On Writing: The Best Gifts for Writers
I've been meaning to write a great list of gift ideas for writers for a while now, because I am a writer and I like getting gifts so I think this pretty much makes me an expert on gifts for writers, right? Hmm, maybe not. Perhaps it's more convincing if I say that since I started writing regularly in 2011, I've been given a fair few writer-y gifts over the years and I've definitely found that some are considerably better than others. That's why I wanted to put together a list of the best writing-themed presents I've been given as well as throw in some alternatives that I've stumbled across while roaming the internet (ironically when I should have been writing). Wherever possible, I've tried to feature small and indie businesses, and those who have a sustainable ethos too.
(Disclosure: Heck, yes, some of these links are affiliate links because girl's gotta eat. Don't worry, this doesn't cost you extra but almost certainly entitles you to some good karma!)
The very best gifts for all writers
These are the gifts that I think all writers will love or find brilliantly useful, regardless of what stage the writer is at be it just starting out or with several published books to their name. If they haven't already been given one of these ideas as a writerly present, then go get one of these brilliant gifts for all writers.
I'm not even going to apologise for listing my WriteNOW Cards first in this list! I honestly believe these would make a great gift for any writer. I deliberately created these affirmation cards for other writers because I'm a writer who struggles and these cards help me write every single day... or let's be honest, nearly every single day. I don't know a writer who doesn't struggle sometimes and if these can help me, I know they will help any other writer out there. Whether it's a little motivation to start a writing session, a nudge to re-focus on the goal you're working towards, or just a gentle reminder that YOU ARE A WRITER or YOU ARE DOING GREAT, these writing affirmations would make a great gift for any writer you care about. (PS You and your writer friend can follow along with daily affirmations and inspiration for free on Instagram and Twitter.)
Giving a writer a gimmicky mug with a quote about writing written on it is absolutely obvious and cheesy and predictable.... and still worth doing, in my opinion, because some of these writers' mugs are just brilliant, and they all act as little reminders to your writer loved one or friend that they are a writer and they need to keep writing, so get on with it. These mugs are my favourites: perfectly to the point (!), why you should never upset a writer, the sad (virtual!) reality of writer's block, and SO TRUE!
If you're going to get a writer friend a writing mug, you may as well also get them a mug warmer because if they're anything like 90% of writers I know, they may well get distracted by a murderous battle scene or a steamy sexy moment in their novel and their coffee/tea/hot ribena or whiskey (hey, no judgments here!) will go cold. A mug warmer avoids this problem, and I've not exactly done the maths but I'm pretty sure that will save hours of writing time every week (okay, month) as they won't need to get up and go to the microwave to heat up their drink again. Alternatively, get them a Thermos flask or an eco-friendly insulated reusable cup for the same reason.
Every writer is different when it comes to what they like to listen to (or not!) when they're writing. Personally, I like music and have worked hard to curate a playlist I enjoy listening to when writing, but other people want only absolute silence. If this is the case, or if your writer friend complains of the little background noise in cafes meaning they can't listen to their favourite music or rainwater soundtrack, then noise cancelling headphones would make an awesome gift for a writer.
Another obvious gift idea, but I don't know many writers who won't swoon at another beautiful notebook or two, unless they're the minimal, tech-loving type, in which case see my suggestions for alternative gifts for these chaps. These are notebooks that I found that would make really special gifts for writers some because they look fun or pretty, some because they are just cool, some because they are designed especially to inspire writers. If you LOVE colour, like me, then I would also like to draw your attention to this notebook.
So you got them a beautiful notebook? Now, your writer friend needs a beautiful pen. You'd actually be surprised how many famous and highly successful authors write by hand, even today in this age of modern technology. I also believe every writer puts pen to paper at some point in their writing process, so don't ever think that giving a really beautiful pen is going to be a wasted gift.
Or maybe they prefer to write with a pencil? In which case you have to get them a set of these most excellent and hilarious Dirty Work pencils that have some of the best and most motivational messages I've ever seen. I have a set and they always make me smile... and want to get to work!
