Take 30 minutes right now to do the one thing that really matters to writers during the holiday season

It takes almost no effort, and it's totally free.

Around this time of year, my small living room tends to look like a shipping and receiving dock. It’s piled high with boxes, some containing press samples for gift guide consideration, others with holiday gifts and promotions. Each cheerfully wrapped package gives me a small dopamine hit, it’s true. (And I always appreciate samples pertinent to my beats, or thoughtful tokens I can really use.)

But mostly what I see when I evaluate these boxes en masse is “who’s going to recycle all that?” and “I hope there’s no crinkly shredded paper in there.” Frankly, it’s hard for publicists and marketers to stand out in this seasonal crowd.

But there is one thing that actually matters to writers — one thing that truly leaves a lasting impression. Fortunately, it’s free, requires almost no effort, and you can literally do it right now without even standing up:

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