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It was a dark and snowy night pervaded by shadows of uncertainty, whenceforth a figure emerged to begin Christmas shopping. The fear of failed promises and unsatisfactory gifts loomed over the figure's shoulders--a burden too heavy to bear....
This scenario could have easily been avoided, however, if that figure read this guide. Buying Christmas gifts for writers is actually quite easy. Writers are just book nerds at heart with a passion to share their unbridled intelligence with the rest of humanity. If anything, the most you'd get as a disappointed reaction is a disapproving look of condescension at your lack of resolve and effort. Just kidding! No, but really. If you truly want to make a writer happy you need to think outside the box on some things. Little trinkets can mean a lot--it's not like you need to be Big Spender.
Although ballpoint pens and #2 HB pencils can get the job done, it is nice to consider that writing is an art form. A writer would especially appreciate that acknowledgement. Not everyone can string a decent sentence together and, therefore, you should show the author that his (or her) written word is beautiful. You can do this by giving a specialized pen or pencil.
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Nothing says "I know what I'm talking about" quite like a quill pen. Important documents used to be written with these. Think about that. Nobody questions Thomas Jefferson! |
Calligraphy has been used in many cultures, both Eastern and Western. If that doesn't show that it's an art I don't know what does. It's a skill. You might also want to pick up a book teaching it.
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Dipping ink works for fountain and calligraphic pens. For calligraphy the ink should be water-based. Just be wary of the Phantom Blot. He could jump out of the bottle and ruin the page. |
If you got your loved one a nice ballpoint pen, chances are he or she is not going to toss it away just because it ran out of ink. You can consider getting a refill so it can be reused. Fountain pen refills |
What's better than a normal pencil? A pencil shaped like a samurai sword. Duh! Novelty pencils are fun for kids and adults alike. Jumbo pencils |
Don't go out and think, "I know what that writer needs: PAPER." No. Just don't do that. If you're going to buy paper it needs to be given with several other items. Otherwise you'll just look like a cheap-o with a lack of creativity.
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If you know someone who owns his or her own business or someone who writes letters by hand, this is a nice gesture gift. It isn't expensive but it's thoughtful. |
As lame as it may seem, college students often struggle financially. While I don't suggest getting them paper as a sole gift, per se, it's a nice addition to a package with a bunch of other useful items. |
Writers who are environmentalists will most likely type their work but you can free their mind (and conscience) if you buy eco-friendly recycled paper for binders or journals. Refill paper is always useful. |
For the pen pal you want to write to you more often, think about sending a box of blank cards as a courtesy--along with some thoughtful trinkets. |
This kind of paper is good for the scrapbooker you may know. It's an arts and crafts type paper that works well when you're trying to create multifaceted projects. |
Many believe print is dead and that everything can be found online now. "Print is dead" is not equivalent to the phrase "writing is dead," however. Before you assume there's nothing else writers can possibly do with their lives, why don't you try and get them a computer-based writing gift?
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A digital stylus is great not only for writers, but for designers too. If you get one of these it will record your handwriting onto the computer. This is great for digital signatures, comic and cartoon writers, and bloggers. |
A writing tabet is useful for writers on the go and for visual arts enthusists who want to add personality to digital magazines and sites. |
Adobe Creative Suite is exactly what a blogger or digital journalist would need to get started. It includes programs for print media, as well as photo and online media editing. |
We all need to keep our lives in order, whether that means venting to ourselves in a journal or organizing day-to-day activities via a planner.
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This is classic-looking and travel worthy. Leather lasts better than cloth and it just looks olde-school epic. |
Cloth journals, hard-bound or soft, are colorful and fun. They're more personal than leather because they can have designs on the covers. |
The likes of Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway used this kind of journal. They're made with high grade paper and binding; this is not a gift for a casual writer. |
If you know an eco-friendly writer this is a wise choice. They can write guilt-free of killing trees, animals, or the environment. |
For the workaholic a planner is a must-have. It is vital for scheduling and structure. With so many things to tackle, who needs the added stress of remembering every last detail? |
Writers can never get enough reading material. What's better than getting on book on writing tips? Maybe a book publishing deal, but that can hold off until after this gift.