Another really simple but meaningful gift for writers is a writing candle. Okay, so it's just a normal candle with some writing -themed packaging (and it really doesn't have to be even that - it can be any old candle) but when you hand it over to them you make it clear that this candle is to be lit during writing sessions, something that will become part of their writing habit. It's also good to know how long a candle can be burnt for so the writer knows how many hours they have to write with that candle and when they get to the end that will feel like a real achievement.
If you know your writing loved one struggles with online distractions when they're supposed to be writing, then consider getting them a word processor that doesn't connect to the Internet. That's right. The only thing this word processor lets you do is WRITE. I have to say these devices aren't pretty to look at, but I strongly believe they will enable a writer to write A LOT.
A writerly gift for a bigger budget, you could consider gifting your loved one a trip to a writing retreat. There are so many out there, and while I sadly haven't been on one yet (though I would love to if anyone out there is feeling generous!), I can't imagine a more dreamy gift. Here's a good list of retreats to inspire you but just a quick Google search will find you many more.
If your loved one's writing session is fuelled by caffeine, why not consider gifting them a coffee or tea subscription? Each month (or for a certain amount of time) they'll get a new delivery of coffee beans, or loose leaf tea to try and enjoy. and you can encourage them to take these drinks to their desk and write. If they don't like hot drinks or caffeine, you could consider a chocolate subscription, or even a regular flowers delivery for their writing desk.
If you're just looking to get a little token something for your writing friend, then I think writing socks (or some that you can customise to say whatever you want!) or just a pair of cosy slippers are a lovely idea. Writers spend an awful lot of time just sitting inside writing, so please do keep our toes cosy in the process! (PS This is a great gift for anyone getting ready to do NaNoWriMo in November... if they're in the northern hemisphere as it also coincides with the cooler weather).
My final gift idea for all writers is a really good planner, organiser or diary. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Get to Work Book but it's not really designed solely for writers and I use it to plan all my projects - freelance work, weekly appointments, even shopping lists and meal planning - and it's definitely got more features than the average planner or diary, which may be wasted on some people. You can buy agendas or diaries and planners created specifically for writers, and I have often considered getting one to keep track of my works-in-progress but right now I think this would be an extra thing to do. Regardless of how your writer friend uses their planner or organiser for, this would make a lovely gift for someone to plan and document their writing progress.
Gifts for writers that cost absolutely nothing
As I began to write this list of gifts for writers, I realised quite quickly that some of the best gifts you could give a writer are those that cost absolutely nothing, other than a bit of effort and time. I'm talking about enabling the writer to write by freeing up some of their time. You can do this in any number of ways, and it will really depend on your relationship with the writer, or their personal situation or circumstance, but below are some suggestions for truly valuable gifts you can give your writer friend or loved one.
Keep it simple and keep it straight to the point. Create some vouchers for writing time and tuck them in a card. How much time and how many is entirely up to you.
Showing a family member, friend or partner that you want them to write is truly a special thing. One way you can do this is by creating a writing space in your home for your writing loved-one. You don't need to give it too much thought, just clear a desk or corner in a room, or empty a box that you can use to place laptop or notebook, pens, a mug, a light, a writing candle, some flowers or anything else they may need to write. Reveal this space on a special occasion and just watch them shower you with gratitude.
Another meaningful gesture would be to gift your writer loved one a key to a room they can lock for their writing session. This gift of uninterrupted, alone time to write is arguably at the top of any writer's wishlist.
Writers cannot write on coffee or tea alone, so if your writer friend is about to embark on a big writing project, or a creative writing challenge like NaNoWriMo, they're going to need a good supply of snacks! Get an old shoe box and place some of their favourite snack foods in there - a mix of healthy and not so healthy will be most appreciated, I think - and make sure that other hungry hands (like your own!) stay clear. Yes, I know this isn't technically free but if you already have some supplies in your house, you can work with what you have. A fruit bowl would also be a nice touch.
