By: Natalie Jacobsen
The holidays are upon us, and, maybe, you've got a creative in your life who you're just not sure how to shop for. Consider this list your life preserver, with a range of budgets in mind and ideas to satisfy all types of readers and writers you may know and love. (Or maybe that person in mind will turn out to be...you?) Trust me, while we all love a great journal or notebook, generally creatives already have plenty to go around.
Warning: this list may or may not get progressively unhinged. Also note that none of these items are sponsored, and not all of these items have been tested by the author. Peruse the items' reviews, and use your own discretion before making any purchases.
Remember, this list of best presents for writers or readers isn't complete, it's just a place to get you started. There are tons more options out there that will make anyone happy this holiday seasons and beyond!
Max, dear husband, rest assured that this list is not directed at you.
1) Book ornament or decoration.
Get in the holiday spirit with these adorable decorations that can celebrate the author in your life, or a reader that you love!
Framed page
Is there a book that got them into reading, or a passage from an author who they love? Consider printing it out and getting it framed for them to have it nearby and on display as a reminder of something they love and consider deeply important.
Shop option one: Book Quote Decor
Shop option two: Small Business
DIY: Blog Post
Ornament
Commission an artist on Etsy, or D-I-Y! Globes and tops can be purchased online or at a craft store like Michael's in the U.S. After that, it's as easy as writing or printing out sentences from their book or favorite book then curling them inside. Add glitter or beads to really make the ornament stand out.
DIY Instructions: Mrs Orman's Classroom
2) Ambience-makers.
These are classic gifts; ones that make any writer or reader feel cozy when they're "in the zone," doing what they love: writing and reading.
Who doesn't love a good candle to set the mood?
Don't have any shelf space for more candles? Try incense -- or a diffuser, to make the smell last longer.
Now, candles and incense are great for shifting from work mode to reading and writing mode, but, sometimes the air can get a little stuffy. Here are a few ideas for the reader who is always too cold or dry feeling, or the one who needs constant airflow.
Humidifier: For the Room | For the Desk
Fan: For the Room | For the Desk
No atmosphere can be complete without some music or musical ambiance. Here are a couple of options I love (and have used!) to help me keep focused.
Music, by plants: Plantwave
Music, traditionally: Record player | Radio
Here are a couple of ideas to help wrap your reader or writer up when they're "nesting" and focusing on their work.
Blanket, traditional: Library Themed
Blanket, printed words: Custom Book Pages
Blanket, heated: Patterned
3) A book bag that protects all things reading and writing.
The reader or writer in your life likely has a number of bags they cycle through, constantly lugging their laptop or books around. Refresh their bag with one of these options!
Affordable: Book-friendly tote design that supports an independent bookstore (and, guess what? Your local bookstore likely has their own in stock, too!). Here's a selection from Powell's in Oregon, where I struggled to pick out mine (because I loved all).
High end: a nice shoulder bag or backpack that can hold all things they need. Honey | Portland | LOTR | Book Messenger | Levenger
4) Book-shaped items that aren't books.
Is there a writer or reader in your life who loves to wear art, or homages to their favorite stories? There are no shortage of options for them, from jewelry to clothing. The best part? This list is just a sampler. Once you decide on the color, book, theme, or style -- you can really take the search for the perfect gift up to the next level. But here are some ideas to get started:
5) Book shelves, "Book Nook," or book ends for their growing collection.
Readers and writers, alike, tend to be book people. Their places are filled to the brim with
books, often never as organized as they'd like. Help them decorate or rearrange their shelves with these items, ranging from large to small:
6) Commissioned art.
Something a lot of readers and writers will agree on is they can't get enough of interpreted art for their favorite stories -- or their own. Whether it's art that sets the scene, captures the romance of a favorite moment, or the personality of a character, readers and writers love seeing a story come to life. Here are a couple of unconventional ideas for a gift that just might be perfect for them:
Hire an artist to help depict and illustrate their beloved story! There are many artists out there, but you can browse them on websites here and lists here.
OR, are they an artist, but in need of tools to help create their own? Offer to get them a subscription to Procreate, an app for tablets or iPads to draw freely. Stylus for tablets also can help them refine their digital creations. Or, consider a traveling watercolor set.
