Sometimes buying Christmas gifts is fun. Sometimes it’s hard. If you’re like me, you’re always on the watch for that perfect unique gift for all your favorite people on your list. In this year’s installment of our annual Christmas Gifts for Writers post, see if you can find just the right gift for the writers on your list–or for yourself. Never too late to get that letter off to the North Pole, right?
Christmas Gifts for Fun-Loving Writers
(Note: the following are affiliate links.)
1. Jane Austen Action Figure
Every writer needs a mascot! Why not let your mascot be your muse too? Set action-figure Jane up on your desk for some everyday inspiration (or maybe just playtime). You can complete the set with Shakespeare, Dickens, and Poe.
2. Avengers Flash Drives Set
Save all your important writing and show off your proud inner nerd with this set of four 8GB flash drives, featuring our favorite Marvel Avengers.
3. Music Fountain Dancing Water Speakers
Jazz up your writing sessions with a visual symphony to accompany your writing music. It’s like the fireworks in your brain right before your eyes!
Christmas Gifts for Writers Who Are Researching
Make sure you’re getting all your facts right in your latest story by double-checking commonly made errors in these handy reference guides.
4. Body Trauma: A Writer’s Guide to Wounds and Injuries by David W. Page
5. The Writer’s Guide to Weapons by Benjamin Sobieck
6. Swordfighting, for Writers, Game Designers and Martial Artists by Guy Windsor
Christmas Gifts for Health-Conscious Writers
7. Isokinetics Balance Ball Chair
Life at a desk can cause major health problems, both to our backs, necks and wrists, and also to compressed internal organs. One smart solution is a balance-ball chair that encourages good posture, as well as circulation. That it strengthens your abs and other core muscles is just a bonus!
8. Swiftpoint Mobile Mouse
Ergonomic mouses (mice?) have been attempting to address the problem of wrist strain and repetitive injury for a long time. This revolutionary new design seeks to mimic the more natural movements of our hands when writing, allowing for less repetitive movement. This model is designed for mobile tablets; they also offer a laptop model.
9. Ergotron Sit-Stand Desktop Workstation
Standing desks can be a great alternative to sitting all day at your computer. This model sits atop your desk and adjusts up and down, so you can choose when to sit and when to stand to best alleviate the pressure on your back.
Christmas Gifts for Reading Writers
10. Zipper Bookend
Zip up your place in your favorite book with this clever little bookmark.
11. Prism Glasses for Reading in Bed
No more getting a crick in your neck while reading in bed. Lie flat and see your book’s pages without straining your eyes or contorting your position.
12. Typographical Symbols Wooden Bookends
Organize your latest batch of books and show off your punctuating style with these beautiful bookends.
Christmas Gifts for Stylish Writers
13. So Many Books So Little Time Pendant Necklace
This gorgeous little number does triple duty as a fashion statement, a timepiece, and a reminder of this universal truism among readers and writers.
14. Out Of Print Library Card Socks
Get your toes warm on Christmas morning with these funky odes to the retro library card.
15. You Know You Are a Writer When T-Shirt
Perfect for Wordplayers who follow my daily #YouKnowYouAreAWriterWhen tag on Twitter and Facebook! Let the world know what it’s really like to be a writer.
Christmas Gifts for Writing Writers
16. Writer’s Block Journal
Get it? It’s a visual pun!
17. Writer Emergency Pack Writing Prompts and Exercises
I’m not generally much of one for writing exercises, but nearly every card in this deck offers some kind of insightful and cliche-bursting suggestion.
18. TaoTronics Handheld Document Scanner
Never waste time typing up research notes and the like again. Instantly, scan and digitize your entire library.
Christmas Gifts for Mobile Writers
19. Identification Skins for Apple Chargers
Never confuse your charger with someone else’s. Stamp it with your personal style, for pleasure as well as purpose. This “Heroes” set is my favorite (naturally).
20. Pencil-Style Digital Stylus
Who says we can’t be tech-cool and old-school? Go back to your pencil-writing roots with this premium walnut digital stylus for your phone and tablet.
