Coming up with a novel idea is never easy. As your writer friends can attest, creative brainstorming is a struggle, so it’s no surprise the same logic applies when it comes to picking out gifts for writers and aspiring authors. Still, the right tools can improve their writing process and maybe even help them work through a dreaded bout of writer’s block.
We asked 12 authors to share what gifts they recommend buying for the writers in your life — from notebooks to tech products to trinkets that’ll inspire their next great book, short story or sage Amazon review. (Of course, the real muse has obviously been you this entire time, but your gift will be the next best thing.)
There’s nothing quite as terrifying as bad posture, which is why Paul Tremblay, an award-winning author notable for scary reads such as “Horror Movie," uses a laptop stand when he’s working from home. A stand like this BoYata one helps him keep his laptop “elevated on a platform and connected to a separate keyboard.” Author Tracey Lien, who wrote “All That’s Left Unsaid,” says that a laptop stand has made a remarkable difference in boosting productivity. “It sounds very unsexy, and there was zero wow-factor when I unwrapped it. But do you know what is sexy? Good posture.”
Multiple authors said they use an external keyboard for added comfort and support. This advanced keyboard from Logitech is our best overall keyboard for a reason. It makes Bluetooth pairing easy and can be paired with up to three devices, which you can easily toggle between thanks to the Easy-Switch button technology.?
Caffeine is a must. Understandably, Tremblay says another item he finds necessary is a “large mug of tea with unusually high levels of caffeine.” This pristine cup from Tea Forte includes a stainless steel infuser basket so you can steep your tea to perfection. The tight mesh ensures that no residue is left remaining in the cup. It also has an insulated double wall design to keep your tea warm for longer than a traditional cup.
Another great option, this mug keeps your drink warm up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, helping avoid the dreaded room-temperature coffee that writers know and fear. It is rechargeable and the temperature is customizable so the user can set it to their desired level.
Tremblay originally purchased the reMarkable writing tablet because his friend, also a bestselling novelist, happened to love it. “Last fall, Stephen Graham Jones was using a writing tablet called reMarkable, and it looked very cool,” he says. “My wife Lisa noticed my interest in the tablet and she bought it for me as a holiday gift. Instead of my writing desk flooded and dripping with small notebooks, I can take notes on the tablet with a writing stylus, save those notes electronically and export as a PDF.”
Like all the best books, a cup of tea can transport you across the world without having to leave the comfort of your home. If you’re looking to experiment with different kinds of tea, a subscription to the Atlas Tea Club will provide you with a much-needed boost of energy so you can push out the next page. Each month, you will be sent two unique teas from an idyllic location from a different part of the globe, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya and beyond.
As Shelley Parker-Chan, author of the "Radiant Emperor" duology, can attest, a Kindle can be useful for seeing how the layout of pages translates to the screen. “My first Kindle Paperwhite was a gift from a fellow writer. I don’t just use it to read e-books; it’s an essential part of my writing process,” she says. “Every time I finish drafting a chapter I send it to my Kindle, which lays the text out like a published book. Seeing the words where they’d actually be, on a real page, makes the mistakes way easier to find.” Parker-Chan also recommends the Kindle Scribe for the same reasons.
Inspiration often strikes at the most unlikely times. Tremblay admits, “I often get the best ideas, or fix-it ideas in the shower.” Due to the frequency of these ideas, his wife gifted him a suction cup notepad so he could make waterproof notes. Parker-Chan agrees" “It’s genius. Everyone knows the shower is where brainwaves happen, even if I do feel guilty about standing there wasting water.” Assuming your friend’s shower thoughts are also a future bestselling novel, this pad from Amazon will prove handy in a pinch.
Author Elizabeth O’Connor, who released her novel “Whale Fall” in May, also counts tea as a must for her ideal writing setup. “I always have a teapot next to me,” she says. We love the strawberry design on this one, which will make a fun statement in any kitchen.
Calvin Katsulke, author of “Several People Are Typing,” accidentally discovered the wonders of a reading pillow. “A few years ago I broke my arm in a bike accident, and my friends and fellow authors Danny Lavery and Isaac Fellman sent me a ‘husband pillow’ to help me sit upright while I recuperated,” he says. “Because they couldn't help themselves, the pillow was upholstered in the most garish purple fabric they could find. I don't think I'd used one of those since college, but they're remarkably comfortable — and since I never broke the collegiate habit of working in bed, I still use it as a backrest when I write.”
“I probably don't even need to type the word ‘coffee,’ as it seems so obvious/cliché, but...coffee,” says Belinda McKeon, author of “Tender” and “Solace.” Almost every author we spoke with agreed that coffee is essential. Sey Subscriptions delivers a curated selection of freshly roasted coffees to showcase the diverse range of caffeine flavors available on the global market.
Caffeine addiction is a common affliction for writers. And after testing 10 single-serve coffee makers, the Nespresso Vertuo Plus is our top pick. It is intuitive and easy to use, with pods for both espresso and regular coffee and a detachable water reservoir.
