“holiday cheers” by devi laskar

1)   Try to keep things a secret. This is not something we are great at in our family, though we are getting better. We always want to let someone know as soon as we’ve gotten—or even thought of—the perfect present. Leo and Charlie are making secrets gifts in class for us, and Leo keeps asking me if I want to know what ‘prise he’s giving me. As writers, we must fight against the urge to divulge, and remember that as with the holidays, everyone enjoys the suspense of not knowing. The not knowing is way more fun than the stripped socks or whatever is revealed at the end of the not knowing . . .

2)   Make the wrapping festive and enticing. Now we’re digging down into the lesson in #1. The journey is the destination and all that. How you feel about the gift you are giving is indicated by how you wrap it. It’s terrific to get creative—maps make great wrapping and so do comic pages (which items at this point probably double as antiques)—but not be careless with the action that comes before the revelation. See? It’s all about story. You keep your secrets and you disguise them with gorgeous, fascinating wrapping.

3)   Go for surprise and inevitability. When you are choosing gifts, you are keeping in mind what you know of the receipient—what that person loves and enjoys, what amuses him or her—and you are also trying to give something she or he does not already have. The perfect gift is something the recipient would never have thought of but instantly desires—and is thrilled to aquire. This is a lot to ask for a holiday present but not too much to ask of a story . . .

Happy Holidays from Elizabeth and Angie and The Book Writing World