I'm a big believer in having the right kind of music for writing, and perhaps your writer friend is the same. Try and find out what kind of music they like listening to when they write (or listen through the door one day when they're writing!) and then create them a writing playlist you think they'd like. Go old school and burn off a CD or just make it on Spotify and send them the link. Want some inspiration? Here's my all-time favourite writing playlist and some suggestions for good writing music.
Gifts for writers who are just getting started
Writers who are yet to write are in arguably the most exciting but most terrifying position of all writers. And they will not it. They will be feeling all the fear, and the chances are (if they're anything like me) they've been putting off starting writing for some time now, so big is the fear or the anxiety or the worry, or all three and some other uncomfortable sensations. So getting a good gift that helps them get started, or keeps them inspired to keep going in the beginning, is a really special thing to do. Here are my suggestions for gifts for writers who are at the beginning of their journey (aside from WriteNOW Cards, which are definitely perfect for beginner writers!).
I was gifted this book of inspiring quotes for writers a few Christmases ago by not one but two friends (so I actually gave away one in a giveaway!) and I always have it close by. It's small, its succinct and while not every quote is one I love or relate to, the majority are encouraging or soothing. I also like that there are many I hadn't heard of, or don't see very regularly. It would make a great stocking filler for a writer friend at Christmas.
One book I recommend to all writers of fiction who are just starting out is On Writing by Stephen King. If you like his books, you should definitely, definitely read this. It is part-memoir, part-manual on writing and being a writer. I know a lot of people talk about Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott as a great book for writers, and I can't disagree, but if a writer friend wants an honest insight into how long it can take and how serendipitous the journey needs to be to become a writer of the kind of success King knows, this is the book for them.
Another book I think all writers just starting out should read is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, especially if they have been putting off this foray into writing (or anything creative!) for some time. This book is the big hug any writer craves before taking the plunge and just going for it. Gilbert marries research with personal experience to illustrate just how important nurturing our creative goals is.
The third book I recommend you gift to any beginner writer is You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins. This gift is especially apt if they want to get into online writing or non-fiction books as that's Mr Goins' speciality. The title alone will feel inspiring to them, and the contents have some very valid and encouraging takeaways for someone wondering if starting to write now is worth it (SPOILER ALERT: It's totally worth it).
Want to make a big gesture as a gift to the writer in your life who you just want to help get started? Well, again give them the gift of time, and if you can't offer up your own time but have a bit of cash in your back pocket, then spend it on freeing up some of their time. Book a babysitter to look after their kids one evening, find a dog walker or pay for a cleaner to come a few times. Alternatively, fill their fridge with food, make them some meals to freeze, or pay for a grocery order to be delivered to their house. These simple gestures will count for a lot, you just have to make sure they spend the time they save WRITING!
One of the things that helped me start writing was when my partner would actively tell me that I could do it He was effectively saying to me "I believe in you" and so a similar gift that says "I believe in you" would be very welcome to any beginner writer. Here are some of my favourite gifts of that ilk on Etsy:
Another thing that says "I believe in you as a writer" is getting your writer companion some new writer business cards that says exactly that they are a writer. You can order a pack from Moo easily and quickly and I can assure you the recipient will have a big smile on their face when they receive them, and when they proudly hand them out to people.
One thing that really made me feel like a writer was when I started using Scrivener. This purpose built writing software has so many features and functions, and keeps getting improved and updated all the time. It's ideal for writers of fiction or non-fiction, and while people working on a book, play or screenplay will really benefit the most, you can still use it for general content creation. So buy that writer in your life a license for Scrivener (and basically do so in your friend's name so they can use it) and then send them the link to download this wondrous piece of software!
If your writer friend is hoping to work on a memoir or auto-biography, and they're worried about remembering everything they want to include, you may want to think about getting them this Rememory Game. Designed to help players access the stories already inside them, this could be a great way to encourage a writer to think about their future book while also engaging other friends or members of your family.