Many writers we spoke to are big fans of Scrivener. It’s a writing software designed to make the writing process as seamless as possible, integrating your work into project outlines and allowing you to switch between researching, editing and exporting your files with ease. “I can’t imagine using any other software”, says Carley Fortune, author of “This Summer Will Be Different.” Leigh Bardugo, author of "Six of Crows," also finds that “it’s the easiest way to track a story, especially one with multiple points of view or timelines. It also makes revision so much easier because you can jump to any part of the book quickly.”
Poet Ashna Ali, author of “The Relativity of Living Well,” counts “a soft shirt” as an essential for a productive writing day. This one is worth writing home about, as it was the favorite among the men’s white T-shirts our team tested. While heavier shirts usually aren’t the most flattering or comfortable, this tee managed to be both. It is made from premium material and has a subtle ribbing that makes it incredibly versatile.?
Perfume tells stories. Bardugo fondly recalls receiving this gift from a fellow writer. “Marie Rutkoski gifted me Neroli Lumiere perfume from Bastide," she says. "It is the closest you can get to the scent of an orange grove — not just the blossoms, but the leaves, the soil, the fruit.” It became part of her writing process as she “wore it every day” working on "The Familiar."
Ali finds that the best gifts for writers are not literary but broad enough to encompass other interests. “I actually think the best gifts for writers are not writing-related but helpful in expanding a writer's practice or vision,” they say. “I received an SLR camera for Christmas for example, and it helps me see the world differently.” According to the professional photographers we spoke to, this camera, which is the smallest and most lightweight DSLR from Canon, makes a great pick for beginners.??
Besides journals and pens, Ali tells us they enjoy gifts that allow them to channel other forms of creativity. “I love receiving adult coloring books and colored pencils or markers,” they say. “They give me something to do with my hands and my creativity that is both low-stakes and devoid of screens.”
“One friend got me a snack box subscription while I was writing my dissertation, and I think it might have kept me alive,” Ali says. We’re sure your writer friends will enjoy and appreciate this delicious snack box from Bokksu, which supports local and family-run businesses in Japan and includes a variety of 20 to 22 authentic Japanese snacks, candies and teas, along with a Culture Guide magazine that tells you about the products, allergens and origin stories.
A custom-engraved bottle of wine would make the perfect celebratory gift. “My agent found a rare bottle of red wine that we enjoyed together while I was on book tour on Prince Edward Island and had the name of my book engraved into the neck,” Fortune says.
Author Tracey Lien recommends “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp as a book perfect for furthering the recipient’s literary pursuits. “This is a book I came across while in grad school and have since given to many friends,” Lien says.?“It is the best book I have read on living a creative life — the advice is practical, the case studies accessible, the takeaways inspiring.”?
“If the rest of my house is noisy with people going about the business of living (the nerve!), then I need earbuds and movie soundtracks,” says Tremblay.
For his most recent birthday, Katsulke was given a pair of “really excellent” Bose noise-canceling headphones. He describes them as nothing short of “a revelation.” He adds, “My ideal writing environment is basically a soundless, colorless, hermetically-sealed chamber that somehow still gets Wi-Fi, but wearing these headphones is the next best thing.”
Sometimes you have to write even when you don’t feel like it, and according to Fortune,?a timer is a must-have for maximizing productivity.?This 60-minute timer is equipped with an optional audible alert to help you stay on track and disciplined, even when the last thing you want to do is sit down and write.
Fortune swears by these pens. The smooth gel ink formula doesn’t smear, a rarity among gel pens that should make it a staple in your writing utensil rotation. There is also a soft rubber grip to cushion your fingers and prevent unwanted hand stress and cramping.
Buy your recipient a book of visual photography related to their subject. For Jayne Anne Phillips, photography books served as useful aids. She says, “‘Night Watch,’ my recent novel which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in May, is set in the Civil War era and required years of research. My family knew to give me books of Civil War photography that were so helpful.”
Jennifer Romolini, author of "Ambition Monster," recommends burning these incense sticks to unlock the right creative mindset. "I find little rituals help me get into the writing headspace," she says. Whenever she smells it, it reminds her to get to work.
Fortune is also a big fan of Decomposition notebooks, and it’s easy to see why when they are available in a wide variety of designs and have 160 lined pages ready for your ideas.
Writing may involve lots (and lots) of sitting, but exercise is important for getting ideas flowing. For the writer who needs some gentle movement, this top-tested yoga mat will help get those brain cells in motion.
“Phones are attention black holes,” Parker-Chan says. “I used to use the app Freedom to block me from accessing social media and the internet, but now before I start writing I’ll put my phone in ‘jail,’ a locked box with a digital timer.”
Gifting a subscription to a literary magazine is a great way for your writer friends to engage with the latest literary happenings — without having to shell out the funds themselves. That’s what author Caroline Beimford, currently at work on a novel, recommends. She cycles through subscriptions to “really wonderful yet often pricey” magazines to “save money” and “keep them fresh.” The New York Review of Books and London Review of Books are her favorites.
