Perhaps on your to-do list, between cleaning the garage and organizing thousands of family photos, is “writing the Great American Novel.” Even if you’re just testing the waters, you’ll need a few items to get your creative juices flowing. Why not start with the notebook that Hemingway loved? Moleskine notebooks are a must-have for any writer-to-be, especially those who prefer to jot down their ideas in longhand. Every writer needs a special place of her own; a new writing desk can be just the thing. If your book requires equal parts research and creativity, Writer’s Blocks software allows you to take control of every aspect of the process by leaving behind notecards and using digital blocks to organize notes and ideas. For inspiration, turn to writers like Natalie Goldberg and Anne Lamott, who share their thoughts on how to get started, stay motivated and finish the job. The essential book for any aspiring writer is the 2008 Writer’s Market, a comprehensive guide to publishers, agents, magazines and more; the Writers Market online version is a quick and easy way to find contact information and track your writing submissions. A subscription to Writer’s Digest or Poets & Writers can provide the latest news on writing programs, contests and book releases. The ultimate writer’s tool? Well, you will already have to have that fat book advance in order to afford a Montblanc pen, such as the Boheme Jewels Topaz pens ($899, pictured), the crown jewel of writing instruments. Maybe you could save that for the book signing?