Tired of people giving you books and pens for Christmas? Oh, wait, of course you’re not—not if you’re a writer! But if you’re tired of everybody on your list giving you books and pens, here’s a little inspiration to help them choose just the right Christmas gifts for writers like you.
Christmas Gifts for Writers Under $10
(Note: the following are affiliate links.)
1. Writing Accessories Mousepad
The only bad thing about having this beauty on your desk is that you’ll probably end up wanting every item in the picture—even Ben Franklin’s reading glasses!
2. Mini Airmail-Style Envelopes
Send your writerly correspondence in style—and let these atmospheric little envelopes perhaps inspire some exotic new characters for your stories.
3. Reading Journal
With checklists of award-winning novels and recommended reading for every genre (spy novels, romance, sci-fi, humor), this classic reading journal also includes plenty of pages for keeping track of all the books you’ve read and want to consume next.
4. Memo Note Dashboard for Computer Monitor
Keep your useful obsession for sticky notes handy by attaching this nifty dashboard to your monitor. Stylishly apply all the sticky notes you need and without damaging your computer.
5. Typewriter Pillow Cover
Let this pillow challenge you to dream productive dreams as you sleep on it—both about your stories and your own life.
6. Jane Austen Socks
Show your love of all things literary—and Austen—in these pretty socks, featuring the Pride & Prejudice quote, “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!”
7. Leather Roll-up Pencil Bag
Store your pencils, pens, and other writing accessories in this gorgeous roll-up pencil bag, featuring a map engraving.
Christmas Gifts for Writers Under $15
8. Vintage Typewriter-Inspired Notecards and Envelopes
The Olivetti typewriter is an icon, both as a design object and as the favorite writing tool of authors as diverse as John Cheever, Leonard Cohen, and Francis Ford Coppola. This elegant notecard set features four distinctive patterns made on the beloved Olivetti Lettera 32. With classic red-and-black printing on off-white paper, these cards are the perfect all-occasion notecard for the typophile, design maven, aspiring writer, or anyone who reveres the printed page.
9. “I Write. What’s Your Superpower?” Mug
Empower yourself and challenge the world by drinking your daily coffee out of this cheeky mug.
10. Wooden Thumb Pageholder
Save your thumb—and your frustration—by keeping stiff and heavy books open with just one hand.
11. Do Not Disturb/Welcome Sign
Let friends and family know when it’s safe risking your creative flow—and when it’s not—using this handy door sign.
Christmas Gifts for Writers Under $25
12. Adjustable Desk Footrest
Improve your posture, rest your feet and back, and protect your furniture—all with this handy hammock design for an under-desk footrest.
13. Book-Themed Pencil Holder (With Drawer)
Adorn your desk and keep your pencils and other odds and ends organized with this book-themed ornament.
14. Typewriter Trinket Box
Show your love for the old typewriters with this little trinket or jewelry box.
Christmas Gifts for Writers Under $50
15. Retro Typewriters Doormat
Keep it groovy (and appropriately themed) around your house with this funky doormat.
16. Book-Shaped Serving Plate
Why leave your love of books at the desk? Bring it into the dining-room table with this gorgeous and minimalistic book-themed plate.
17. Rustic Chalkboard Mail and Key Organizer
Organize all your important letters (and royalty checks) in style with this shabby-chic wall mount.
Christmas Gifts for Writers Over $50
18. Calligraphy Writing Set
Practice your handwriting, write a letter from your historical character, or even write your entire book using this lush calligraphic pen set.
19. Antique-Style Lap Desk
Inspire yourself every day—from the comfort of your easy chair—to write your next magnum opus, using this period-accurate writing desk.
20. Ergonomic Wobble Stool Desk Chair
Adjust your writing seat—up, down, forwards, backwards, or in any direction you need to best suit your posture and keep yourself from stagnating in front of the computer.
Bonus Christmas Gifts for Writers: Writing Books
And if you still haven’t found the right gift for your list or a fellow writer’s this year, you can’t go wrong with the gift of learning. You can check out my full list of Recommended Reading for Writers and my own series of writing books below. Merry Christmas, everyone!
5 Tips for How to Return to Writing After a Long Break
Looking Back on 2022: 5 Reflections on a Year of Healing
What Are the Best Places to Write? 15 Tips to Create the Perfect Writing Space
The Best Christmas Gifts This Writer Has Ever Received
About K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
You find the coolest things!
I just want to say that my favorite Christmas gift last year was the Writer’s Digest Annotated Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte/K.M. Weiland. I devoured and will likely reread. (again, and again) 🙂 I’m a romantic writer and so many of these antique style items really speak to me. (Sci-fi/Fantasy are not my genre but I get so much info from your blog and always feel welcome. Admit it, your a bit of a romantic too! Jane Austin socks! So cute! (strike the word “bit) 😉
This year I’m hoping for more books on writing craft. Your new book Creating Character Arcs is on my list of wishes, along with about 10 others. Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel are, I would say on my shelf, but more likely they are in my lap helping me with my WIP. Good stuff in there and I’m sure your new book holds many more. Best wishes for its success!
