Gifts for Writers – or Anyone Who Wants to Write
My Favorite Gift, From My Husband
The best gifts for writers or people who want to write are those that inspire, motivate, and encourage. Signs, books, tickets to see published authors – those are wonderfully inspirational gifts for both published authors and people who want to write!
Here’s a great quip to write in your card when you give one of these gifts:
“I love the process of giving birth to the sentences and paragraphs and pages which allow me to share the fire of my soul with another human being. … Can I quit? Certainly. … I can quit, but I can’t deny. I have a writer’s heart. I am a writer.” ~ Craig Mecham.
I’m a writer — and the best, most creative gift I ever received was from my husband — a wooden sign that says “Believe” for my office. I love it. When I feel discouraged or hopeless, I run my fingers over the words: “If you Believe, all things are possible.”
The best gifts for writers are those that make them feel like writers…
Gorgeous writing journals and notebooks
A writer can never have too many journals, diaries, or notebooks for jotting ideas, writing quips and tips, or fleshing out random thoughts. A hand-tooled leather journal is a great gift idea; it’s almost as versatile as a gift card. Writers can write stories in their journal, or use it to keep track of their writing goals.
New writing tools and software
Okay, I’m not up on the cool new writing gadgets on the market, but I know stuff is out there. I’m thinking about writing software programs, such as Scrivener (Macs only) or something similar for PC’s. Software writing tools can be one of the best gifts for writers and people who want to write — depending on their genre and interests. For instance, Power Writer (Novel and Fiction Writing Software) is great for fiction writers and novelists.
Does your writer have an ereader yet? Read the Best eReaders to Give as Gifts.
An invitation to a writer’s conference
Boy, if you can swing a complete gift package to a writer’s conference for three or four nights, you’ll be in your writer’s best books for life! This is probably the best gift my hubby could ever give me: a writing conference in Mexico, Hawaii, Costa Rica, California, the Bahamas to help me improve my writing skills. In fact, he registered me for a writing conference in New York City a couple years ago, but I couldn’t attend due to family commitments.
Tickets to see a published author
Last year, Elizabeth Gilbert (who wrote Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia) gave a talk in Vancouver, BC – and it was sold out months in advance! Something like this – tickets to see a writer in action – would be one of the best gifts for writers and anyone who wants to write.
A fired-up muse – the gift all writers need
In my ebook 73 Ways to Fire Up (or Just Fire!) the Muse, I listed quips, tips, and inspiration for all types of writers from professional writers and published authors. A wonderful gift is to buy this ebook and email your writer a new quip or tip from the book every day or week. Instead of buying a book about writing and hoping he or she reads it, you can take an active role in encouraging the writer in your life.
Subscription to a writing magazine
There aren’t that many to choose from, but Writer’s Digest, The Writer, and Writing Magazine are popular. If the writer you know already subscribes to a writing magazine, then you can simply extend the subscription. Or, subscribe to something different (The New Yorker, for instance) to take your writer out of her comfort zone.
Gift cards to Chapters, Indigo, Amazon, etc
Even a $20 Amazon Gift Card can buy several items at these stores – and the writer isn’t limited to books! Gift cards are versatile and easy, and can easily be one of the best gifts (though I admit it’s not exactly the most creative gift idea for writers).
The gift of writing time
If the writer in your life has kids or other responsibilities that take time and energy (like housecleaning, cleaning the car, gardening, etc), then the best gift is time! Offer to take care of the kids, or hire a cleaner for a couple cleaning sessions. Garden, mow the lawn, or clean the car. You don’t have to live with the writer to free up some time for him or her.
Books about writing
If you’re really stuck about what the best gift for the writer in your life is, then fine — buy a book! Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life is a wonderful, entertaining resource for writers. But make sure you take a look through your writer’s bookshelf, to avoid doubling up.
DVDs about the writing process, inspiration, etc
If you a book about writing isn’t the best gift, consider getting a DVD about a favorite published author. The one pictured, for instance, contains Anne Lamott’s interviews, public lectures, readings, and other footage. It’s a great gift idea for writers, poets, and published authors — especially if they’re fans of Anne Lamott.
If your writer loves chocolate, don’t miss Chocolate Gifts for Mother’s Day (it’s not just for moms — but it’s perfect for moms who write!).
What’s the most inspirational gift you’ve ever received — whether you’re a writer or not? I welcome your comments below…
Category: Artsy Crafty People, Birthdays, Family, Friends, Introverts, Spouses & Partners
Thanks for your comments…I think the best gifts for writers really depend on the writer. For instance, a literary agent may be one writer’s treasure chest, and another writer’s nightmare.
I’m a writer and I don’t think any of this gifts are that great. I’d rather have an agent under my tree for Christmas because I want to get my book published.
Thanks, I know a writer and I don’t know what to give him for his birthday in a week. He’s a writer but hasn’t been published, but he hopes to make money from writing one day. These are good gift ideas.