The Best 22 Gifts for the Writer in Your Life
If you’re on this website, chances are you know a few writers. Whether they’re bestsellers or casual diarists, getting into a conducive routine and using the right equipment can make or break their writing practice. Sometimes the easiest way to get over writer’s block or repair plot holes is a new set of headphones, some decent coffee, and a cell phone lockbox. That’s why we’ve rounded up this year’s best gifts for the writer(s) in your life. Let these serve as a reminder of how much you support their passion. No matter their preferred genre or level of experience, here are 21 gifts that all writers will appreciate.
We appreciate doing things the old-school way, and nothing compares to the glide of a new pen composing a great sentence. In case you want to write your first draft longhand before pounding away at a keyboard, try this ergonomic Lamy rollerball. (Bonus: The metal clip looks very smart when tucked into a shirt pocket or tote bag.)
$24, Amazon
Airbnb gift card
What’s the most priceless gift a writer can have? As Virginia Wolfe said, a room of one’s own. Whether it’s in Brisbane or Baltimore, show the writer in your life how much you care by offering this most selfless gesture.
Varies, Airbnb
Laptop stand
The more comfortable you are, the better your writing will be (theoretically!). Don’t let sore elbows, a stiff back, and a kinked neck be the excuses for not working on a manuscript. (There are much better excuses than that.)
$28, Amazon
HelloFresh subscription
When they’re really in the zone, the momentum sometimes has writers sailing through breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a real treat to have basic meal plans covered so they don’t have to interrupt that sacred flow. Meal subscriptions are a truly pragmatic gift that most writers would love to receive.
Varies, HelloFresh
Noise-canceling headphones
As much as writers would like to lord over their environments with an iron fist, chances are they are encountering all types of auditory distractions throughout the day. Whether they’re at home with bickering kids or at a boisterous coffee shop, the best antidote is a set of noise-canceling headphones. And these ones really work.
$350, Best Buy ($228 -Black Friday deal)
Books on writing
There is a reason why writing about writing is in such demand among aspiring authors. The lessons learned, triumphs, and travails of seasoned writers provide priceless instruction but also comfort in some of our darkest and most self-doubting moments. These four titles are among our favorites:
Draft No. 4, by John McPhee, $13, Amazon
Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott, $9, Amazon
Write For Your Life by Anna Quindlen, $12.99, Amazon
Beautiful Writers: A Journey of Big Dreams & Messy Manuscripts with Tricks of the Trade from Bestselling Authors by Linda Sivertsen, $17.63, Amazon
Coffee subscription
In terms of essential items in a writer's life, coffee is undoubtedly at the top of the list. Onyx coffee sources their beans from the best regions and terrains in the world. Back at their “lab,” they make minute changes to the beans until each roast is perfected. Each varietal comes out truly unique and delicious. (Plus they roast and ship their beans utilizing solar energy generated from the panels on the roof of their facility.)
$22.80/week, Onyx
Cocktail kit
Unless they’re like Hemingway, the writers in your life will most likely want to close their laptops or notepads for the day before having that first cocktail. But, oh, will they need it. Nothing caps off a hard day’s work like a perfectly balanced Negroni Sbagliato from Cocktail Courier (oranges included!).
$85-$100, Cocktail Courier
Laptop Sleeve
When they need to dash off a few lines while on the go, a safe way to secure a laptop is imperative. This ethically sourced, untanned leather (which means it will break in and patina beautifully) laptop sleeve will set them apart from the Incase crowd.
$125, Sabah
Planner
Workshops, workout classes, school pickups, and blocks of uninterrupted writing time come first; and then the meetings with agents, publishers, and editors will follow. No matter what, all of those engagements will live in this handsome, well-organized planner. Make sure your writer never misses a beat!
$25, Amazon
Smart mug
A steaming cup of coffee first thing in the morning has the power to unleash all the creativity. Unfortunately that steam fades after about 15 minutes and what’s left is a tepid imitation. Enter: the smart mug. Never contend with coffee or tea that is too hot or too cold again. Keep the temperature just right for the duration of the work day.
$143, Amazon
P.F. piñon candle
A dreamy writing retreat in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains might not be in the cards, but this candle will all but transport us there. A staple of the American Southwest, the P.F. Piñon candle blends earthy notes of pine and balsam that establishes the ideal atmosphere for writing.
$24, Amazon
Cell phone lock box
Let’s face it, sometimes the screen-time restrictions built into our phones just don’t cut it. That’s when we move on to physical intervention. Since cell phones are our primary source of distraction, a cell phone lock box can be the most effective way to stay focused. This one is lightweight with two locking options and an emergency-use mechanism.
$28, Amazon
Red pen for editing
Perhaps not the most exciting gift, but an essential one nonetheless. When they open up this pack of red pens, give them an encouraging look and say: “To write is human, to edit is divine.”
$14, Amazon
Paper shredder
One of the most satisfying actions for a writer is tossing an early draft or pages that were cut into the wastebasket and stacking a much improved version neatly on top of their desk. Take that form of gratification to a new level with this paper shredder. It can run for up to 30 minutes at a time, and shred pages by the dozen.
$48, Amazon
Vuori Sweats
The perfect gift for any writer. Vuori joggers are both comfortable and stylish, so you can go from writing at home to grabbing a coffee out with friends.
$98, Vuori
Neck massager
Chances are, they’re spending long hours hunched over a keyboard. This heated neck massager will be their bestfriend, offering a deep shiatsu massage to boost circulation and loosen up tight or strained muscles.
$29, Amazon
Notebooks
Not to be overlooked or taken for granted, the proper stationary is a staple item in the writer’s life. Field Notes reporter notepads fit neatly in the palm of one hand, freeing up the other for a pen. And the luxe Rhodia staple-bound notebooks are great for writing longhand at the desk.
Savory and Sweet gift basket
Like a paper weight, but much tastier. This box of sweet and savory snacks will give writers the fuel they need to reach their daily word count or work through a particularly challenging scene.
$59, Citarella
Scribbler Subscription Box
Send a monthly dose of inspiration to an aspiring writer with the Scribbler box. Featuring a newly released novel and a themed writing passport to get the creative juices flowing, the box also includes an inside look into the publishing process with additions like agent queries and draft edits, plus an invitation to a live chat with a publishing industry expert.
From $19, Scribbler