Office Supplies
It might sound cliche, but writers like pens, notebooks, and other seemingly-mundane office supplies more than the average person. Try beautiful notebooks and planners, (like these from Moleskine, Baron Fig, and Leuchtturn), pens from Staedtler or Pantone (especially if your writerly friend is also arty), or just a run-of-the-mill set of sticky notes in every imaginable color.
Fingerless Mittens
For productive days in cold offices. (Check Etsy to support independent artists!)
A Flask and a Fifth of Whiskey
Obviously the stereotype that all-writers-are-heavy-whiskey-drinkers doesn’t hold true in every circumstance (we invite you to use your discretion), but something to help your writerly friend fight their writer’s block and celebrate their victories is a thoughtful gift. Alternatives for non-drinkers include champagne, Cheetos, fancy chocolate, bulk coffee.
Literary Shot Glasses
Continuing on that whiskey idea, check out this Great Drinkers Shot Glass collection so that your writerly friend can raise a glass with their idols.
The Gift of Solitary Confinement
There’s a trend in the literary community of writer’s working furiously to win scholarships to fabulously expensive retreats to the woods, the desert, and islands. For what end? Time and space. You can save your writerly friends the pain of applying to eleven places by gifting them a reservation to a cabin, hotel, condo on the beach — whatever suits their fancy. (Or alternatively, pay their $25 application fee for the Sundress Academy for the Arts!)
A Subscription to Duotrope
Duotrope is an online service for writers that helps us track and manage our submissions. It is only $5 a month and a fabulous resource for new writers and those who are just getting started.
Subscriptions to Literary Journals
A journal subscription for a present might seem a little outdated, but to writers of literature, print publications are still a big deal. And by gifting a subscription to a poetry or fiction journal, you’re not only providing a thoughtful and useful present but also supporting the industry. Pushcart provides a list of their favorite journals, but smaller journals are easy to find online too. If you can’t pick one, there is such thing as Journal of the Month club. It’s like one of those monthly wine delivery services but for poetry. Speaking of which, a wine of the month service is always a good idea.
A Letter
Write your writerly friends something written. Writers tend to be the types of people who value the written word immensely, and also the types who will keep a letter from a loved one for the rest of their lives. Find some pretty paper and give it a shot. It is the thought that counts. And the way you write it down.
Books! Books! Books!
Buy your writerly friends your book. Your friend’s book. A book you enjoyed recently. A chapbook. A cookbook. An art book. A book you think they’d enjoy. Something the New York Times told you they’d enjoy. Writers love books. It isn’t a cop out, we promise. (And we have plenty of Sundress titles to choose from at our store!)
A Chicken with a Name
Donate to Sundress Publications and your writerly friend can name a chicken who resides at Sundress Academy for the Arts. Writerly people are excellent at naming things. Do good by them and good for the world this holiday. (Not half bad for the chicken, either.)
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I’m always thrilled with Moleskins…my fave type of gift.
Like these ideas!
Thanks for including Journal of the Month in your list. Perhaps we need to develop a partnership with wine of the month: what drink goes best with an issue of Tin House?