Gifts for Writers

Is there a writer on your “Nice” list this holiday season? Are you stumped for a perfect gift for said writer? With the help of some of my author friends, I’ve compiled a list of gifts that will brighten any writer’s day. And let’s be honest—some days, those who wrestle with the written word need all the brightening they can get!

These gift ideas range from small to spendy and from practical to whimsical. Any one of them will make you a gift-giving hero this year.

Home Office/Workspace Upgrades

• Mug warmer or Yeti-style cup to keep their favorite beverage steaming while the words are flowing.
• Spotify subscription, Bluetooth speakers, or new earbuds/headphones so they can listen to their book’s playlist.
• Sunlight desk lamp to combat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
• Colorful new laptop case.
• Comfy cushion for their desk chair, like this one from Purple.
• How about a whole new desk chair?
• A second monitor. I promise you, a second monitor is the single best upgrade you can make to a writer’s workspace! The extra screen real estate means your document, a web browser for research, and your email can all be visible at the same time without feeling cramped or having to toggle between them. Invaluable!
• Standing desk. Has your writer spoken wistfully of a standing desk? Maybe now’s the time.

Indulgences

• Really good coffee or tea to keep their motivation strong. You can even give your writer a specialty tea subscription from websites like Lizzy Kate Tea.
• Chocolates to keep their soul fed. Go beyond the grocery store candy aisle and order them some really decadent chocolates. Legacy Chocolates, Christopher Elbow, or L.A. Burdick are good places to start.
• Wine with writer-themed names is always a fun choice, like Writer’s Block Malbec, Storypoint Cabernet Sauvignon, Storyteller Chardonnay, or Quixote Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Writer-themed spirits make good gifts, too. Try Writer’s Tears Whiskey, or maybe send them a bottle of the legendary absinthe, long associated with the inspiration (and sometimes ruination, but let’s not go there) of many historic writers. For the literary history of absinthe, read “How the Green Fairy Became Literature’s Drink.”
• Massage. All that hunching over keyboards and notebooks just cries out for a restorative massage.
• Time. Few writers ever have enough time to devote to their art. Can you offer your writer some uninterrupted writing time by bringing over prepared meals or offering housecleaning, dog walking, or childcare?
• A writer’s retreat is a more extravagant gift of time, whether it’s just a local hotel room to themselves for a weekend, or a group writing retreat offered through writing organizations that feature writing time, group discussions, and sometimes speakers.

Tools

• Pens. Whether it’s a box of utilitarian Uniball Signos or a handcrafted pen from an arts festival or an elegant high-end pen, writers always love a good writing implement.
• Blank journals. Look for ones with fun or beautiful covers, for inspiration.
• Highlighters, sticky notes, a pack of colored index cards, a cork board with colorful pushpins—all can be helpful for revisions or for plotting their next masterpiece.
• Scrivener. This powerful software application for authors combines a word processor with an organization system for research notes, photos, links, outlines, etc.

Inspirational

• Literary- or book-themed t-shirts, sweatshirts, or jewelry (earrings, pendants, bracelets, charms, keychains) can be found on Amazon, Etsy, Cafe Press, etc.
• Magnetic poetry kits give those creative juices a nudge while perking up a lonely fridge.
• Book bags and totes. In addition to the usual online sellers, check out the gift shops of your writer’s favorite museums, national or state parks, or indie bookstores for tote bags in designs they’ll love.
• Road trip! Find out where your writer’s work-in-progress is set, then take them on a weekend trip there so they can soak up the atmosphere and do a little on-location research.

Educational

• Books on writing craft. Sneak a peek at your writer’s bookshelves. If they don’t have Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, Story Genius by Lisa Cron, The Anatomy of Story by John Truby, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, or The Fire in Fiction (also by Donald Maass), one of those might be a good choice.
• Publisher’s Weekly. A subscription to Publisher’s Weekly will help your writer get a feel for what’s happening in the industry, which agents have sold books to publishers recently, etc.
• Annual membership to a writing organization. There are local/state/regional ones (like Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers), national/international groups (like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and genre-specific ones (like Mystery Writers of America and Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America). Annual membership often includes local chapter meetings, discounts on conferences and workshops, access to critique groups and presentations, etc. These groups are a great way to build a network of writing friends, too.
• Registration to a writing conference. Bonus points if you arrange baby- or pet-sitting while they attend.

Books (of course!)

• Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist, by Time Federle. This clever little book puts a literary spin on classic cocktail recipes, like “A Midsummer Night’s Beam” and “The Last of the Mojitos.” Each page has a recipe and a witty summary of the book it’s named for. There are several similar book-themed cocktail books, so choose your poison!
• Book Club subscription box. Feed your writer’s appetite with a monthly delivery of carefully selected books. Oprah’s “25 of the Best Book Subscription Boxes” may give you some ideas.
• And last but certainly not least, a gift card to a local independent bookstore is always a great gift. Always.

Many, many thanks to my author friends for helping me compile this list: Anne Bowen, Becky Hall, Bobbie Pyron, Chris Graham, Corrine Humphrey, Lisa Roullard, and Sydney Salter.

No authors were harmed in the writing of this post!

[Photo by Freestocks on Unsplash]