Gifts for writers of fiction
The following gifts are specifically for writers of fiction, as that's what I am (for the most part, but not 100%). I've chosen them because they'll actively help writers work on their craft while also giving them tools and techniques to use as they go forward writing their first novel (or tenth!).
At the top of my list of books that changed my writing life is this one: The Artful Edit by Susan Bell. It transformed writing from something I dreaded and hated into a process I now treasure and value as the most important in my writing process. Using existing famous works of fiction Bell highlights the things you need to be thinking about when editing a novel (or short story or anything!) and once you know these things you will always think about them, which will essentially improve all stages of your writing, not just when you self-edit.
I known teaching tool that schools and kids love, Story Cubes would make a great present for any writer of fiction. Not only can they be a fun game to play with other writer friends (or anyone!) but they could actually help the author in times of plot holes or writing block! I would definitely recommend these for younger writers.
In a similar vein, The Writer's Toolbox promises to stimulate creative and fiction writing through play and games, so that would make a great gift for someone interested in telling stories for fun or even professionally.
If your writer friend is either yet to come up with a killer idea for a novel, or maybe they're all out of good ideas, then you could give them this Amazing Story Generator. Part work-book, part guide to coming up with and developing story ideas, it should look like a fun way to spend some time to any budding or even established author of fiction.
Another great idea is giving the gift of a literary magazine subscription. In the past I have gifted myself a year's worth of London Review of Books and also the Paris Review, and if anyone was to do this for me now, I'd be over the moon. Also in the US, I hear good things about Poets & Writers magazine.
And if all else fails, I would put good money on your writer friend being a voracious reader - and they do say reading is the best way to improve one's writing - so a book voucher would make an excellent gift choice for any writer. Yes, you could get an Amazon voucher, but if you're in the UK, I would urge you to consider getting a National Book Token that could then be spent in a local independent book store.
Gifts for writers who have been going a while
If you're writer friend or family member has been at this writing game a while, thinking of a good gift may feel a bit difficult because they may have their tried and tested (and successful!) methods already in place, and they may also not come across problems to do with getting started or battling unfamiliar obstacles. However, there are still things you can gift them that will make their lives easier, believe me! Here are some I would suggest getting for a writer who's been writing for a long time.
If you're friends with an author who has had a book or books published, why not see if you can get their book cover blown up as a piece of art work. This is one thing I'm going to do for myself (if my partner doesn't beat me to it!) some day in the future.
While I'm yet to do it (because a) I'm quite a fast typist and b) I sadly don't spend much more than thirty minutes writing at any one time at the moment) as soon as I have freed up a bit more time to write for hours on end, I'm definitely thinking about investing in a decent voice recorder and possibly transcribing software. I know several professional writers and authors swear by this method to really plough through work and knock up huge word counts.
Writers who have been going for many years may begin to struggle with some of the physical health problems that can plague someone who sits at a desk all day long (or all night!). There are a few things you can get to help them out if this is the case. A standing desk is a great way to help them readjust their posture when writing, especially an adjustable one so that they can switch it up a bit. A more affordable adaptation is a laptop stand like this. If you don't have the budget for this, a gym or yoga ball for them to bounce on and hold their own back straight will encourage them to use a few more muscles when sitting down. And make sure they're not working from a laptop all the time. If you can't afford to get them a separate monitor and keyboard (which I swear has changed how comfortably and how much I write) you could get them one of these adjustable laptop holders so the device is in a more ergonomically-pleasing position!
At the other end of the spectrum, a really special gift that would do very little for their posture or how quickly they write, is a vintage typewriter. Even if it's just something that sits on a shelf near their writing desk, few writers can ignore the romantic allure of an old typewriter, and you may actually be surprised how many writers do still use them... I guess there's no risk of getting distracted on Facebook if you write on one! Here are some beautiful vintage type writers available on Etsy.
