The 12 Best Gifts for Writers and Aspiring Authors

Are you trying to find a gift for a writer you know? Maybe they’re a hobbyist or an aspiring novelist. Whatever the case may be, they’ve probably received plenty of pens and notebooks as presents before.

So, if you need more inspiration, look no further! Whether you’re buying for a poet, novelist, screenwriter, journalist, essayist, or any other type of writer in your life, check out these gift ideas.

1. Books about writing

Good writers should also be prolific readers, so if you’re buying a gift for a writer an easy option is to find a book that they might like. But this doesn’t just need to be a novel from one of their favourite writers – you could instead choose a book about writing.

This could be often-recommended readings like Stephen King’s On Writing. There’s no better way to learn how to improve your writing than being taught by a renowned author.

2. Online writing course

To really take writing to the next level, sometimes an aspiring writer needs to have more formal lessons or somewhere they can workshop ideas with other eager writers or professionals.

An online writing course can be one of the best ways to do this, and it can make for a good gift. If it’s online, the recipient has more freedom in terms of when they participate, as it doesn’t require the time and travel needed for an in-person course.

The best writing courses should offer the chance to discuss with other students, and they should be organised and taught by people with real experience and success in writing and publishing.

3. Productivity apps

Apps can make for good gifts, and are a great option if you don’t have the option to give a physical present. For a writer, there are many apps that can improve productivity or help to improve their writing.

For example, Forest allows users to set focus times on their phone so that they are encouraged to work distraction-free. Apps like this can offer useful methods to defeat writer’s block.

4. Writing and editing software

Any writer likely has a piece of software that they rely on for all of their writing, even if it’s a standard word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. But there are many other tools that they can use to improve their processes, such as organising and editing.

For example, popular options like Grammarly and ProWritingAid help to spot grammar mistakes. By using one of these, a writer can speed up their editing process and avoid including mistakes in their drafts.

5. Noise-cancelling headphones

Not every aspiring writer has the best environment at home for productive writing sessions free from distraction. But even if they’ve got noisy neighbours, flatmates, or family members, that doesn’t mean they have to get out to find peace and quiet.

Noise-cancelling headphones are a great alternative, and if a writer doesn’t have a pair already these are a fantastic option for a gift. Even in the noisiest homes, a writer will be able to find solitude and focus better on their work.

6. A writer’s retreat

Often, the most valuable and sparse resource for any writer is time. This is especially true if writing is a hobby or activity that has to fit around other priorities, such as a day job or childcare.

Having a break from those usual responsibilities is therefore one of the best opportunities to focus on their craft. Paying for a short getaway is a fantastic gift for a writer.

This doesn’t have to be a full-on vacation. Simply having a few days away in a quiet cabin or cottage can provide the perfect environment to get their creative juices flowing so that they can really make progress with their writing project.

7. Take things off their hand

You don’t need to pay for a holiday to give a writer more time to focus on their writing. Even though it’s not a physical gift, a simple offer to help them out with their responsibilities can be appreciated more than any expensive present.

Volunteer a few hours of your time to lighten their load. This could mean looking after the kids, cleaning the house, walking the dog, making dinner, doing laundry or any other chore. 

By doing these, you give them the gift of time so that they can spend more hours of the day writing uninterrupted.

8. Subscription to a literary journal

Staying up to date with the latest trends and being aware of what other authors are writing is valuable knowledge for any writer, and having a subscription to a literary journal is one of the best ways for them to do this.

Journals can be a great source of inspiration, and they can help writers find new opinions or approaches that they can consider with their own work.

9. Word games

There are plenty of board games out there that make for good presents, but choosing one specifically for a writer can be a bit more tricky. Fortunately, there are many that focus on words and wordplay.

Scrabble is an obvious option, but as a more up-to-date alternative, Bananagrams provides a fast-paced anagram-solving game that anyone can have fun with while also putting their vocabulary to the test. 

10. Candles

Sometimes, all a writer needs is to create the right atmosphere to settle in for a productive writing session. This can be achieved by simply lighting a candle with the right scent.

A good aroma can help to improve concentration and focus the mind, removing distractions and allowing for more productive writing.

11. Essential oils for diffusers

Like with candles, essential oils can provide calming aromas that help with concentration. Using a diffuser can fill a room with a perfect scent that increases productivity.

If they haven’t used essential oils before, a small gift set can make a great present for a writer. You could get them a diffuser too so they’re able to use the oils most effectively.

12. Organise a mentorship

This can be a trickier gift to organise, but one that will pay off if you can succeed. There might be a certain writing coach, or even a published author, who’s available for one-on-one sessions where they can provide writing tips and bigger pieces of advice. 

If you can secure even a one-hour session for your writer, they will undoubtedly appreciate the thought and effort, perhaps more than any physical gift. You might even be able to pay for a series of sessions so they can really learn more and maybe get the chance to have a manuscript reviewed.

How to choose the best gift for a writer

If you’re unsure of where to start when choosing a gift for a writer, consider what they might find most useful. If they’ve mentioned a particular author or publication, look into trying to get a one-on-one session with them or a subscription to a literary journal. 

If they’ve mentioned how they’ve found it difficult to concentrate while writing, consider a scented candle to help them focus or even noise-cancelling headphones if they don’t already have some.

Ultimately, you should try to tailor the gift to their needs. That way they’ll really appreciate the thought and know that you really care!