Writers can often be (lovably) cranky, aloof folks who shut themselves behind closed doors for hours a time. In other words, not always the easiest friends or family members to buy for. We’re here to help. From books that will take a prominent space on their shelves to tools that’ll help them be their best literary selves — and a few fun, clever gifts thrown in for good measure — here is our guide to the best gifts for writers of every genre.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
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Qwerkywriter Typewriter-Inspired Keyboard
$250 from Amazon Shop Now
This vintage-inspired keyboard might be a little on the precious side, but that doesn’t mean it’s not cool. It comes with a tablet stand and USB and Bluetooth compatibility. Buyers seem to enjoy it. Noted one: “I fully appreciate modern keyboards, but sometimes it’s relaxing to slow down a little and enjoy an old-timey keyboard.”
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Scribbler Gift Subscription
$33/month and up from Cratejoy Shop Now
Another monthly subscription box aimed at writers, this one includes an autographed novel, teaching booklet, materials about the publishing process, and curated writing gifts. Reviewers give it 4.5 stars and have largely positive things to say about it.
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Adventure Challenge Scratch-Off Guide
$30 and up from The Adventure Challenge Shop Now
What imaginative writer doesn’t want their own life to be epic? These books contain 50 scratch-off suggestions for fun bonding activities with family, friends, or that special spouse or partner. Each “surprise” adventure comes with an estimated time commitment and cost, usually $20 or less. And each entry includes a place to include a photo and notes, so books become cherished keepsakes even after the challenges are long-completed. There’s also a version for solo adventures, a “naughty” edition, and bundles that include an instant camera.
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Writer’s Block Candle
$9 from Etsy Shop Now
Doesn’t every writer enjoy the aroma of old books?
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Literary Insults Chart
$25 from Uncommon Goods Shop Now
With zingers like, “You had to stand in line to hate him,” and, “She did not so much cook as assassinate food,” this chart can be used as a humorous diversion when their brain needs a break.
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Literary Teas
$33 from Simpson & Vail Shop Now
Not every gift has to be in service to your writer’s craft, especially if they’re already well-stocked and have a good routine. In that case, you can pick up one of these teas inspired by writers and poets from Jane Austen to Maya Angelou.
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Roger von Oech’s Ball of Whacks
$40 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Shop Now
Sometimes a writer needs to concentrate on anything but his or her latest work. This versatile tool will let them do that while keeping their brain in creative mode.
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‘Literary Wonderlands’
$20 on Amazon Shop Now
Character development is important, but the world those characters dwell in can be just as important a detail in a story. This wonderful book takes readers on a journey through “the greatest fictional worlds ever created,” including some they’ve probably never heard of.
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Writer Emergency Pack
$16 from Amazon Shop Now
For something that could help an uninspired artist crank past their writer’s block, there’s this: 26 illustrated cards with “helpful suggestions and specific tips.” Writer’s Digest called it a “portable tool for story resuscitation.”
Nature Lovers Spiral Notebook Bundle
$119 from Decomposition Shop Now
Sure, those leather journal things are cool, but if you’ve got a plot development or character study you need to get down quickly, few notebooks are as easy to wrangle and write in as a spiral. This set includes 12 notebooks with fun and eclectic nature-themed covers, which will keep your writer armed with (attractive) note-taking resources for quite some time.
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Punk Rock Authors Tote
$32 from Amazon Shop Now
This cool cotton canvas tote features portraits of some of history’s most famous (and infamous) writers, including Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, Langston Hughes, and Oscar Wilde.
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‘Pep Talks for Writers’
$16 from Amazon Shop Now
This book by Grant Faulkner, who’s also executive director of National Novel Writing Month, offers “a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career.”
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‘Dictionary of the Strange, Curious, & Lovely’
$17 from Amazon Shop Now
Most writers are mega-word nerds and will love a book that celebrates “unusual but useful” words such as scullion, petrichor, circumcrescent, and many more. The book promises to deliver the “3,500 most beautiful English vocabulary words” that are rarely used.
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My Coffee and Book Club
$39/month and up from Cratejoy Shop Now
Every writer knows they need to read to improve their craft, and the occasional jolt of caffeine to get them through the latest chapter. Enter this subscription box, which provides both. You can choose your recipient’s favorite genre to give the gift even more meaning.
‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’
$10 from Amazon Shop Now
There are lots of books on the craft of writing — few get as consistently positive reviews as this one by Stephen King. Amazon buyers have rated it 4.8 stars, and it’s worth noting that only about 5% of reviewers give it 3 stars or fewer.
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Margaret Atwood’s Creative Writing Class
$10/month and up from Masterclass Shop Now
Atwood is the author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” (plus a bunch of other novels) and through the site Masterclass, she walks word-crafters through lessons such as “Getting Started,” “Structuring Your Novel,” and more. Not an Atwood fan? Not to worry. The site offers classes from plenty of other writers, including Neil Gaiman, Judy Blume, and David Sedaris.
Writers’ Tears Whiskey
$44 from Caskers Shop Now
They’re going to need something to put in those shot glasses, and this bottle of copper pot Irish whiskey is both clever and award-winning (it was a gold medal winner at the International Spirits Challenge in London).
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Literary Journals
$48 and up from Journal of the Month Shop Now
Reading the work of up-and-coming authors can provide a big boost of creativity for an aspiring writer. Through this site, you can gift someone anywhere from four to 24 journals that can be delivered monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly.
An Inspirational Office Banner
$75 from Rayo and Honey Shop Now
Literary work is about writing and editing — ad nauseam. This banner, which can be hung up near a writing desk, is meant to inspire that process. Measuring 12.5 by 17 inches and reading “Much to be Done … & Undone,” it’s made of cotton canvas, a cotton black hanging string, and an oak hanging stick.
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Blue-Light-Blocking Glasses
$25 from Amazon Shop Now
Writers spend a lot of time in front of their computer screens. Help reduce the strain on their eyes with a pair of these popular and well-rated Amazon specs, which come in a few colors and styles.
100 Essential Novels Scratch-Off Chart
$25 from Etsy Shop Now
We are in love with the Etsy shop PopChart, and this scratch-off chart of 100 novels essential for any writer is a perfect example of why. It’s utilitarian while also creative, clever, and wonderfully designed.
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Acrylic Monitor Memo Boards
$14 from Amazon Shop Now
Story development can strike at the oddest of times, and sometimes a writer just needs to get that down on a stickie note and save it for later. This handy two-pack of monitor-adjacent message boards will let them do that and come back to it later.
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‘Writer at Work’ Door Hanger
$9 from Amazon Shop Now
This useful but inexpensive gift will make sure your favorite writer doesn’t get interrupted when creativity does strike.
Freewrite Traveler
$499 from Freewrite Shop Now
The problem with laptops is that they’re full of distractions, which can be the death knell to any story. This Indiegogo-funded product is the opposite of that. Like a 21st-century typewriter, it offers a distraction-free writing process but has a four-week battery life and weighs less than 2 pounds.
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Literary Notes
$15 from Chronicle Books Shop Now
This set of 20 notecards and envelopes has colorful, graphic illustrations that will resonate with any writer and/or book lover.
Floating Quote Wall Hanging
$29 from Amazon Shop Now
This quote from Benjamin Franklin hanging on your writer’s wall is a reminder that part of crafting great stories is getting away from the keyboard and living.