If your writer companion has a good sense of humour, look at getting them the Writer Emergency Pack. It's just a small stack of cards that have some prompts and ideas for helping writers navigate their way out of plot-hole. I can't say for certain if it will work but if you know someone who is really struggling to make ends meet in their story this could be a very thoughtful gift!
Staying hydrated while writing is almost as hard as staying hydrated while running a marathon.... Almost. We just forget to drink when we are in the throes of writing, and yes, it's possible we're also a little lazy too! So, getting your writing lived one a dedicated writer's water bottle to have on their desk to prompt them to drink enough water is a most excellent idea. Of course it doesn't have t obe writing-themed. These are some great eco-friendly reusable water bottles that you can get personalised, or not!
And finally, if you're writer friend is preparing to submit their work to an agent or is preparing to publish their first book, a great writing gift would be a subscription to an industry magazine or publication. Writer's Digest has long been the most established source of news and advice for writers, and it ships internationally. If your writer friend is based in the UK, The Writers & Artists Yearbook is the tome to get for them to prepare to enter publishing.
Gifts for writers who love minimalism or zero waste
Every one is different and this goes for writers too. Some people love to have floor to ceiling shelves of books surrounding them as they work, and a vast collection of sentimental tokens or other items on their desks. Other writers prefer clean space and a minimalist surroundings. If you know your writer friend, family member or loved one falls in the latter group, these are some great gift ideas that are just thoughtful and meaningful for any fan of minimalism and zero waste.
Again I want to mention one of my favourite writing apps as an author of fiction, Scrivener for this section. It's relatively affordable as a one-off licence payment, and you then have access to Scrivener for life. I purchased Scrivener four or more years ago and it's paid for itself a million times.
Another piece of writing software that I've heard really good things about but haven't yet tried myself (yet!) is Vellum. It's designed to make formatting and designing your books easier, so if your writer friend is looking to self-publish this is a perfect gift for them. Unfortunately it's only currently available for Mac users, but hopefully that will change in the future.
Another subscription that I think is a very sweet and kind gift for a writer is a Spotify subscription. I listen to Spotify every day in one capacity or another and I've spent many years perfecting my best writing playlist and when I upgraded from the free account a few years ago I wondered why I hadn't done it sooner. There are numerous playlists writers can search for concentration, focus and writing, including instrumental tracks, so I think this would be a lovely gift for any writer who likes listening to music
If your writer friend is struggling to get down to business and keeps complaining about getting distracted or procrastinating, maybe you should think about getting them a subscription to Freedom, an app for your computer that enables the user to control what programs they use on their Mac or PC by blocking certain sites and apps. You can get a month's, a year's or even lifetime's access for your writer friend and effectively give them no more excuses to get down to work!
Another one of my favourite apps for writing fiction is Evernote and I really made more use of it when I was travelling and couldn't carry lots of notebooks around with me. I use it for a number of different writing activities from writing first drafts (because I can even add to them from my phone while on the go) to just jotting down new story ideas or planning a new project. I also use it for writing shopping lists and remembering anything and everything! For many the free version of Evernote may be enough but as I've been using it for a long time, need quite a bit of storage and I like to sync it to more than one device, it made sense for my to upgrade and it may be the case for your writer friend.
Finally, another great gift for a writer who likes experiences more than things is an online writing course. I haven't really tried any courses like this myself, because I think writing and reading are the best teachers (and working with editors!), but if someone gifted me a course on writing fiction, or something more specific about writing, I'd be very keen to give it ago. There are many different courses on sites SkillShare so you can have a search and find something really specific to your writing friend, but from my brief research these are the ones that caught my eye: The Writer's Toolkit, Story Structure, Storytelling Fundamentals and Creative Non-Fiction. And here's how you gift credit to someone else.
Gifts for writers who also love to travel
Well, this is a travel and writing blog so of course I'm going to give a little nod to those writers who also love to travel. Most of these gifts are boringly practical and not really very romantic or inspiring but that is for good reason. When I was travelling full-time and writing my books, I had minimal space for stuff, including even notebooks or pens, and I learned how to move as much of my work onto the cloud as I could. So that's why these gifts are so oriented, and of course with a view to saving space and waste, the above listed gift ideas would also be great for someone who's travelling.
