Holiday Gift Ideas for Writers

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

With the holidays looming, finding the perfect gift can be tricky. Whether you are shopping for your true love or best friend, here are gift ideas at different price points for the writers in your life.

Journals

Journals are great for logging everything from professional aspirations to spiritual musings. Some writers keep a book of ideas handy wherein they can quickly take note before a thought or observation slips away. The addition of a nice pen to accompany a bound journal can elevate your gift into something memorable.

Voice Recorder

The more writers I meet, the more I hear them talk about using voice recorders to capture ideas when a journal or keyboard is not practical. Some authors draft entire books using recorders. One author I know keeps one at her bedside to capture ideas that come calling at night. Voice recorders can be found with an array of features and in different price ranges.

Dictionary

Though hardly an exciting gift, a dictionary can be a godsend for non-fiction writers. A passion to write doesn’t always equate to an innate gift with words. Although online editions are readily available, some writers prefer to turn pages. A hardcopy edition that includes a thesaurus is a gift that will keep giving through the decades. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary on English Usage is particularly useful for clarifying confusing words that are often interchanged incorrectly. Consider personalizing this gift by writing a few kind words about the author inside the cover.

Subscriptions

A subscription to a favorite magazine or specialty publication is always appreciated. There are also subscriptions to online services and references such as the Christian Writers Institute or The Chicago Manual of Style that are helpful long after the holidays have past. With the multitude of resources available, you may have to ask which subscriptions are best suited for the recipient.

A Writing Retreat

This can vary from paying for conference fees to providing a couple of days of peace and quiet at home. An offer of free time is priceless. You can choose to offer this gift as a singular event or issue coupons that can be redeemed for multiple sessions.

Books

As much as writers like to write, most of us would rather read. A book or two by a favorite author is always appreciated. If you want to gift more than books, consider the latest generation of e-book readers. These can store a library of favorite titles, and their features have improved through the years. An electronic reader eliminates notifications that can distract from the experience when compared to using a reading app on a device. 

Whether you are shopping for someone dear or gifting yourself, enjoy the season. May your holidays be joyful and your words full of light.

I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35 NKJV

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Holiday Gift Ideas for Writers from @Lilka_Raphael on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

A Florida native, Lilka Finley Raphael has been a licensed pharmacist for over thirty years. Her passions for writing, gardening, and photography prompted her to share her experiences and life lessons on her blogs B Is for Blessed and God, autism, & me. You can learn more about her at lilkaraphael.com

Lilka’s greatest achievements are her two adult sons who have flown the nest. Happily married for thirty-two years, she lives east of Atlanta with her husband, Rod. They now share their home with two German Shepherds—Holly and Ivy—and one naughty kitty, Moxie.