Gifts for Writers (Beyond Another Notebook)
- 20 gift ideas
- From under $10 to $100 and up
- 10 niche picks
The best gifts for writers support the work of writing, not just reading. Good starting points include a fountain pen for longhand drafts, a dot-grid notebook, a typewriter-style keyboard, noise-canceling headphones for focus, a writing prompt deck and The Chicago Manual of Style for authors. Pick by how they draft and what stage they are at.
Quick picks
- Best overall: A sturdy fountain pen for longhand drafts An easy way into fountain pens for a writer who drafts by hand. Idea 1
- Best under $25: The Emotion Thesaurus for fiction writers A handy reference for showing, not telling, in fiction. Idea 13
- Best for authors: The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition The standard style and citation reference in American book publishing. Idea 11
- Best splurge: A voice recorder for interviews and ideas Records interviews and ideas spoken on a walk. Idea 10
Gifts for writers are different from gifts for readers. A writer needs tools for drafting, for getting unstuck and for the long middle of a manuscript, so we left out the generic bookish extras and picked 20 ideas for people who write. They cover pens and paper, desk gear, prompts and references and craft books, from a fountain pen for longhand drafts to a style manual for authors.
If the person is more of a reader than a writer, see our Gifts for Book Lovers guide instead. These ideas work for novelists, memoirists, journalists and aspiring writers, and many suit a writing group.
Ideas 1 to 5
Pens, ink and paper for longhand writers
For writers who draft on paper, where the pen and the page are part of the work.
1. A sturdy fountain pen for longhand drafts
A sturdy, affordable fountain pen with a shaped grip is an easy way into fountain pens for a writer who drafts by hand. The ergonomic grip helps long sessions, and a steel nib is forgiving for a first pen. Ask whether they prefer a fine or a medium nib, since nib size changes how a line looks and feels, and check which ink system the pen uses.
Tip: Check the nib size option (fine or medium) before ordering.
2. A bottle of fountain pen ink
A bottle of good fountain pen ink is a treat for a writer who already uses a fountain pen, and a deep blue suits everyday writing and letters. It makes a small but personal gift, since writers tend to have a favorite color. Bottled ink needs a converter or a refillable pen, so check how their pen fills before you order.
Tip: A pen that takes cartridges needs a converter before it can use bottled ink.
3. A dot-grid notebook for outlines
A hardcover dot-grid notebook has pages that work for outlines, mind maps, character sheets and drafts, and a medium A5 size fits in most bags. It suits writers who plot and outline by hand and want structure without the lines of a legal pad. A hardcover survives being tossed in a bag, which suits writers who write in cafes.
Tip: Give it with a pen they can use on the dotted paper, like a fountain pen.
4. Pocket memo books for ideas
A pocket notebook catches dialogue, names and ideas when they show up on a walk or in line, and a three-pack of memo books fits a back pocket. It suits writers who get ideas away from the desk and want to capture them on the spot. Ruled pages work for notes and short lines. Give them as a set so one stays in each coat.
Tip: Give a three-pack so one can live in the coat and one in the bag.
5. Soft graphite pencils for edits and outlines
Soft graphite writes smoothly with little pressure, a small luxury for longhand drafts, outlines and edits in the margins, which suits writers who outline or edit on paper. The flat eraser stays put on a desk. A box of twelve means plenty for a long revision. Sharpen them with a good sharpener to keep a point.
Tip: Add a quality sharpener so the pencils keep a point.
Ideas 6 to 10
Gifts for the writing desk
Tools for writers who draft on a screen, in a cafe or in a house full of noise.
6. A typewriter-style mechanical keyboard
A mechanical keyboard with round, typewriter-style keys makes long drafting sessions feel tactile and a little fun, which suits writers who type every day. A wireless model clears a desk of cords and pairs with a laptop. Check the layout and the operating systems the keyboard supports before you order. The keys have a retro look but a modern feel.
Tip: Check which devices and operating systems the keyboard supports.
7. A distraction-free writing device
A dedicated writing device with no browser or notifications helps a writer draft without drifting to email, which suits writers who lose drafting time to the internet. Look for a keyboard they like, a screen that is easy to read in the light they write in and a simple way to move drafts to a computer. This idea has no product pick yet, so choose a model based on their workflow.
Tip: Ask how they move drafts to a computer, and pick a device that does that simply.
8. Noise-canceling headphones for focus
Noise canceling turns a busy cafe or house into a quieter writing room, which suits writers who work away from a private office. Over-ear headphones with active noise canceling block steady background noise, so a draft can continue on a train or in a coworking space. Look for comfortable ear cushions and a battery that lasts a full writing day.
Tip: Check that they pair with the laptop or phone they write on.
9. A visual timer for writing sprints
A visual timer shows the time left at a glance, which makes timed sprints and focused writing sessions easier to stick to. It suits writers who work in sprints of 25 or 60 minutes. A silent model does not tick, so it will not distract.
Tip: Pair it with a writing prompt deck for a sprint kit.
10. A voice recorder for interviews and ideas
A pocket recorder captures interviews, lectures and ideas spoken on a walk, which suits journalists, memoirists and writers who think out loud. This one is built around AI transcription, so spoken notes can turn into text. Recording other people may need their consent, so check local rules before using it for interviews, and read the listing for what the AI features include.
Tip: Check the listing for any app plan the AI features need before you give it.
Ideas 11 to 15
Reference books and writing prompt gifts
Prompts and references for writers stuck in a rut, plus one serious reference for authors.