Thanks for providing tangible inspirations and I hope your New Year is filled with good things like books and inspiration!
Awww, brownie points for you. 😀 I’ll put in a good word for you with Santa.
I was drooling over this whole list, especially the leg rest hammock. Brilliant!! Thanks for rounding up these awesome ideas for us! Now to go pester the hubby into buying me that hammock. *dashes off*
I currently use my subwoofer as my under-desk leg rest, but, yeah, I though that hammock was genius.
That’s the single best gift on this list IMHO. I will be buying one (assuming I don’t get it as a gift, of course. 🙂
Just asked Santa for all 29!
Hope he’s got a big sleigh!
K.M,
Mine is a mermaid journal so I can write my story notes in that I am writing on. Then office stuff and also painting lessons.
A million dollars would be great-ha-ha.
I’d line up for that last. 😉
I did not know the adjustable footrest existed! I have a non-adjustable desk at home for standing, and I sit at the dining room table when I have to sit. Yet, because I am not quite tall enough (it’s a counter height table and the chairs are a matching height) I’ve been using a little pink footstool with white polka dots to rest my feet. I could use something more adjustable.
I’m going to get the writing superpower coffee mug, and pair it with a Hario Chacha Kyusu tea pot I saw nice reviews for. It’s a glass teapot with an infuser inside it, which I’m going to test with the loose-leaf teas I like.
Speaking of standing, I use a Furinno portable laptop tray to stand when I’m at a desk at work; it fits my desktop keyboard (I have the monitor perched on a stack of dictionaries). When I’m on the couch in front of a TV the Furinno stand is perfect for my laptop. I can’t sit the laptop directly on my lap; it’s too heavy, but Furinno can be adjusted to the right height. The stand is vented, which helps keep the laptop from overheating. I use the purple one, but it comes in many colors.
Oh, yes, I actually have that standing desk (but in boring black). It didn’t work out for me as a desk, but I use it as a stand for my Kindle when reading.
Nice list of mostly inexpensive stuff. For me as a writer, however, all I ever ask for is time. A day off from family life to do nothing but write. Best Christmas, Birthday, and Father’s Day gifts every year 🙂
There you go! And it doesn’t break the budget either.
Okay, this was a great post, except now I want to buy all 20 items for myself and my writer friends. X)
Sorry, should have put a “danger” sign at the beginning. 😉
Love all these ideas!!! Need to send this link to my family 😉 I NEED that pillowcase!!
Sweet dreams! 🙂
I just bought my novel on an infinity scarf from Litograph — but the deal was for those who won NaNoWriMo – still they have lots of great scarves with the text of fabulous books! Mine will be one-of-a-kind custom job because it will have the text from my first published novel on it! Merry Christmas to me! (and $12 of the purchase price goes to NaNoWriMo.) Free shipping too!
That’s fun. NaNo does lots of cool deals for its peeps.
This is my favorite post! I look forward to it every year. Thank you!! 😀
Me too! 😀
I love this post! So well done! Now I know what I want to give and receive. <3 Brilliant!
Thanks for stopping by, Honoree! 🙂
I bought the Jane Austen socks for my wife who loves her books. Thanks for the idea. I see this purchase as the “Inciting Event” in my Christmas shopping experience–moving towards the Christmas rush, but not yet fully committed. The First Pinch Point will come when I compare all that I want to buy (the protagonists’ goal) with my income (the Antagonistic Force). Story structure is, as you say, rooted in everyday life.
Haha. I want you to know this just made my day. 😀
I never leave a comment but I have to really thank you for this post. This was fantastic! I came with the intention of finding gifts for writer friends and also found things that I’d love to have, too! Happy Holidays! This was great!
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it. I always have fun putting this particular post together at the end of the year. 🙂
I’ve already given my Christmas list to my family. But it’s certainly got writing things. Write Mind planner or basic disk binder, craft books and dictionaries, and coloured inndez cards.
Maybe I should buy basic things like index cards myself but I’m a cheapskate and there’ll be someone else who would love to give me something small.
Index cards always make good stocking stuffers.
Conquering Writer’s Block – Santa just one-clicked it for me (thanks Santa!)
I now have the complete KM Weiland writing books set! ?
I knew Santa was a cool dude.
Terrific list! Thank you.
Thanks for reading! Happy shopping! 🙂
Love it! May have to splash out for the antique-style lap desk – it’s incredible.
I know, right? How could you not be eloquent on that thing.
Definitely it would be the hammock! And I would add one gift that would make me very happy as a writer – Scrivener. But this Christmas I have to settle for a writing book about crime stories. Not bad either (since I bought it myself)!
Ah, yes, Scrivener’s fabulous. I got myself the iOS app this year and am just loving it to pieces.
Christmas is over, so I think these are great gifts to buy for myself!
That’s what I’m thinking. 😉 I’ve got my eye on the leather pencil holder.