In the introduction to Smoke and Mirrors, Neil Gaiman says that his artist friends send him homemade Christmas cards showing off their skills. So one year he wrote a 100-word Christmas story and used that.

I think it’s a superb idea—I really resent the amount of money I am forced to spend on Christmas cards. Plus, when people read it they will know that I am a writer, not just a person who talks about writing.

So, by the end of June I will have written the story. By the end of September I will have designed the card. And then I will compile a list of people to send it to.