Writers can be hard to shop for. Like everyone, really. Would the writer in your life enjoy a novelty notebook that says “Eat, Pray, Read”? (Probably not, but you know them best, if indeed you do know them at all.) Would the writer in your life prefer an all-expenses-paid writing retreat, or perhaps some kind of cruise? (Likely the former, but as for the latter, it really depends on the strength of their stomach.)
If you’re clueless, you’re not alone. For the record, we suspect that, no matter their individual proclivities, your personal favorite writer would enjoy positive online reviews, earnest praise, and/or your services turning their books face out in the bookstore, but alas, the best things in life cannot be linked.
So for those who like to wrap, Literary Hub is here to help, with fifty (50) suggestions, from the painfully practical to the absurdly frivolous, from the cool to the corny, from the obviously literary to more universal (but beloved by literary people, like our editors), from $6 to $6,000. The only rule is no books, because it’s actually impossible to buy books for writers. The ones they want, they usually already have.
Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen, $100
If your personal writer drafts by hand, you can’t do any better than this pen, which our Podcasts Editor Drew Broussard calls “the nicest pen I have ever used.” There are many varieties; Drew specifies the metal, but if you just want to dip your toe in, the plastic ones are about a third of the price.
Libro.fm Membership, $15/mo
Writers—especially writers with kids and/or long commutes—love audiobooks, but we aren’t using Audible to listen to audiobooks anymore, girls. Senior Editor Jessie Gaynor has a Libro.fm membership on her wishlist—it’s comparably priced and also supports any local bookstore you choose.
Meta Puzzle, $40
Managing Editor Emily Temple recommends pairing a Libro.fm membership with a puzzle (or several), for a relaxing evening activity perfect for writers who have been staring into a screen all day, and also who need a task they can actually finish (eventually). She likes both metafiction and metapuzzles, like the above, but any will do.
Pocket Notepad, $10
Our Staff Writer Brittany Allen describes herself as “the unpaid spokesperson for all Appointed journal products,” so you can’t go wrong. This one will go wherever your favorite writer does; if they tend to be pocketless, Appointed also makes one that fits on a keychain. (There are regular sizes too.)
Literary Hat, $36
Thought we’d just slip this one in here. Now your favorite writer can inform all passers-by that she too is in on the joke.
Oni!! Clips, $46
For your close personal surrealist, and/or the writer who has everything, consider an enormous paperclip (or two). Like degrees in English Literature, they seem frivolous, but are actually super versatile, if you can muster up a little imagination. So we keep telling our parents, anyway.
Silly Putty, $5
Remember Silly Putty? It’s still out there, Millennials. But seriously: writers tend to have nervous energy, and a little something to knead can be just the ticket. Also rumor has it you can use it to pick up comics from the newspaper.
Octavia Butler T-Shirt, $27
Assuming they have taste, it’s likely your favorite writer is an Octavia Butler fan. From the same shop (a one-woman hand-printing operation based in Pittsburgh) you can also set them up to rep Hanif Abdurraqib, Shirley Jackson, Anne Carson, or really wow them with this deep cut Jenny Holzer x Goodnight Moon shirt.
Unicorn Bookplates, $10
Most writers are also readers. You probably know if your personal writer would appreciate a unicorn bookplate or not. Those who would, would really appreciate it.
Book Money Coin Pouch, $8
In this economy, etc. etc. etc.
Deli Slice Sticky Notes, $8
The writer in your life probably likes to eat, and they also probably forget things. As long as they’re not also farsighted, they’ll love these.
Roomba, $250 – $900
AI companies want to convince us that we should have robots writing all our novels for us, but instead, they should be cleaning our floors while we write the novels. Your favorite writer already knows this, and her floor is probably dirty.
Tell Me What You’re Reading Enamel Pin, $14
Warning: only appropriate for writers who are also extroverts. (They’re out there!) The rest of us don’t want to give anyone an excuse to talk to us in public.
Edward Gorey Temporary Tattoo Set, $11
If your favorite writer is not an extrovert, but you really do think they should talk to people at parties, here is a sneaky gift that will help them make the right kind of friends.
Tea Scented Erasers, $6
Every writer loves tea, and also deleting. Match(a) made in heaven.
Fancy Tea in a Fancy Container, $47
Literal tea is also a good choice. Make it a fancy kind that they wouldn’t splurge on for themselves.
Espresso Machine, $500
Or just head straight for the caffeine big leagues. Every writer you know is tired.
An Old Gossip Tray, $110
Our mothers always told us that the best gifts are things the recipient might covet, but would probably not buy for themselves. By that metric, John Derian’s decoupage plates are perfect gifts. There’s a huge range, but for writers, we suggest one from Derian’s series of text pulled from the late-1800s Mad Libs-esque game Peter Coddle’s Visit to New York. Non sequitur? Non problem.
Modern Pendulum Wall Clock, $99
Time…
Stendig Calendar, $59
…passes.
Cardamom Buns 6-Pack, $60
Ever get so invested in your manuscript you forget to eat? Yeah, us neither, but one can imagine it. Anyway, even if your favorite writer is Perfectly Fine on the nourishment front, everyone deserves a little treat. Especially people who have committed their lives to this most punishing of industries. Send them whatever they miss from wherever they’ve been, but if you don’t know, the cardamom buns from Fabrique are always a winner.
Blue Lagoon Bath Salt, $85
Iceland is the country with the most published writers per capita; about 1 in 10 will publish a book in their lifetime. Does that sound great or appalling? Depends on how you look at it, but the soaking culture in Iceland is unquestionably supreme. If your favorite writer wishes they could be whisked away to the land of fairies and Björk and neighborhood hot springs, try cutting a large international corner with this bath product straight from the famous Blue Lagoon.