21. Rolling Laptop Desk
Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders for stuck creativity. Take your desk on the move with this stylish, space-conserving laptop desk.
Christmas Gifts for Organized Writers
22. Antique Book Tissue Box Dispenser
Hide your ugly old tissue box with behind this lovely handcrafted ode to old books.
23. Wall Mounted Mail and Key Organizer
Keep your papers (and keys) off your desk and neatly sorted in this beautiful antique-replica organizer.
24. 5-Tier Corner Bookshelf
What writer can’t always use another bookshelf? Take advantage of that empty corner space in your office to display even more of your favorite books.
Christmas Gifts for Writers Who Are Always Learning
25. Writing How-To Books
Finally, don’t forget that writing how-to books are always at the top of any writer’s list. You can check out my full list of Recommended Reading for Writers and my own series of writing books below. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Wordplayers, tell me your opinion! What are your top Christmas gifts for writers this year? Tell me in the comments!
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About K.M. Weiland | @KMWeiland
That t-shirt is perfect, so perfect. I love it!
It is is perfect! I mostly like knowing that I’m not the only one who does the shower thing. More, I will even speak the dialogue tags, “he said, she said.”
I always think of the Cameron Diaz’s “voiceover” in The Holiday. That’s pretty much how I go through my day!
I don’t do it in the shower, but I most certainly act out dialogue between characters. It’s fun, and it helps me to see how if it sounds ridiculous when said out loud. I don’t say ‘he said’ or ‘she said’; but I do change my voice. I basically act like I’m recording an audio drama 😀 (just did it about an hour ago, actually)
Hah. No wonder people think we’re all crazy. 😉
Someone posted a photo of a mug on FB today that said, “Pay no attention to my browsing history. I’m a writer, not a serial killer.”
It’s a fair warning! :p
That is awesome! There have been so many times where I think to myself, ‘Hmmm, is this okay to look up online?’
These are fantastic suggestions, although I already have that weapons book. (wink wink)
Another idea is the gift of time and solitude through a hotel gift card and the promise of a free weekend. I don’t think any writer would turn that down.
Excellent post as always. Thanks, KM!
Hah! Thanks for stopping by, Ben. 🙂 Your book’s on my Christmas list this year. Put in a good word to Santa for me, will you? 😉
These are great! I like the Jane Austen doll. I got myself Structure Your Novel and the workbook for my Christmas present.
Ah, so that’s why Santa keeps calling me. 😉 Thanks, Eileen! I hope you find them useful in all your writing endeavors in 2016!
I love all of those research book suggestions. (And the action figures. Seriously, that is awesome.)
I would add Rory Miller’s “Violence: A Writer’s Guide.”
Thanks for the suggestion! I’m always interested in books like that–as you can tell!
I love Jane Austen. It’s hilarious that there’s an action figure.
I also love the tissue box! I’m reclaiming the living room from “land of children’s toys” to “adult room that is actually decorated the way I like” since the kids are finally old enough to keep all their crap, I mean treasures, in their own room. The tissue box with the weird purple watercolored cardboard box that travels around the room is one of the last holdouts in getting the room organized. So clearly I need the antique book tissue box.
And the other thing a writer would love for Christmas? Hours of quiet time to write!
I suppose it goes right along with her zombie-killing heroines these days. 😉
The standbys still work well–gift cards to a favorite book store, Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
My family think I’m nuts, but I just can’t quite bring myself to buy gift cards. I know people probably like them better than anything, but they’re so *boring* to buy! :p
I just LOVE the Jane Austen action figure! What a great idea. Would love to see Shakespeare and Dickens…
You can click through in their links above.
The best writing-related gift I got was last Christmas when my god-mother got me a NaNoWriMo shirt. Until that point, my writing was a secret to the rest of the family (I talked to her about my writing since she’s a published poet). While it was a physical gift, she gave me the gift to finally express myself with my family.
That’s great! I love how it was a gift with meaning beyond the item itself.