how many times have you gone to barnes and noble, absolutely lost? someone you love - maybe your friend, child, or partner - is a writer, and you want to show them you definitely understand and appreciate them with a knockout christmas gift. there's a whole section dedicated to writerly gifts: fountain pens, catchphrase mugs, even desks you can use in bed! surely any of these would be a hit, right?
now, how many of these same gifts do you see in the discount bin the day after new year's?
while i could talk at length about christmas being a consumerism holiday and the ethical implications of all the junk that's mass-produced to absolutely no one's benefit, i'll refrain from my personal thoughts and instead use this time to list 6 christmas gifts that'll actually benefit the writer in your life.
#1: coffee, tea, or...both
i'm a coffee person. any coffee. starbucks, mcdonald's, local, homemade, convenience store, hot, iced, whatever. coffee is versatile, energizing, and best of all, it's one of the stereotypes about writers that usually holds up. of course, some writers are more partial to tea, which is fair.
if you'd like to give your writer a gift they'll truly appreciate, consider gift cards to a local coffee shop and support your small businesses. where i'm from, three tree coffee and the daily grind are popular options. not sure what's in your area? chains like starbucks, dunkin, or tim horton's are safe choices, too.
not excited about the gift card route? consider buying your writer a subscription where they can receive coffee or tea every month. top of the mornin, owned by youtuber jacksepticeye, has a variety of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate selections that are sure to please. i can vouch for this one: the midnight oil blend is smooth and caffeinated. equator coffees is an lgbtq+ owned business with their own successful history of good coffee. and, if a subscription is a little too deep for your pocket this year, a single bag of high-quality coffee or tea is an excellent gift itself.
#2: local restaurants and delivery
speaking from experience: there's nothing nicer when you've just written five thousand words than hearing a knock on the door and your favorite food is just sitting there. we could also get into the ethical implications of delivery services and the impact they have on not only drivers, but restaurants too, but in the spirit of christmas, i'll just politely suggest doing your own reading into the matter and choosing the least terrible service available to you.
if you'd like to cut out the middle man, consider giving your writer a gift card to a local restaurant with their own delivery fleet. gift cards are great for recipients, but as we know from the covid-19 pandemic, they're also great for businesses, too. plus, you can advise your writer to save up their gift cards, and use them to treat you both to a meal at a later time!
and, if you're in a pinch, doordash, grubhub, and postmates are popular delivery services that your writer will also appreciate.
#3: books!
it's hard to be a writer if you aren't reading! receiving a book from a loved one is probably my personal favorite gift. there's no better way to tell your writer, "i see you, i understand you, and i support you" than by gifting them a book that's catered to their personal interests.
of course, this option takes some leg work on your part. you'll need to know what genre your writer likes, along with the books they already have. while i would genuinely love receiving a novel about a forbidden romance between a postman and a baker, i'd be even more stoked if i received something like the only good indians by stephen graham jones, death in her hands by ottessa moshfegh, or a novel from an indie press like word west or barrelhouse. receiving these books would mean my loved one took the time to find out i love horror, thrillers, and supporting independent publishers.
speaking of independent publishers, why not check out mine? BULL magazine features free online stories from excellent writers dedicated to rewriting masculinity, and cowboy jamboree press offers "good grit lit" from some great writers.
when buying a book for your writer, consider purchasing from a locally-owned bookstore or from online resources like bookshop, which ensures your order comes from a small-business bookstore and has options for the uk and spain.
#4: cozy clothes
i love a good cardigan. and i love wearing comfortable clothes when i sit down to write. plus, with fast fashion under the microscope right now, there's never been a better time to give your loved ones some ethically-sourced and environmentally-responsible clothes they'll love. now, i haven't bought any clothes in years (please forgive my occasional target run), but i've heard good things about companies like mate and cloak. plus, you can always support independent creators through companies like etsy if you need another, potentially less-expensive option.
make sure you know your writer's preferred textures, colors, and their size before you buy them any clothes. if your writer is particularly sensitive to certain fabrics, they'll appreciate you confirming that with them more than being surprised by a piece of clothing they can't wear because the feeling drives them crazy.
#5: merch
okay, so this doesn't technically have to do with writing, but if your writer loves ghostbusters or animal crossing or hannibal, why not get them some merch they can use, wear, or look at during a writing session? my friend rachel gave me some fire emblem: three houses stickers as a gift once, and now, i get to see my favorite character judging me every time i open my laptop to write. yes, we write because we're driven by a sense of purpose, blah blah blah, but we also write because other people make cool stuff, and that makes us want to make cool stuff, too.
there's all sorts of creativity-inducing merch out there, including wall art, plushes, stickers, throw pillows, and figurines. do a little research into the intellectual property your writer loves and you'll be sure to find a thousand items that your writer would be stoked to have.
consider buying merch directly from the source, from officially-licensed vendors, or from independent artists on etsy or redbubble. beware of bootleg merch: some sellers create low quality products to capitalize on someone else's creativity. if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.
also consider supporting your writer's interests by gifting them subscriptions to podcasts they love, news publications they like, and even services like netflix and hulu. sure, we're writers, but what are writers without procrastination?
#6: direct financial support
your writer will never ask you for this, but it's what we're all thinking: the best christmas gift a writer can get is financial support so they can continue writing. feel weird about venmo'ing your writer twenty bucks with a christmas tree emoji and calling it a day? fear not: there are lots of other more thoughtful ways to support them.
does your writer use services like ko-fi? check out their social media to see if they accept donations. are they freelancers through websites like fiverr? consider commissioning your writer to create a short piece for you. and, when all else fails, don't be afraid of the venmo route: sometimes, when we're submitting to lit mags, those submission fees can add up.
want to make a huge contribution to your writer's career? a very generous gift idea for your writer is to pay for a writing retreat. let's face it: most of us have day jobs, bills, car repair, and even kids to think about. sure, we've seen the hallmark movies about writers escaping to gorgeous winter retreats where all they have to do is write, but who can afford that type of thing?
consider bookings through sites like airbnb for unique getaways that are a little more special than your local day's inn. also see stephanie bucklin's article, "the 8 best affordable writing retreats that won't break the bank" for more great info.
if this sounds like something you'd like to do for your writer, but you can't foot the bill by yourself, ask around to other friends and family and see if they'd also like to pitch in. maybe someone can watch the house while they're gone, help out with the kids, water the plants, feed the dog. trust me: nothing would beat the look on your writer's face on christmas day when they open their silly card to a plane ticket/hotel reservation for even a couple of days.
final thoughts
there are several great christmas gift options for writers that don't involve cheap novelty mugs or weak ballpoint pens disguised as feather quills. my advice is to know your writer, appreciate them, and get them a gift you can both feel good about. and who knows? maybe this list will save you the trip to the overcrowded chain bookstore you've been dreading since halloween.
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