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation Did you hear the joke about the panda that walks into a bar? Lynne Truss heard it and it made her angry. Her commentary on English grammar is funny yet sharp. It is seriously perturbing, though, when you realize she's right in saying that poor grammar is all too common. |
E.B. White may be best known for Charlotte's Web, but he was also a serious grammarian. White collaborated with Cornell English professor William Strunk, Jr. on this style manual that has become an absolute necessity for English classes. Save your writer some money by buying it in advance. |
Writetype: Personality and Writing Styles The way you write reflects how you think. Authors should take advantage of their strengths and use their voice in their work. This book will help with discovering that style and how to harness its potential. |
140 Characters: A Style Guide for the Short Form The Twittersphere is calling: tweet, tweet! Believe it or not, your online success will depend on your 140 characters. If your writer/blogger/social networking friend wants to get a million followers, you need to get him or her this book. |
The Online Copywriter's Handbook Writing for print is a completely different realm than writing for the Web. Basic grammar aside, you need to know how to acknowledge sources, link, create traffic, and incorporate multimedia in your work. It can be a bit confusing for anybody starting out, so this makes for a good gift. |
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Writing: A Manual for the Digital Age Let's face it. Gutenberg was awesome and all, but then came IBM, Microsoft, and Apple and, well, reality bites: digital media took over and is now overshadowing centuries of history. This is a guide for the youngsters and old dogs alike learning how to write persuasively. |
ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income Ever wonder how some people became famous? *cough* Perez Hilton *cough* That's because they knew how to market their blog and write traffic-creating content. Learn these not-so-secret secrets. |
The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging The Huffington Post will provide you with journalism guidelines for blogging. That way your posts will have that professional touch. |
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting Does your friend or family member ever have great movie ideas? Why not put that to good use? If you're lucky he or she will acknowledge you on the red carpet or while receiving that first Oscar. |
Your First Novel: An Author Agent Team Share the Keys to Achieving Your Dream First it was wizards, then it was vampires; what will be the next big breakthrough? This is the perfect book to get for that creative writer with all the crazy ideas. |
Give a silly gift or a useful trinket. Writing doesn't have to be just about the boring stuff.
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You can't sit there and tell me you've never tried magnetic poetry. It's one of those childhood rites of passage to come up with the silliest rhyme you can. Now there are so many types of magnetic poetry it's ridiculous. |
If you've ever known somebody who wanted a cure for writer's block, here it is. This is a literal block that has handy tricks and tips for when you get stuck. |
Whenever your writer friend gets halfway through Ulysses they give up. Get them an inspirational bookmark and you'll see, they will read through it completely in no time. Well, maybe not no time...it's Ulysses, after all. |
This old school letter opener makes your job easier. You won't get any more paper cuts unless you nick yourself on this sharp little blade. And it doubles as a weapon at dark underground clubs. No, but really. [Ed. note: Please don't try this out at clubs, underground or no.] |
Original Itty Bitty Book Light Reading before bed is a good idea. Do you know what isn't such a good idea? Having the light switch far away from the bed. You inevitably get really sleepy and then have to get up out of the covers, and it's just not cool. With this book light there will be no issues. |
As with clothing, accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Believe it or not, a writer's desk is incomplete without the extra tools.
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Letter seals mean business. You'd think you were getting an acceptance letter for Hogwarts itself when you get a letter in the mail with a wax seal. |
If you get the seal, you should include the wax. You can get wax in several colors. The most standard are red |
This is a useful tool for anybody who does wax sealing. It's a spoon that lets you hea the sticks of wax and then carefully pour it into place. |
Greeting card organizers are wonderful because you can keep track of cards you want to use for writing to friends and family. You also get handy tips for the different types of celebrations where you can use the cards. |
Dictionary Dictionaries and thesauri are no-brainer gifts for writers. Pocket |
