10 perfect gift ideas for writers

(originally appeared on dilettaf.it and Hubpages. Last updated: January 2021)

Don’t know what gift to give to your writer friend or lover for a special occasion? With these 10 gift ideas for writers you will be ready for birthdays, Christmases and anniversaries for years to follow!

Finding a gift for a writer friend, relative or lover might not be an easy task. If you’ve already bought them a gazillion books over the years and you’re aiming at something more original this time, read on!

Gift 1- E-book Reader

If your writer acquaintance is still stuck in the Middle Age of paper books (just kidding, I love paper too), why not buy them an e-book reader? 
At first they might be reluctant to use this new toy, but in a short time they will undoubtedly embrace the new frontiers of technology. 
E-book readers come in all sizes and brands, with the most famous being the Kindle by Amazon. Prices also vary and are friendly to all pockets – remember, you don’t need to buy the latest models! Slightly older e-book readers are still perfectly usable.
If you live in Japan, don’t forget to check your closest Hard Off – you might find a barely used Kindle! I got mine for around 2000 yen.
Embellish your gift with a nice case to protect it, or with a…

Gift 2- E-book store/Bookstore gift card

… a gift card to buy e-books from an online store. For the less technology-savvy, a bookstore gift card is still a good idea… especially if your book gifts over the years have not been well received. Once again, you can give as much or as little as you wish or can!
To make it more “giftly”, couple the virtual money with a funny card, a cute box or frame, or a small chocolate treat. Your imagination is the limit! 
For the socially conscious writers, choose websites like Better World Books, which donate to literacy funds around the globe.

Gift 3 – an Alphasmart machine

You probably have no idea of what this is. Hey, I won’t blame you. Alphasmart machines were thought for classrooms, back when having a computer for everyone was simply too expensive. There are several incarnations, but overall they are basically a keyboard with a screen, displaying a few lines of text.
Big deal, I hear you say. But they were discovered by writers for a simple reason: spell it with me, n-o-d-i-s-t-r-a-c-t-i-o-n. Unlike a tablet, they cannot connect to the internet or store games and fancy apps. They are made for just one thing: writing. Also, their almost eternal battery life makes them ideal for people who love to write outside, be it the park or a fancy café. 

Before you get too excited, note that depending on where you live, it may be hard to get your hands on one of these machines. If you’re in the US, there’s plenty of sellers of used machines online; in any other country, you will have to consider the cost of shipping. The most popular model is the Neo, followed by the 3000 model. They come for cheap on eBay, and writers love them!

If you’re rich and/or you can splurge, you can also consider a Freewrite. These machines are considered the 21st century distraction-free typewriters, and with a price tag of more than 500$, they surely make for a big gift.

Gift 4- Creative Writing manuals

No matter what kind of writer your friend is, there is a creative writing manual for them out there. 
If your friend worships a certain author, see if they wrote something about writing: a notable example is “On Writing” by Stephen King or Ursula K Le Guin’s “Steering the Craft”.
As for general and inspirational books on the craft of writing, there are so many choices! Some of my personal favorites are Heather Sellers, Natalie Goldberg and Eric Maisel. “Walking on Alligators” is an awesome title for poets. 
For genre writers, there are several specific books catering to niche genres: fantasy, horror, thriller, etc. 
For writing prompts, Brian Kiteley’s “Epiphany” series and Monica Wood “Pocket Muse” series are a good start.
There are also tons of books out there dealing with the monster called “writer’s block”. 
For self-published authors, books like “The indie author guide” or marketing books can have the additional effect of helping their sales.

Gift 5 – Stationery

You can not have too much of this! Hit your local bookstore or stationery store, or scavenge online sites like Etsy, eBay or AliExpress. Look also for Stationery boards on Pinterest for recommendation!
If you live in Japan, check out my Instagram where I post about stationery way too often, or read my posts about stationery shopping.
Depending on the type of person you’re preparing your gift for, the selection differ. For an elegant writer, a fancy pen and leather journal (initials are a nice touch) are the best choice. People who love cute things will fall head over heels for pastel pens and whimsical notebooks. 
Keywords to use: pair stationery with useful adjectives like cute, black, professional, and so on.

Gift 6 – Coffee or tea

Most writers are addicted to one of these two substances, which makes them perfect gift ideas for writers. Buy a fancy roast, an exotic blend of teas, a cute mug, a funny tea bag holder, or any combination of these. Choose organic and fair trade for those who care about the world’s well being. Get caffeine-free tea for those who are not druggies (yet).
If your writer friend doesn’t like these two magical drinks, buy a nice box of cookies or a good bottle of wine. Pair with a card: “To open only when your next book is finished”. This will surely give them motivation!

Gift 7 – Writing-related jewelry

There is a lot of jewelry made out of typewriter keys: what better gift idea for a writer? You can choose your friend’s name initial and find a cute keychain or necklace for them! You can also find cufflinks, earrings, bracelets and several other categories of gadgets out there, for different prices. The same jewelry can also have charms in the form of typewriters and book. Try Etsy or eBay with “typewriter (insert the kind of jewel you’re looking for)” for the best results.

Gift 8 – Writing-related clothes

Apparel also is in the top 10 of gift ideas for writers. How about a t-shirt displaying the cover of a beloved book? Out of print clothing is a famous US producer of not only t-shirts, but also bags and other goodies. You can find their products in several shops, or buy online.
Nanowrimo also sells writing-related apparel. Choose among t-shirts, tank tops and sweaters (or posters and mugs), and help fund the Association at the same time!

If for some reason you cannot get your hands on these items, if the copyright on a book cover’s image has expired, you can make the t-shirt yourself! There’s plenty of shops offering printing services online or offline – an example in Japan is Vistaprint . You can also apply the book cover idea to other items, such as calendars!
If your writer friend has already published a book, how about printing their own cover on a t-shirt or tote bag, or make cute stickers? You could also hire someone to create a design based on the plot of their book, or print a favorite quote from a favorite writer, or your favorite part from their own book. The possibilities are endless!

Gift 9 – Writing-related perfumes and candles

If you ask them, your writer friend will admit it: the smell of an old library is like no other smell in the world.
If you’ve watched the movie or read the book “The Perfume”, you won’t be surprised to know that someone has actually replicated that scent. 
Yes, this is a thing. A very expensive one, but a thing.
CB I hate perfume has produced in 2005 a scent called “In the Library”. According to their website, it’s a “warm blend of English Novel*, Russian & Moroccan Leather Bindings, Worn Cloth and a hint of Wood Polish”. Who can resist this?

Well, some people actually like to smell new books. You can find them in the corner at bookstores, indulging in their secret, sinful passion. And yes, that perfume is pretty expensive. So, if you can’t afford it, head over to Frostbear on Etsy. Their soy book candles come in various scents, including Bookstore and Book Cellar, so that you cannot go wrong!

Gift 10 – Writing Software

If your writer friend is stuck with Word, a software made especially for writing might be a great gift! These programs usually have functions specific to writing, such as a corkboard, files for character sketches etc.
The most well-known example out there is definitely Scrivener, and the one-time license makes it perfect for a gift.
There is other similar software out there. I personally haven’t tried them, but I have seen good reviews of Ulysses (Apple only) and Liquid Story Binder.
Other software is more geared towards story structure rather than writing – for example, Campfire or Dramatica. There is also software made to help with editing, like ProWritingAid.

What did you think about these 10 ideas? Feel free to leave a comment down below if you have some other ones!