclear era ushered in a new wave of dystopian novels. George Orwell’s 1984 was published in 1949 and predicted a world where the government monitored your every step. Walter M. Miller Jr.’s A Canticle for Leibowitz, published in 1959, described a world destroyed by a nuclear holocaust. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) chronicled government attempts to control a woman’s mind and body. Each generation has their own version of the apocalypse, and each generation has an apocalyptic novel which reflects their fear. Looking at 21st century…

Struggling with what to get for the writer in your life this holiday season? Here are some creative gift ideas to help inspire, motivate, and comfort. And remember to shop early this year to get ahead of the expected holiday shipping delays! Notebooks and journals This may seem like a given, but trust me: writers really do love getting notebooks. And no, there’s no such thing as having too many. Whether it has a sleek leather cover or a quirky design, you can’t go wrong. Pair it with a quality pen, and the writer in your life is sure to be grateful. Book merch from Out of Print Most writers are also avid readers. So, this holiday season, give the writer in your life a gift inspired by their favorite books! Out of Print has everything from t-shirts to socks to gift bags and mugs—all printed with designs inspired by books. Whether it’s Edgar Allan Poe, Harry Potter, Jane Austen, or even Star Wars, there’s sure to be something every book lover will appreciate. Candles or scented wax melts Scents can be soothing and calming and even help us remember things. And who doesn’t want their workspace to smell amazing? Bonus points for candles and wax melts that smell like books! Heating pad for back pain For a writer, sitting in a chair for hours on end is expected, and that can mean back pain. The writer in your life will appreciate this gift bringing them some relief. Bookshop gift…