I started thinking about gifts for writers
because my side of the family is exchanging gifts at Thanksgiving (the way many families do…)
…and because I always tell people doing National Novel Writing Month to treat themselves to something special if they can. It’s a great way psych yourself up for the challenge ahead!
You can add any of these unique gifts for writers to your wish list, and I’m including 10 gift ideas under $25, and 5 gifts for young writers, too! (Some of the gifts for kids and teens are also under $25.) If you feel like dropping a hint, share it on Facebook with a comment like “I love #6!”
This list contains some affiliate links as well as completely un-sponsored personal recommendations. Let’s get into it!
1. Keychain With Their Book Cover, $25.42
I love this! But you have to go to the website and see samples of what this really looks like. (For most of these gift ideas, clicking on the photo leads to the website page.)
I think this would really surprise an author. If someone gave me this, I would squeal with delight. 😂 This Etsy seller can also turn book cover designs into custom cuff links, necklaces, and charm bracelets.
2. A Housecleaning Gift Certificate, $150 – $250…Or Free
This might be unexpected, but I think it’s one of the best gifts for writers. You’re giving them the gift of time so they can focus on their work. Besides, in a clean house, they’ll feel more inspired and less distracted.
Professional housecleaning is expensive, but a homemade gift certificate for a big 3-hour house cleaning while your partner, parent, or whoever writes at cafes costs only 3 hours, plus maybe a couple of extra cleaning supplies. 🙂
3. A Year-Long Subscription to Canva Pro, $119.99
As an author with both a blog and an Instagram, I sometimes feel like my job is Canva, the way Ken’s job in the Barbie movie is Beach. 😂 Authors have a lot of reasons to create pretty graphics, and with over 400,000 templates and a huge stock image library, Canva makes it easy. I even got my literary agent last year through a pitch event called Moodpitch, using a moodboard I threw together on Canva. This is a great gift to support an author (if they don’t have it already!)
4. Silver Pencil Necklace with Author’s Initials, $88.97
I saw this on Etsy, and I think it’s so lovely! Of course, it’ll take them a little time to engrave the initials.
5. Scrivener, $59.99
This is the original go-to app that authors and screenwriters use to organize their research, outline their stories, and plan their scenes. I don’t actually draft in the app itself, and I still need to take a class so I can learn about all its features, but I still love it for keeping everything I need close at hand, including character profiles and visual references.
6. Tarot Card-Inspired Sweatshirt, $40.73
Unisex sizing up to 5X, and it comes in several colors. Good stories are in the cards!
7. Bookstore Gift Card, Any Amount
To write, we need to read, and while libraries are all we really need, most writers would love to stroll into a bookstore with money in their pocket! E-gift cards also make great last-minute gifts. If you live in New York, consider Strand. In Chicago, consider Unabridged Books. In Los Angeles, I’d definitely go with The Last Bookstore. Many independent bookstores also offer online shopping, and of course, lots of cities have Barnes and Noble and Half Price Books!
If you’d like to recommend a bookstore in your city, please do so in the comments!
8. 3-Month Audible Gift Membership, $45
This is also a really thoughtful gift for a writer, especially one with a busy schedule or a commute to work!
Best Gifts for Writers Under $25
9. 5,000 Writing Prompts, $16.99
So many people have told me they use this not only for starting new projects, but also for finding inspiration for scenes in their work in progress! There are tons of prompts for just about every genre of fiction, poetry writing exercises, and prompts for blog posts and writing about yourself you can use for social media! Although I’m not cross-listing it for young readers, it’s appropriate for teens, too.
10. Writing Socks, $12
I always love gifts from Out of Print. These have a line from a Margaret Atwood poem: “A word after a word after a word is power.” They’ve got dozens of book-related options.
11. “Novel Ideas” Journal, $9
I own this journal myself, and I write down ideas for novels (and scenes for novels) in it!
12. “Future Bestselling Author” Mug, $15.95
Hopefully, the near future, right? Almost all writers can use a dose of positive thinking along with their caffeine.
13. “Go Away, I’m Writing” Tumbler, $24.97
As every writer knows, sometimes, you have to say things directly. Stay hydrated, authors!
14. Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint Candle, $22
Lighting a candle with a particular scent before you sit down to a writing session is a great ritual. Repeated over time, the scent will snap your brain into focus. Rosemary and peppermint are both great for concentration, but any scented candle will work! For writing, I also love the Sage & Citrus Yankee Candle and the Book Club candle by Homesick.
