If you ask most people I know, they’ll tell you that I often like to give gifts that are fairly nerdy, even to people who aren’t super nerdy themselves, or who like different areas of the nerd-realms. So how do I know what to choose? How does one go about picking out a good gift?

Just Ask: This is the simplest and most obvious solution. If the person you are buying the gift for is a close friend, significant other, or family member, it is okay to just ask what they might like for the holidays. Even if you get them something directly off their list, you know they are going to appreciate it, because they asked for it.

Pay Attention: Believe it or not, people talk about what they like or find cute or fun. With Kristen, I try to pay attention to what she is interested in, so that when I’m looking for a gift, I have some good ideas to choose from, or when my parents come asking what they can get her, I can give them a list, even without asking Kristen. Kristen is into books, knitting, crocheting, writing, drawing, and baking, and if I’m paying any attention, I notice that she has dropped dozens of hints throughout the year (and when I say hints I mean that she’s said she likes something, not that she’s indicated I should store this information away and remember it).

Be Willing to Ask the Experts: When I was getting into comic books and wanted to start reading them, I was very overwhelmed at first. I knew that I wanted to read them, and I knew the stories and characters interested me, but I didn’t know where to jump in. So I asked people what comics they thought were interesting, I researched online to see what the experts were saying were the best ones, and I talked with the people in my favorite comic shop. Many of them were a wealth of information and would recommend new stuff that was coming out that I hadn’t heard of before. The same goes for when I go into a board game store; many of the employees know much more than I do, and are more than willing to offer suggestions and help explain a game I don’t know.

Ask Friends: This is the non-threatening version of asking an expert. Your friends, whom you already know quite well, can be a fount of information when it comes to nerdy ideas. For example, a couple of former co-workers of mine are still the people I go to when I’m bouncing an idea for a Magic: The Gathering deck around in my head. And they have helped me find out about games, movies, and books that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Mainly, it is about being willing to learn. When you want to find someone a nerdy gift, reach out to the people around you and research on the internet (just be careful not to get lost down a rabbit hole) for a lot of amazing ideas. And be willing to take risks — for example, if someone you know likes Lord of the Rings, be willing to give them another fantasy series that they haven’t read before. Or if you like a certain movie and you have a friend who likes most movies that you like, be willing to go out on a limb and give it to them to try. Really, in the season of giving, it is often the thought that counts as much as a gift. And, on the opposite side, if they don’t end up liking the gift, don’t take it personally. Maybe they don’t get as much enjoyment out of a television series as you do, but they still like you, and that is the important part.

So, happy gifting, and have a great nerdy holiday!

I leave you with a quick-pick list of nerdy comics to get your gifting creativity flowing:

• Hawkeye (Matt Fraction)*
• Saga (Bryan K. Vaughn)*
• Civil War (Marvel)
• Blackest Night/Brightest Day series arc (DC)
• Powers (Brian Michael Bendis)*
• Daredevil (Brian Michael Bendis)
• Marvel Secret Invasion
• American Vampire

*Not for young readers.

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