Literary Quicktionary, $15
The real gift is the chance to play a game they can actually win. (It’s tough out there.)
Sunday Mule Slipper, $70
Nothing stops a writing session in its tracks like cold toes. Help your favorite writer keep feet under desk with some good slippers.
Home boxing gym, $700
Being a writer is SO FRUSTRATING, and perhaps everyone’s friends and family would be a little happier if there was a bag in the basement to safely punch. Plus, good workout, we hear. The wrists could always use a little strengthening…
Classic Books and Modern Art print, $85
What more do you need?
Stabilo Boss Highlighters, $15
Is your favorite writer about to start editing that behemoth by hand? Take a deep breath and gift them these best-in-class highlighters, which will help them sort scenes and dialogue with a flourish.
Classic Crossword Puzzles Vol. 1, $22
It’s still procrastinating, but it’s better than (most of) the alternatives.
Womb House Books Hat, $38
Sorry, one more hat, for the writer in your life who wants to have arguments in which they are entirely correct, this February and forever.
Teig Lamp, $400
The modern equivalent of a candle on the desktop.
You’ll Think of Something Camp Flag, $60
A little encouragement never hurt anyone.
Winter Spruce Soy Candle, $38
Candles have a bad rap as the gift you give to people you don’t know very well, but they can make a winter evening spent reading or writing much cozier. There are a million good ones out there, but our Publishing Coordinator McKayla Coyle rides for this company: “reasonably priced, great scents, and gay!” Amen.
Everyday Mug, $44
Every writer needs a good mug. Just like candles, there are plenty of good ones out there, and mugs can be very personal, so just pick your favorite. (This is the one Emily wants.)
Hatch Restore 3, $170
If your favorite writer has trouble sleeping (or waking), a sunrise clock can help in the winter. This one also features a subscription service that can read The Great Gatsby to you in increments before you fall asleep, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Rolling File Cabinet, $750
A file cabinet doesn’t sound like a sexy gift, but if your favorite writer is the type to print out their manuscripts, the pages can pile up fast. Pick a chic, modern style and it will make them all the more motivated to edit. (Maybe.)
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go Tote, $42
Not to recommend a tote other than The Tote, but anecdotal evidence suggests that an inordinate number of writers were once (“once”) Richard Scarry fans. If they’ve got kids now, even better.
Scrabble Vintage Bookshelf Edition, $42
Word dorks love Scrabble. This edition packs into a little book-shaped-box that fits on your shelf, which is cute.
Socks That Give Books, $40
Some of us have historically complained when receiving socks as presents, but this is a nice gift set that also supports children’s literacy through Room to Read.
Author Forecast, $209
Everyone always puts the Author Clock on lists of gifts for people who like books, and fair enough. But now they have one that tells the weather through literary quotes, which is even more ridiculous and impractical, and even more likely to add books to your favorite writer’s reading list.
Bolster Pillow, $58
Lumbar support, but make it fun.
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, $6,000
Speaking of lumbar support, whomst shall be buying us the perfect reading/writing chair this year? Hello guilty oil baron uncles? The kooky crazy checker pattern is honestly chef’s kiss, but we will also accept velvet or leather. Not picky!
Cashmere Blanket, $378
Here’s a free hack: Sometimes when you’re so comfortable that you don’t want to get up, the only thing to do is to keep writing. Besides, everyone loves cashmere.
Fenestra Bookends, $75
Writers tend to have too many books. We wouldn’t recommend going whole hog and buying someone a bookcase (unless you know them extremely well), but these bookends could certainly help.
New Directions New Classics Club, $175
We said no books, and this is books, but more importantly, it’s a way of life. Plus, reading a year’s worth of offerings from New Directions would make pretty much anyone a better writer.
Animorphs Retro Tin Set, $35
Okay, okay, this is also books, but not really, because it’s all about the nostalgia, and no one loves nostalgia more than writers. Many of a certain age will have fond memories of these books (the commemorative tin box comes with books 1-6). There’s also Goosebumps and The Baby-Sitters Club, depending on your personal writer’s vibe.
Bookshop.org Gift Card, $?
You can solve the problem of buying-or-not-buying books for writers completely, however, by simply letting them choose for themselves. No doubt they have a wishlist a mile long.
Bookshop.org Receipt, $??
Actually, here’s an even better idea: give your favorite writer a receipt. That’s right. The receipt should clearly show that you’ve recently published a whole stack of said favorite writer’s books, which you will be gifting to the rest of your friends and family. It’s the gift that keeps on etc.
A Year of Literary Hub Membership, $70
Members at the Bibliophile level get our classic Joan Didion tote (not available in stores, be they digital or physical), an ad-free reading experience (!), an exclusive member-only monthly newsletter where we tell you what we’re really reading, and early access to giveaways of early copies of new books. Well! You could do worse.
The Center for Fiction Writers Studio Membership, $250/month
Does your favorite NYC-based writer need a room (or at least a desk) of their own, and more importantly, do they want to be involved in more DRAMA in the new year? Snag them a coveted spot at the Center for Fiction…if you can.
Childcare, $????
Let’s be honest, though. What the writer in your life really needs is simple: more time. If they have children, they probably have even less than you imagine. Consider, this holiday season, supporting your local writer with a recurring childcare fund (or recurring childcare duties). This is a sure way to get yourself thanked in the next book.