7) A writing device for that distracted writer in your life.
Writers, myself included, can get sidetracked by the deluge of distractions they're inundated with every day they log on to their computer, tablet, or laptop. Many writers draft by hand to help focus, but in lieu of a journal or a notebook (of which, I promise, they have plenty), try surprising them with one of these devices instead!
Affordable: Browse an estate sale or Facebook marketplace for a typewriter (some can be found for as low as $10!), so the writer that you love so, so dearly can live out their Taylor Swift fantasy of being a tortured poet.
Or, get them a typewriter that fits their iPad or tablet, so they have the facade of using one.
Medium: Are they always complaining about feeling cramped? Make their life easier, and help them breathe more freely, by helping them with a screen extender or monitor. Make sure to note which device they are currently using, and which monitors or externals devices are compatible.
High end: Want to help them carry their work everywhere they go, without lugging around a massive laptop, notebooks, or devices on which they could get distracted?
Get them the sleek, minimal device -- Freewrite -- that is meant to help them focus on the task at hand: writing.
8) Stamp, book plates
Want to help the reader in your life make their book collection truly all their own?
Get them a customized stamp, which can list their name and have a design that matches their personality, genres, or library.
Alternatively, gift a series of book plates to the author in your life to mail out signatures to readers!
And, pair a book of mailing stamps to go with them.
9) Nominate their short story, article, book, poem, or other work for an award.
Getting recognized for their work is an author or writer's dream. Awards don't just magically happen or materialize out of thin air -- someone needs to nominate them. Usually, the author or publisher takes care of these; but the costs add up, when each nomination is $50, $75, or even $100+. Sponsoring an award nomination can help the author's wallet, and shows a gesture of support that will appreciate even more.
In some cases, the author or publisher must be the ones to submit the work. So, while your nomination might "spoil" the surprise, tuck a check into a nice card, or send them a VenMo with a caption that names the award you'd like the donation to go toward. It'll make their day!
10) Writing retreat or book-themed trip.
For writers:
Affordable: make a space in the house extra cozy, offer to give them 100% of time to themselves, make all of their meals
Mid-range: book a hotel in the nearby town or city for 1-2 nights (look for off seasons to save extra money).
Go big: look up writing retreats, especially those hosted by authors (some of their favorites may even host a writing retreat in an exotic place!).
Book lovers:
Affordable: promise a date dedicated to books. Go on a roadtrip or daytrip to all local bookstores in your area; try themed restaurants that match their favorite book, or incorporate a local activity that matches the theme.
Go big: send them on a trip to where the book took place. Outlander fans would go to Scotland, and Ghost Train fans would go to...Japan!
Pictured: a friend recently traveled to Japan, and took a copy of Ghost Train with them!
11) Book collector editions.
Another great option for a gift. Readers love collecting books just like the next person loves collecting anything -- rocks, buttons, stamps, Totoro plushies, shoes, anything.
Well-loved classics, whether it's Austen, Dickens, Tolkien -- or modern books -- are re-released constantly with different editions: paperback, hardback, anniversary covers, updated illustrations, sprayed edges -- they all are sought-after editions of any book lovers' collection.
Book collections can pop up anywhere, from auction websites like eBay to the publisher's website, book stores (look for rare book collectors!) or on other marketplaces. All you need to do, is find out your recipient's favorite series, and look for a new, or rare, edition!
12) Gift card -- always trusty, always welcomed, always used.
Still stumped? When all else fails, let them choose their own gift. Everyone has their own TBR list, and if it's not publicly known, let them choose their own gift.
Bonus:Â choose a gift card that supports a local bookshop, or Bookshop.org.
Gifts don't have to be tangible to make a difference or warm a loved one's heart. Here is a totally-free idea that will send them over the moon:
13) Request their book(s) to be carried in a library.
Believe it or not, newly-published books are not automatically carried by libraries. Libraries must also be told to carry a novel for its readers and community! In the U.S., as of 2024, there are over 35,000 libraries.
That's a lot of libraries. And while it takes only a couple of minutes to request a book be carried a library, that would still be years of work for the writer to do on their own. Surprise them by requesting their book (or books) at a number of libraries. You can find a list here.
(You can also do the same at local bookstores!)
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