19 Unique Gifts for Writers

For writers, there is something special about receiving a writing-related gift. When my husband took me to a restaurant named “Table of Contents” on our first date, it stole my heart. When my friend Cheryl gave me a pen set years ago, it felt like something that went straight from her heart to mine.

Giving a writer a writing-related gift acknowledges her passion, offers her recognition for her hard work, and lets her know that you know she is a writer.

The problem, of course, is what to give? Finding gifts for writers isn’t difficult—but finding unique gifts for writers is next to impossible. 

But don’t give up! Before you throw up your hands and go for the hand-knitted mittens instead, take a look at some of these unique gifts for writers. Whether you are looking for something inspiring, practical, beautiful, or goofy; whether you only have a few bucks to spend or can pull a few friends together for a joint splurge, there is something here to warm the heart of the writer in your life. 

Give Books

A book seems like the obvious thing to give the writer in your life, but finding the right book can be challenging. Receiving a how-to book on creating believable characters or sizzling plots is the writer’s equivalent of getting a book on how to lose weight–it feels like someone is trying to tell us something we don’t want to hear. Also avoid best-selling writing books, like The Artist’s Way or Writing Down the Bones. They’re terrific books, but your author already knows about them and has either read them or has deliberately chosen not to.

Instead, go with something new and different. Try one of these:

1. The Artist’s Torah by David Ebenbach. Among the plethora of books on writing and spirituality, Ebenbach’s stands out. Rooted in ancient Jewish tradition, it offers weekly meditations on the artistic process, exploring where creativity comes from, why it exists, what it requires from the artist, and how to make your way through the challenges. It is a book for artists who work in any medium, and for those of any spiritual background—or none.

2. The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. I know I said to avoid how-to books, but this is less a how-to than a reference–and its one a creative writer will come back to again and again. Say your writer wants to show the reaction of a character whose nemesis just won a prestigious award. All he has to do is look up “jealousy” to find lists of: the physical signals of jealous, the internal sensations one feels when one is jealous, mental responses to jealousy, and cues to acute, long-term, or suppressed jealousy. Every emotion known to humankind can be found in this book, and for any author who has struggled to figure out another way to say “His face reddened,” this book is invaluable.

3. The Best Creative Nonfiction, Volume 3 by Lee Gutkind. Gutkind, creative nonfiction editor extraordinaire, has come out with several Best Creative Nonfiction volumes, but this one is, in my opinion, the best. Any writer who writes (or just reads) CNF will find a rich selection of luminous short works in this varied and exciting collection

4. The Daily Writer: 365 Meditations To Cultivate A Productive And Meaningful Writing Life by Fred White. “Not your average writing prompt book” writes one reviewer of this daily guide to the writing life. With sections on “The Power of Assertiveness,” “Characters and Food,” “Pilgrimage,” and “Serendipity” as well as more common topics, like “Describing with Precision” and “Free-Associating,” this book has something for everyone—which is exactly why it makes an excellent gift. Your writer friend might skip the section on “Breaking the Rules”—or reread it everday for a month. He might not be interested in “Symbols of Rebirth and Closure”—but be intrigued by “Le Mot Juste.” Regardless, he’ll find this a welcome addition to his library. 

5. Rip the Page by Karen Benke. Have a young author in your life? Benke’s book is a festival of charming, fun experiments, challenges, and inspiration for writers aged 9 – 12.  It boasts “lists of big, small, gross-out, and favorite words; adventurous and zany prompts to leap from; dares and double dares to help you mash up truths and lies into outrageous paragraphs; and letters of encouragement written directly to you from famous authors.” When I first came across this worked, I needed a word from The Emotion Thesaurus to express my “long-term suppressed envy” because this book wasn’t around when I was 10.

6. And, in the shameless self-promotion category, we have my own Writing as a Sacred Path: A Practical Guide to Writing with Passion and Purpose, available here.

Offer Beauty and Bling

Do not get stuck in the idea that you have to give a writer a book. How about something charming and pretty? Poorly kept secret: most of us writers are attracted to shiny objects. Give something to brighten your writer’s day, such as:

7. These gorgeous creativity and focus charms from Cornerstoregoddess. Chalcedony is said to be the stone of orators. Amber is believed to boost self confidence, carnelian to stimulate creative energy, and amethyst to improve focus. What writer couldn’t use a little more of all of those things? Also, they’re darn pretty.

 8. Another possibility: these cute and whimsical ampersand earrings from FabricationUnlimited.

9. And there are also these pen and computer earrings from Jetsens.

Get Practical

Prefer more practical gifts? There are plenty of things writers need.

10. A gift card for office supplies. Printer cartridges? They’re expensive. And envelopes, paper, notepads, lap desks, mouse pads, thumb drives, pens, and everything else writers use add up fast. Most of the writers I know are hopping in and out of office supply stores every month. How much a gift card would be appreciated!

11. Personalized pens or pencils. Don’t have a lot of extra money? Give something that says you’ve taken the time to think of the writer in your life. How about a set of pens or pencils personalized with the writer’s name or a favorite quote, such as: Jane Smith, Author at Large, or “A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God.”– Sidney Sheldon. You can get personalized pens, pencils, and other supplies at a variety of vendors, including Amsterdam printing. 

And, finally, there’s the always welcome:

12. Snacks.

13. Coffee.

Be Silly

Want to go for a smile or a laugh? Try one of these:

14. Writing-themed Tees. If the author in your life enjoys displaying his personal philosophy on his person, Zazzle.com offers a whole line of T-shirts for writers.

15. If your author is more like me, and prefers to express herself on the rear bumper of her ’88 Honda Accord,  go to Café Press for writing-related bumper stickers.

16. Or, you might try a little fun sign from 618Love.

Get Personal

Sometimes the best gifts aren’t bought. Try giving your writer:

17. A beautiful hand-made card in which you tell her how much her writing has meant to you, how you still think about his novel, how his poem touched your heart. Be sincere and be lavish. We need it.

18. Time. Give your writer friend a voucher for a full day of babysitting, housecleaning, errand-running or anything else that will give her more time to write. Time is a writer’s most precious commodity. Offer it.

Bump it Up a Notch

19. Get together with friends and give your writer a weekend retreat. There isn’t a writer in the world who wouldn’t love a some space and time by him or herself to just write write write. It doesn’t have to be a beach house on Maui (although no one’s going to turn that down). A couple days in a comfortable, attractive retreat space or someone’s cabin by a lake might be just what a writer is longing for.

Writers deal with a lot of indifference, misunderstanding, disappointment, and flack. At the holiday season, show the writers in your life that their work means something. And, if you have an idea for unique gifts for writers (or gifts for editors), post it here.

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