Start off by getting your travelling writer on the cloud. Get them a Dropbox account or upgrade them to a decent amount of storage for Google Drive so they never ever lose what they're working on.
Alternatively, if they're suspicious of the invisible cloud or the technological Gods that may come to look after their manuscripts, then a durable hard drive with plenty of storage and possibly a protective case is a great idea to keep their work safe and backed-up. This is also a great gift for them to use to back-up their photos as they travel.
My best friend while travelling, I don't know where I'd have been without my Kindle. They're even lighter and more durable these days so no traveller needs to ever worry about going over their luggage allowance due to hiding thick and heavy books in their bag. I currently have the Kindle Oasis which is waterproof to a certain depth (though I haven't tested it!) and also has a backlight so you can read in the dark, and I regularly use when travelling, while at home and to also do final proofreads and check the formatting of my ebooks when I'm close to publication.
Alternatively, you could gift your writer friend an Audible subscription. Amazon's audio book service is fast acquiring most titles and the prices are getting more and more competitive as listening to audio books becomes more popular. Reading really is so important as a writer, so this is a great way for them to consumer even more books that will help them improve as a writer. You can choose from a 3, 6 or year membership for the writer and reader in your life.
And to end this list of super practical and not at all really romantic or inspiring gifts, one thing any travelling writer friend will gain great use out of is a multi-way plug adaptor! There is nothing like a flat laptop battery and the wrong plug adaptor for the available plug socket to make any writer feel like the universe is against them, or maybe just a bit frustrated.
And if they did have room in their luggage for a notebook, Etsy has some beautiful handmade or personalised travel journals.
Gifts for poets
A few years ago I would never have imagined including a section for poets on such a list as this, but poets are writers too and after I wrote 100 poems in 100 days last year, I guess I am a poet now too. I've certainly indulged my new love of poetry with a few of these very things.
I recommend the book The Poetry Pharmacy, compiled by William Sieghart to everyone regardless of their relationship with poetry, but of course, it will hold special value for anyone actually interested in poetry. It's basically a collection of poems chosen for their soothing qualities, and each is matched to a certain scenario or situation, the idea being you can find some solace should you be faced with a similar problem or circumstance. Or you can gift it to your poet friend and urge them to just read it all in one go because they'll still gain just as much.
If you have a friend who has already written some poetry, see if you can get your hands on some of it and then get one of their poems mounted and framed. You could also look into hiring an artist to provide an illustration for it and turn their work into art. My illustrator friend Nina surprised me by doing a water colour picture to accompany one of my six word poems and it's honestly one of the most precious gifts I've ever received.
If you're writer friend is quite new to poetry but has expressed a small interest or curiosity (or you fancy challenging them to do so!) you could do a lot worse than buying them The Poetry Notebook by Clive James which offers an entertaining and educational introduction to modern poetry and language.
More essential reading for beginner poets, Mary Oliver's A Poetry Handbook really gets to grips with what makes poetry poerty from the rhythm of language through to the techniques employed by the all-time greats. While I love this book (and practically everything Mary Oliver writes, apart from that essay where she eats turtle eggs!) this guidebook did intimidate me a little as it highlighted how many of the rules I like to break, but it will make a perfect present to someone who likes to know more about language and structure.
Of course, you can and should give them the gift of actual poetry. Here are some of the poetry collections I have enjoyed in recent years: Poems on the Underground (any volume!), Devotions by Mary Oliver, Salt by Nayirah Waheed, Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, or anything by Walt Whitman, Langston Hughes, or Emily Dickinson.
Gifts for writers who also love reading
A writer who doesn't like reading, is not a writer I think you should trust... also I just don't think they exist! So if you really can't find anything off this list that you think will make a good gift for your author or writer friend, I would just give them a book. I say "just" like it's not a big deal, when actually giving the gift of a book is a huge deal! And here are some books I think all writers will love if they haven't read them before (that's the hard part - figuring out what they have and haven't read!).