15. “It’s a Good Day to Write” T-Shirt, $16.99
I bought this T-shirt for myself, and I love it, because it’s very soft…and because it reminds me that it’s always a good day to write. I’m wearing it right now! (Under a big sweater. It’s cold in Chicago this time of year! Maybe I should’ve gotten the hoodie sweatshirt instead.) I have it in Heather Blue, and the Heather Blue and Dark Heather Grey colors might be softer because they have a different fiber content.
16. “In My Author Era” T-Shirt, $24.99
Okay, I really think I need this. It’s perfect for me! Maybe it’s perfect for another author you know, too!
17. Pilot Frixion Erasable Pens + Refills, $19.99
These are the pens I always use! The ink flows really well (no smudging) and it’s easier to erase than pencils, even weeks after writing. You could also get a multicolor pack.
18. 5-Subject Spiral Notebooks, pack of two, $15.00
You may think this is too boring and practical, but hear me out! The responses to my recent Instagram post let me know that a lot of writers write in spiral notebooks. I sometimes feel too guilty to buy yet another one for myself, yet for me…and a lot of us…there is nothing like that new-notebook feel.
Best Gifts for Young Writers
19. Share Your Smile, $9.10
NYT-bestselling author Raina Telgemeier created this interactive journal to help kids brainstorm ideas, make lists, paste in personal photos, and use their imagination to create your own stories. According to reviews, this is most appropriate for kids ages 8 – 10.
20. Go Teen Writers: Write Your Novel, $16.99
Are teenagers too young to write a novel? Absolutely not. This book is an age-appropriate guide to planning and drafting.
21. Storymatic Kids Writing Prompts, $30.29
360 cards lead to endless combinations and non-competitive storytelling games. This is a group or family game for ages 5 and up.
22. Finish This Book, Keri Smith, $17.00
I think this is such a clever concept. The idea is that the author found a bunch of these pages scattered around, and now it’s the writer’s job to fill in the missing parts and finish the book as a co-writer.
23. Magnet Fidget Pen, $17.99
I think this is the coolest thing—a pen that you can bend into all kinds of wild shapes. Maybe this pen has been around forever—I don’t know—but I just saw it recently! It’ll give a young writer something to do while they ponder where the story goes next.
Do You Make Gift Wish Lists For People Who Buy You Presents?
Do you drop hints? Or do you just see what happens? Or do few people buy you gifts as an adult? Let me know in the comments! Thanks so much for reading!
Instead of Halloween candy I give out pencils. The ones I like best are OfficeMax brand. They are wood finish and have colorful metal bands to hold the erasers. My husband insists that they are magic. If you put the tip down on a piece of paper and move it across the page, you make a LINE. Best of all, they are shelf stable. If you haven’t used all 96 pencils before next Halloween, you can share the magic.
Hi Jessie! Lucky trick-or-treaters—I would’ve loved to get little gifts like pencils when I was trick-or-treating. And I love the description!
I love all of these! If anyone needs any bookstore recommendations for Portland, I highly suggest Powell’s City of Books!
Yessss, I love Powell’s! I’ve only been to Portland once, but I wound up going to Powell’s 2 days in a row. What a great place!
A funny story about Powell’s Book Store. Years ago, my daughter attended Beloit College in Wisconsin. She came home to Portland on break with a pile of books and informed me that Powell’s bought used college text books if you had a valid student ID card. The problem was that she had left her ID card back in her dorm room at Beloit. Being the unconquerable college student she was, she talked me into going with her to Powell’s to see if she could sell her books despite her lack.
She used her charm as she hefted the books to the counter. Meanwhile I opened my own wallet and placed my student ID card on the counter. I was attending Marylhurst University at the time.
The clerk looked from my cute daughter to her fifty-year-old mother and finally accepted my card.
“So much for assumptions.” He said.
Everything on this list is awesome! But I will definitely take #1, #13, and #23.
I honestly don’t know what I’d do without #3 😂 Thanks for commenting!
I still want the LEGO ™ typewriter.
denise
YES. I want this, too!
An annual subscription to Dabble Writer would make a great gift, too! I used Scrivener for years, but I’ve switched to Dabble because it’s web based, I can access it from any device, it auto-saves to a cloud, and bonus…it auto-updates your word count at the NaNoWriMo site. 🙂 Not as many bells and whistles as Scrivener (yet) but it has all the essentials for plotting, organizing notes, and of course, drafting. Highly recommend.