OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
The Christmas Market has just opened its doors here in Bath. The streets are full of twinkling lights and the smell of mulled cider (yum!) and it's officially jolly chilly down here in the South-West of England.
So here's some ideas for Christmas presents for the writer in your life (and if that's you, then perhaps some of these might go in your stocking!)
My favorites
Special Unicorn ankle socks
Wordy Gifts
This wordy mug is the perfect way to start each day.
And just as a side note, I consider my Nespresso machine to be the best writing investment possible, since I get my perfect cup at home, which works out cheaper in the long run. I have a red one.
Literary style
You can show your writer that you're a) as fascinated by great classic books as he/she is and b) help your writer to prove their way ahead of the curve with this Wrinkle in Time t-shirt. (In spring 2018, director Ava Duverney will bring A Wrinkle in Time to the silver screen, with a diverse cast that includes Oprah Winfrey herself as Mrs. Which.)
Want to get a little more interactive with your writer?
These story cubes will prompt writers at every level of experience, and non-writers, to come up with fun and interesting story ideas. Great for those cold winter nights indoors.
Boggle is my favorite wordy game and I am super competitive about it, even when playing with children 🙂 I even have it as an iPhone app, so I can definitely recommend it for wordy people.
Let's talk toys – I mean tools.
Every writer I know needs and deserves at least a few of the following gifts.
And what about a beautiful pen to use with those cards? Every writer, no matter how connected they are to their computer, needs a really attractive pen. I have a ruby Montegrappa which you might have spotted in a couple of my books if you're a pen fiend!
Try pairing it with some funky colored ink to make it more exciting 🙂
And speaking of tools, what about the software kind?
While we're talking about software, Scrivener is, of course, on every new writer's wish list. The writing software knows no equal and makes every writer's life so much easier. The price can't be beat ($45) and it's available for Mac and for Windows, and is now also available as an app for iPhone and iPad.
Writers are readers too, of course.
Here are some recommended reads that are great for snuggling up with after a long day of social interaction.
You can find lots more books that I recommend for writers on this page.
It's likely that the writer on your Christmas list is an introvert.
Demonstrate solidarity with this 🙂
Do you have any recommended gifts for writers? Please share in the comments since we're all looking for inspiration!
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View Comments (5)
Lots of cheeky gifts for writers ... I'd love to get any of these!
I got my novelist husband a copy of Shawn Coyne's "Storygrid" for his birthday -- and he said it was the best gift ever. It's definitely for the serious writer, though. And I just got the Austen quote mug you recommended for my oldest son -- he'll love it.
Your podcast is in the rotation for Hubby's morning walks, and in mine for when I'm nursing the youngest. Thanks, Joanna!
Haha, these are great ideas! I love the t-shirt :)
Thanks for this list, Joanna. I love what you do on the blog and in your podcast. TY! I added your list to some other writers on my 'mega list roundup for awesome holiday gifts for writers'.
https://micheleberger.wordpress.com/
Finally a list I can send to people wanting to buy me gifts.