11. The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition
The Chicago Manual of Style is the standard reference for style and citations in American book publishing, a serious gift for a writer heading toward publication. It suits authors, editors and nonfiction writers who want to settle questions of punctuation, capitalization and citations. The 18th edition is listed. It is a reference, not a cover-to-cover read, so it lives on the desk.
Tip: Check the edition number on the listing before you order.
12. A writing prompt card deck
A deck of 60 cards based on Writing Down the Bones has prompts and advice, a quick way for a writer stuck in a rut to start a daily writing practice. Draw one card, set a timer and write for ten minutes. It suits writers who freewrite or want a gentle nudge to begin. It is small enough to travel with a notebook.
Tip: Give it with a notebook and a pen for a daily writing kit.
13. The Emotion Thesaurus for fiction writers
The Emotion Thesaurus lists body language, thoughts and reactions for a long list of emotions, a handy reference for showing rather than telling in fiction. It suits fiction writers who find their characters sighing and nodding on every page. The second edition is listed. It sits beside a laptop, and writers dip into it mid-draft.
Tip: Give it to a fiction writer who is mid-draft and stuck on character reactions.
14. A set of picture dice for story ideas
Nine dice covered in small pictures make a quick story-idea generator: roll them, then build a plot, character or scene from whatever comes up. They are a playful fix for a blank page and work well in writing groups. The classic set comes in a tin, so it travels in a bag. It suits fiction writers who like warm-up exercises.
Tip: Bring it to a writing group as a warm-up game.
15. A writer's emergency card pack for stuck drafts
This deck is built for getting unstuck mid-story: draw an illustrated idea card, then turn to its detail card for specific things to try. It targets plot and story problems rather than daily warm-up prompts, which suits novelists and screenwriters stuck in the middle of a draft. The pack has 26 idea cards and 26 detail cards.
Tip: Give it to a writer deep into a draft, not one who is starting out.
Ideas 16 to 18
Craft books for aspiring writers and authors
Books about writing, not for general readers, for writers who want to improve.
16. A novel plotting guide using beat sheets
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel adapts the screenwriting beat sheet to novels, a practical plotting framework for novelists who struggle with structure. It suits writers who have a premise and characters but lose the middle of the story. The beat sheet gives a map of key moments. Pair it with an index card set for plotting.
Tip: Pair it with index cards so they can lay out the beats.
17. A short craft book with writing exercises
Ursula K. Le Guin's Steering the Craft is a short guide to sentences, point of view and narrative, built around exercises that suit a writing group or a workshop. It suits writers who want to work on the craft of the sentence. A copy for each member makes a good group gift. It is slim enough to read in an evening.
Tip: Buy a few copies for a whole writing group.
18. An illustrated guide to imaginative fiction
Jeff VanderMeer's Wonderbook is an illustrated guide to writing imaginative fiction, full of diagrams and art, a beautiful gift for fantasy and science fiction writers. It suits worldbuilders who think in pictures and enjoy flipping through a big, visual book. The revised and expanded edition is listed. It makes a good coffee table book too.
Tip: Give it to a fantasy or science fiction writer who likes visuals.
Ideas 19 to 20
Fun gifts for writers
19. A custom library embosser for signed books
A personalized embosser presses a writer's name into title pages and books, a nice touch for signed copies and a home library. It suits writers who sign books or love their home library. It is personalized, so allow time for production and shipping before the holidays. Check the design on the listing, which comes with gold seals.
Tip: Order early, since personalized items take extra time to make and ship.
20. A writer's warning mug for the desk
A mug that warns visitors they may end up in the novel is a lighthearted desk companion for a fiction writer, a small in-joke for the desk. It suits novelists with a sense of humor. It holds 11 oz, which is enough for a writing session.
Tip: Add a bag of good coffee or tea to make a small gift set.
Frequently asked questions
What are good gifts for writers?
Choose tools that support drafting: a fountain pen and ink for longhand writers, a dot-grid notebook for outlines, noise-canceling headphones for focus or a writing prompt deck for getting unstuck. Authors who are close to publication may value The Chicago Manual of Style. Match the gift to how they draft, on paper or on a screen.
What are good Christmas gifts for writers?
Small, personal gifts work well: a pocket memo book three-pack, a bottle of fountain pen ink, Blackwing-style pencils or a writer's mug. For a larger gift, a mechanical keyboard or noise-canceling headphones suits a writer who types every day. A craft book such as Steering the Craft suits a writing group.
What do you get an aspiring writer?
Give something that makes writing easy to start: a notebook they like, a prompt deck, a set of story cubes or a craft book on plotting. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel suits someone with a story idea and a loose plot. The goal is to lower the barrier to a daily writing habit.
What are good gifts for authors?
Authors benefit from reference books and tools for revision: The Chicago Manual of Style, The Emotion Thesaurus, a visual timer for sprints or a distraction-free writing device. A custom library embosser is a personal gift for signed copies. Ask what they use before buying a device.
What do you get a writer who has everything?
Look for something niche: a book embosser for signed copies, a story cube set for warm-ups, a Writer Emergency Pack for stuck drafts or a good bottle of fountain pen ink. A writer who has every notebook may still lack a reference they have never bought for themselves.
What is the difference between gifts for writers and gifts for book lovers?
Gifts for writers support the act of writing, such as pens, notebooks, prompt decks, style guides and craft books. Gifts for book lovers focus on reading, such as e-readers, bookends and reading lights. Many people are both, so a craft book or a good pen can bridge the two.
