The Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers

Did everyone survive the big shopping days of Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday? Me? I’m a lazy bum and did most of my shopping online. No crowds for me.

Obviously, I’m not a shopaholic, so I usually need help knowing what gifts to buy for people. That means it’s time to start thinking about what we might want for writerly gifts this year. *smile*

With that in mind, I updated this list of gift ideas for writers.  If you’re a writer, this might help you give suggestions to family or friends.  Or you can direct your family to this post for ideas.  Something on this list is bound to please every writer out there.

Stocking Stuffers

• Snack foods for keeping up energy
• Fingerless gloves (type and have warm fingers)
• Timer for writing sprints
• AquaNotes waterproof notepads (for shower ideas—yes, these really work!)
• Pens (these are my favorite—multicolor, blue, or black)
• Pencils/mechanical pencils
• Notepads (various sizes for purse, nightstand, car, etc.)
• Highlighters (for Margie-Lawson-style editing)
• Stamps with various messages (suggested by Daniel Swensen)
• Randomizers like Rory’s Story Cubes (suggested by Daniel Swensen)

For Writers Who Outline

• Note (index) cards
• Notebooks (many writers prefer plain spiral or steno pads over fancy, leather-bound books—those are too pretty to use *smile*)
• Ugly writing journal (so we’re not tempted to “save” it) (suggested by Daniel Swensen)
• Corkboard
• Pushpins
• Whiteboard
• Dry erase markers and eraser

Technology Helpers

• Programs like Scrivener (Windows and Mac) for organizing and word processing
• Dragon Naturally Speaking (options at Amazon) for voice recognition-driven writing (suggested by Kyla Rucci)
• Latest version of favorite word processing program
• Software for self-publishing (image editing, ebook formatting, etc.)
• Flash drive for backups
• Typing program (learn to type faster!)
• More memory for computer
• Bigger hard drive for computer
• Wireless/ergonomic keyboard or mouse
• Virtual keyboard for mobile use
• Mini voice recorder

Big Ticket Items

• New computer/laptop
• Bigger/second computer monitor
• Printer
• eReader or eTablet (Kindle/Kindle Fire, iPad, Android tablet, etc.)
• Ergonomic desk chair
• Website/blog hosting, upgrades, or design (my recommendation) (*psst* use code JAMIGOLD to get 10% off everything they do)
• Registration fee for writing conference or workshop
  • The next WANACon, the online writing conference, is February 21-22, 2014 (sign up here to be notified when registration opens next week).
  • The regional Desert Dreams conference (April 4-6, 2014) includes the bonus of an April vacation in Phoenix—perfect weather!
• Membership fee for a writing group (like RWA—which is open worldwide and for more than just romance writers)
• Cover design or editing costs for self-published authors

Writing Craft and Publishing-Related Books & Tools

• The Thesaurus books by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi (The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus, and The Negative Trait Thesaurus)
• Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
• Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
• Hooked by Les Edgerton
• The Power of Point of View by Alicia Rasley
• My Story Can Beat Up Your Story by Jeffrey Alan Schechter
• Wired for Story by Lisa Cron
• The Observation Deck by Naomi Epel
• etc., etc. *smile*

Writing and Publishing-Related Workshops

• Craft, business, and social media classes offered by WANA International (message me if you’re interested in one of my workshops, and we’ll work out something)
• Writing books and classes by Holly Lisle (I’ve purchased her 7-Day Crash Revision Workshop and this bundle of writing clinic workbooks)
• Lecture packets for Margie Lawson’s writing courses (suggested by Stina Lindenblatt) (I’ve used her Empowering Characters’ Emotions, and Stina also recommends Writing Body Language and Dialogue Cues Like a Psychologist and Deep Editing: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices, and More .)

Miscellaneous Suggestions

• Gift basket full of writing-related ideas (pens, notebooks, special beverage and glass, inspirational items or quotes, etc.) (suggested by Theresa Miller)
• Gift cards for books (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.)
• Gift cards for office supply stores
• Fun reader/writer-type gifts (“Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel” mug, “gifts for writers,” The Literary Gift Company, etc.)
• Canisters of favorite coffee or hot chocolate (suggested by Angela Quarles)
• Tea or other writing beverage (suggested by Daniel Swensen)
• Totem for a muse (figurine, stuffed animal, etc.) (suggested by Lisa Hall-Wilson)
• Magnetic poetry kit (now available in tons of specialized themes—from Shakespeare or passion to cat or bacon lover)
• Literary action figures
• High-quality printer paper for queries/submissions (suggested by Christy Farmer)
• Printer ink (suggested by Shain Brown)
• Subscription to music source (Pandora, Spotify, Grooveshark, etc.)
• Premium level of online service (Dropbox for automatic backups, Amazon Prime for free shipping/lending library, etc.)
• Entry fee for a writing contest
• Massage gift certificates (suggested by Julie Glover)
• Back or foot massager (suggested by Gene Lempp)
• Comfort clothes (robe and fuzzy slippers) (suggested by Brooklyn Ann)
• Writing time (anything from babysitting to a writers’ retreat)
• Housecleaning services (especially during deadlines) (suggested by April Bradley)

What did I miss? What other writing craft or publishing-related books do you recommend? Do you have suggestions for other items to add to the list? Which things would you most like to receive? Is there anything on the list you wouldn’t want? Did you brave the store crowds this year?

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