Are you looking for gifts for writers? Would you like to choose a gift for a writer that's more interesting than yet another notebook or novel?
We searched far and wide for the best gift ideas for a writer, and created this list for you.
Introduction
Sometimes, friends and family struggle to come up with good gift ideas for the writers in their lives. And while there is nothing wrong with giving them a good book or a nice notebook, it can become a little repetitive if you do that year after year. We decided to do some digging into what writers want, and we've unearthed some excellent gift ideas for authors and writers.
These gifts for writers range from hilarious novelty gifts to essential tech gifts. You'll also find some inspirational clothing and jewelry as well as software, writing courses, and books on how to write.
So here we go... it's time to find a good gift for the writer in your life!
This page was last updated in March 2022.
Disclaimer: We use affiliate links which means that if you buy an item from an online store such as Amazon), we might earn a small commission for pointing you in the right direction. The good news is that you will still pay the same price for the item, and it's a nice way to support this website so that we can continue to produce helpful content for the writing community and their friends.
How This Page Works
- There are many gift ideas for writers mentioned specifically on this page, and hundreds more when you follow the links we’ve included to other web pages.
- We’ve sorted the gift ideas into categories. You may either click on a category of interest in the Table of Contents below or browse the entire page.
- When you see something you like, simply follow the link provided to learn more.
The Best Gifts for Writers in 2022
Everything has changed since 2020. All around the world, people are social distancing and communities are locking down in order to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. This has had a huge impact on many countries and entire economies. Many industries have been affected, including our publishing industry.
In particular, there are more people setting up home offices and working remotely. There are also people who have lost their jobs due to the business downturn and they are taking this opportunity to start full-time careers as bloggers, freelance writers, and authors.
Maybe you know someone like that. Perhaps that's why you've landed on this page. If you are looking for gift ideas to help a writer to set up their home office, or to inspire them in their new career, then we've got some great ideas for you.
Let's get into it.
Novelty Gifts for Writers
In this category, you will find a variety of novelty gifts and unusual gifts for writers. If you want your gift to stand out from others and be memorable, check these out.
Many writers will love Fred The End Bookends. They create a dramatic effect of the books tilting on the bookend, appearing to fall on the silhouetted figure.
We also like this set of Katana, Samurai Ninja Sword Style, Bookends from Mustard. They are well worth a look.
This 100 Essential Novels Scratch Off Chart is one of my favorite novelty gifts for writers. It lists 100 of the greatest novels, and you can scratch off each gold foil to reveal an additional, narrative-specific design underneath.
For a book lover, it's wonderful to share their favorite books, but heartbreaking when they are not returned. That's where this Personal Library Kit comes in handy.
It revives the old-fashioned library circulation technique for fun and to give those friends a nice reminder to return the books.
The Get Your Nerd On store at Etsy has some wonderful wall posters for word lovers.
This Hemingway Pencil Cup is a perfect holder to place on a writer's desk.
Novel Teas make a perfect gift for writers and book lovers. The package contains 25 tea bags made with English Breakfast tea and individually tagged with famous literary quotes.
Writing can be a serious business, so it's always good to sit back after a long stretch of work and have a good laugh. These gifts for writers are witty and fun, and certain to generate a smile or two.
This stemless wine glass has the words, "Please do not annoy the writer. He may put you in a book and kill you."
Coffee mugs are also popular novelty gifts for writers. Mugs are a very memorable type of gift, because the owner uses them every day, right there on the desk.
Books on Writing & Publishing
Most writers love reading, and they probably receive a lot of books as gifts. If you want to give a gook, consider selecting a book on the craft of writing or on getting published.
One of my favorite books on the craft of writing is bestselling author Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. "Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have."
If you are looking for a gift for an aspiring author of fiction, check out How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method or James Scott Bell's Write Great Fiction - Plot & Structure ... it's filled with techniques and exercises for crafting and creating a plot that will grip the readers from start to finish.
For writers freelance who want to publish and sell non-fiction articles in North America, Writer's Market 2020 is a valuable reference guide. For writers of fiction and poetry, consider buying them a copy of Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2020 or Poet's Market 2020.
Fiction Books for Writers
Authors and love to read fiction too. Here are a few places to find popular and bestselling fiction.
- Award-Winning Fiction
- New York Times Best Sellers for the Week
- Amazon Editor’s Picks of the Month
- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime
Magazine Subscriptions
There are several magazines dedicated to the craft of writing and the business of publishing. These magazines also help writers to keep up with what is happening in the industry. Here are some of the best magazines for writers.
Another great way for writers to become better writers is to expose themselves to better writing. You might give a gift of a subscription to a leading literary journal such as Granta, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, or Tin House.
Online Courses for Writers
Training and development are vital in any career, and writing is no exception. Here is a list of online training courses for writers.
- MasterClass offers a range of online training courses from some masters of the craft: James Patterson Teaches Writing
- Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling
- Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing
- Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers
- David Baldacci Teaches Mystery & Thriller Writing
- and more.
Writing Instruments
Nowadays we use computers and mobile devices more than ever, however traditional writing instruments still make some of the best gifts for writers. There are many occasions when a writer needs to jot down their thoughts or latest ideas by hand. A nice, high-quality pen will be very handy, if not essential. Plus, writing instruments are the type of gift that lasts for many years.
There's a good reason why Fisher Space Pens have been on every NASA manned space flight since the Apollo 7 mission in 1968. You can write with these pens almost anywhere! They have a sealed and pressurized ink cartridge, which means they will write in just about any condition and on almost any surface... even underwater or over grease. Extreme temperatures? Yes. Upside down? Yes!
Dayspring Pens offer a range of high-quality engraved, personalized pens from some of the leading pen brands including Cross, Parker, and Waterman.