If you're writing in the English language there is one book I recommend to any writer to improve or brush up their knowledge of English grammar; Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. Not only is it thorough in its explanation of rules and reasons for some of the language's quirkiest grammatical challenges, it's also hilarious!
One book that changed my writing life was not a book on writing as such; it was in fact a biography for one of last century's most famous literary editors. Editor Genius: The Biography of Max Perkins gave me such an in-depth insight into the methods, processes and approaches of piecing together a work of fiction - from both an editor and a writer's perspective - and taught me so much about what makes a book work, I've never forgotten it. Definitely a good gift idea for someone who is equally fascinated by how other writers write - and especially for any fans of Fitzgerald or Hemingway who feature heavily in this book.
I'm still working my way through this book, but this collection of Van Gogh Letters written mostly to his brother Theo is giving me so much more inspiration than I expected. Yes, Van Gogh was a painter, but what he has to say about art and creativity applies just as beautifully and inspiringly to writing.
Another book that's not solely about writers or writing is Daily Rituals by Mason Currey. It's based on the blog Mason wrote of the same name which documented the daily habits, rituals and practices of some of the world's greatest creative and thinking minds from the last few centuries (and possibly earlier). It will make your writer friend realise how slowly some people worked, how many drugs others took, and how there really is no one way to be a productive creative person; it's all personal!
This book choice won't be for everyone but I think many, many creative people experience mental health problems and so it may be relevant to your writer friend. Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig is about one writer's battle with depression and anxiety and how both these illnesses helped him become a writer, and likewise how writing helped him cope. There are some beautiful quotes and very succinct observations about the world, about life, about love and yes, writing and creativity.
I'm going to list a few works of fiction here as good gifts for writers, especially authors, as I feel they both offer quite fun insights into writing or writers. Firstly, A Girl is A Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride was published a few years ago now but I finally got around to reading it a few months back and it's probably my favourite book of the year (so far). Told in abstract, often open-ended or incomplete sentences, it's one of the first stream of consciousness narrations I really felt worked and worked bloody well. When I read this book I not only lost myself in a harrowing, emotional, all-encompassing story, but I also realised that I can write however I bloody well want, and so if you'd like to give a writer friend or loved one the same message, this is the book to do it.
Secondly, I nearly ignored the novel Mrs Hemingway by Naomi Wood because it sounded a bit chick-lit-y for me, and it's also based on real-life people and events I always find giving such things real authenticity is a tall order. But this book does it - so it would be a great read for anyone interested in writing historical fiction involving people who actually lived - and it told me more about Ernest Hemingway and the world of publishing and literature at that time. So entertaining and educational - tick, tick!
And finally if you think your writer friend would feel inspired by reading the work of someone who never thought they'd be the author of one book let alone four, then please consider gifting them one of my books. Choose from three short story collections - Shy Feet, London Eyes, Nine Women or gritty suspense-filled novella The Wait - and make sure your writer loved one knows that if this woman can do it ANYBODY CAN! I'd be happy to sign a copy so if you'd like a personal message in your book, be sure to contact me directly.
Phew. That's it! I think there are over 70 suggestions for gifts for authors and writers here so I really hope you can find one that works for you. If you'd like to save or share this post, there's an image for you to pin below, and I've also included some links to other writing blog posts that may prove helpful if you yourself are a writer.
Pssst. You (or your writer friend!) may also like:
Start Your Writing Habit in Just Ten Minutes
The Best Music and Playlist for Writing (Over 11 Hours of Music!)
The Best Twitter Hashtags for Writers
Tips for Doing a Daily Creative Writing Challenge (Like NaNoWriMo)
Why Writing Makes Me a Better Writer
And follow my journey as I document How to Write a Book - Part One: The Idea / Part Two: Story Development
Frances M. Thompson
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