Now that they have a decent pen, how about giving them somewhere nice to write!
This Premium Leather Journal Set is perfect for writers and artists. The authentic leather journal has a soft and supple feel, and yet robust construction that will withstand the rigors of travel. The owner will love the weathered feel and real leather scent. Plus this set includes 3 different notebooks and a stylish pen.
Software for Writers
Software applications are important tools of the trade for a writer. From word processing software to note-taking apps to query tracking software, here is a list of some of the best software for writers.
In recent years, Scrivener has quickly become one of the most popular software applications for writers. It's being used by best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, journalists, translators, and more.
Grammarly is an artificial intelligence (AI) software tool that provides grammar checking, spell checking, and plagiarism detection services. It also offers suggestions about vocabulary, writing clarity, and tone.
Final Draft is the choice of professional screenwriters and filmmakers around the world for all forms of script-writing, including screenplays, TV scripts, and stage plays. X-Men writer/producer Simon Kinberg explains why in this video.
Movie Magic Screenwriter is an award-winning screenwriting software that used to format scripts for movies, television, novels, stage plays and even comic books.
Tech Gifts for Writers
It's smart for writers to make use of the latest technology. Here are our favorite tech gifts for writers.
We talked about note-taking with traditional writing instruments earlier, but note-taking has come a long way in recent years. With the Livescribe 2GB Echo Smartpen, you can actually record everything you write and hear, so you'll never miss a word. Quickly save your notes and audio recordings to a computer. And you can replay meetings or interviews simply by tapping on your notes!
There will be no more wasting paper with this Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook. Smart technology enables you to send your handwritten notes to popular cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, and more. The clever AI technology allows you to use smart titles, smart search, and email transcription for easier naming and searching of your notes. When you are ready, simply wipe the pages clean with a damp cloth so that you can use them again. The notebook comes with a Pilot Frixion Pen & microfiber cloth.
It will be easier to keep a laptop safe and protected when traveling with this TSA-friendly Laptop Travel Backpack. This backpack even comes with a USB charging port and headphone connection. This backpack has generous dimensions of 20 x 15 x 10.5 inches and will hold up to 17-inch laptops.
When it's time to record an important interview, the Sony UX560F Digital Voice Recorder is a good choice. It features a built-in stereo microphone, and up to 4 GB of internal memory, which is expandable via MicroSD cards. It also supports quick charge via USB.
And here's something especially useful for writers and authors who need to work from a noisy home. With these Cowin E7 Noise Cancelling Headphones, they will be able to shut themselves away from distractions while they write.
Games for Writers (and Related Activities)
According to the old proverb, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. We already know it's healthy to take a break from work, but one of the best ways for writers to spark their creativity is by using their break to play some word and story games. Here are our favorite games for writers.
The Writer's Toolbox is designed by a longtime creative writing teacher. This kit includes 60 writing exercises and other creative games, as well as a 64-page booklet filled with exercises and instructions that focus on a "right-brain" approach to writing. It's the perfect toolbox to get stories off the ground and inspire unexpected plot twists.
The Storymatic Classic is built around 540 unique cards and claims to offer xix trillion stories in one little box. Which one will you tell? Simply combine a few of the cards and let your imagination do the rest. Play by yourself or in groups. Perfect for writers, kids, parents, teachers, artists, and anyone who loves stories.
The Magnetic Poetry Kit contains over 300 magnetic word tiles to take the imagination to all kinds of uncharted territories. According to the product page at Amazon, the original poetry kit was on Seinfeld’s fridge, and Madonna used The Poet kit to compose her song “Candy Perfume Girl.”
Jewelry Gifts for Writers
A piece of jewelry is a chance for writers to display and show off their literary side.
How about this vintage library pendant, a stainless steel, 'Please Do Not Annoy The Writer' keychain, or a book worm ring.
Other suggestions include this "Careful or You'll End Up in My Novel" bracelet; Pewter Talisman Pentacle Pendant designed for poets, writers, and actors; and these Chapter One and The End literary earrings.
Clothing Gifts for Writers
There is a range of clothing gifts for writers, including t-shirts, caps, and more. Here are a few of our favorite items.
- "I'm silently correcting your grammar" Women's T-shirt (or get one for men here)
- The "My Weekend is All Booked" Cap is available in a choice of colors: Cardinal, Forest Green, or Navy Blue.
- This beautiful Infinity Scarf is designed with a library bookshelves theme.
- These Fingerless Writing Gloves will not only keep the hands warm, but they look great, featuring text from Jane Austen's classic novel, Pride and Prejudice.
Office Furniture for a Writing Den
Writers spend a lot of time sitting at their desks, so they need quality furniture (from writing desks and chairs to storage solutions) that support their posture and physical well-being.
The following images show three of the best desks for writers. First, one of the best 'vintage oak' writing desks. Then, our top pick for an L-shape desk. And finally, one of the most convenient folding laptop tables for those who are tight on space.
Some other great furniture gifts for writers, besides desks, include writing chairs, bookcases, and desk lamps.
Personalized Gifts for Writers
If you would like to add a truly personal touch, then personalized gifts are the way to go. We mentioned above the range of engraved pens from Dayspring Pens and we also plan to add some more personalized gifts for writers here soon.
More Gifts for Writers
We couldn't possibly include all the best gifts for writers on one page. Here are some additional places where you can discover even more ideas.
- Out of Print has a range of "bookish" apparel and accessories. Plus, with every purchase, you are helping in a small way to donate books and support literacy programs around the world.
- Etsy has more than 17,000 products classified as gifts for writers.
What Next?
You might like to continue reading other posts on our blog.
If you are a freelance writer, then check out these places where you can get published.