Fernando H. Green Blog: 20 Christmas Gifts for Writers

Need Christmas gift ideas? Want to know what to tell your friends and family members what to get for you?

20 Christmas Gifts for Writers

Or do you have a writer friend or family member in your life and are completely stumped on what to get them this holiday season?

Well, we’ve got you covered with this curated collection of Christmas gifts for writers.

1. Pride & Prejudice Tote Bag ($29)

This looks like just another tote bag with some Edwardian English women fanning themselves as they admire an eligible bachelor with a large fortune who is obviously in search of a wife.

All of that is true, but if you whip out your magnifying glass you can also read the first 20,000 words of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

That’s right, this is a tote with words. You can get this one and totes for other classic books here from Litographs.

2. Penguin Classics Postcards ($17)

Christmas Gifts for Writers We should all be writing more postcards. We really should. But let’s be honest, you probably won’t. Even so, these awesome postcards of classic books make for great bookmarks. You can also decorate your writing space with them. Or just regift them to your friends. So many great options.

Get your Penguin Classic postcards here.

You can also get this set with famous quotes in literature.

3. Moleskine. The only notebook you need. ($18)

I’ve gotten a lot of notebooks for Christmas, but these are the only ones I look forward to. They’re almost too nice to write in (that doesn’t stop me, of course).

Get your Moleskine here.

4. Le Petit Prince Tshirt ($34)

Another great book print from Litographs, except this one you can wear.

If you have really amazing eyesight or a spare microscope in your tote bag, you can read almost the whole text of Le Petit Prince on this Tshirt. You can get this one, and other classic book Tshirts, from Litograph’s website here.

5. Classic Book Coasters ($18)

Almost all writers have a thing for beverages. Whether we’re drowning ourselves in coffee, tea, whiskey, or cola, we usually like to have a beverage close at hand as we write.

Thus, the need for coasters. So many coasters.

And these coasters can inspire you even as you write your own literary masterpiece. You can get ’em here.

6. Matchbooks that Look Like Actual Books ($8)

OK, I don’t smoke, and while I do light the occasional fire, I rarely use matches. But I still want these crazy little matchboxes that look like actual books because they’re so cool.

Someone, please buy these for me.

7. Edgar Allen Poe Socks ($10)

Edgar Allen Poe was a strange guy. A genius, yes, but also pretty strange.

And that’s exactly why having a mosaic of his face all over your socks just works.

These are a must have.

8. Les Misérables Scarf ($39)

Okay, this is our last book-on-a-garment item, but come on. You can’t deny it would be cool to have a scarf printed with 30,000 words of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, Les Misérables. You don’t even have to have finished the book to wear it, that’s the best part.

One cool feature of Litograph’s scarves is that you can choose from dozens of different books, or even upload your own book (!!!) and choose your own font and color (I like the looks of Petit Formal in blue).

Customize your own literary scarf here.

9. Banned Books Mug ($12)

We’ve already established a writer’s need for hot beverages, but what’s cool about this mug is that when you have your coffee or tea in it, the blacked out book titles get revealed.

Super high tech.

Get it here.

10. A Very Orange Pencil ($15)

Huh. Does that look like our logo?

Why yes. Yes, it does.

Well look at that.

You can get your own very orange pencil here.

Books for Writers

Books are always a great gift for writers, but here are a few in particular that I recommend frequently.

11. The Modern Library Writer’s Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction by Stephen Koch

This is the best book for writers I’ve ever read. Seriously.

If you haven’t read it yet, you should. It doesn’t disappoint.

Get the book here.

12. Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder

Save the Cat! is a screenwriting book, but it’s equally good for writers who want to understand how good stories are structured. Fun, no nonsense, and full to the brim of storytelling wisdom, it’s a must have.

Here’s the link.

13. The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell was an academic who studied myth and found an underlying story structure in most of the stories humanity has been telling throughout history.

The book has influenced writers for decades, including George Lucas, who said, “In the three decades since I discovered The Hero with a Thousand Faces, it has continued to fascinate and inspire me.”

The writing is a little heavy, but it’s definitely worth reading. You can get your copy here.

14. Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris

Some writers are into grammar, correct punctuation, and the Oxford comma, and some aren’t. I fall into the latter category. Yes, grammar’s great, but I don’t start shaking in excitement when I think about it the way Liz and Alice do.

For the grammarists out there, this book is for you.

Writing Gifts From The Write Practice

We’ve made it our mission to help people become better writers through deliberate practice, and we have a variety of great books, courses, and programs to help. Check them out for your Christmas wishlist!

15. Writing Contests (starts at $20)

Writing contests can be some of the best practice you can get for your writing. They offer motivation (prizes!), deadlines, inspiration (contest themes!), and publication opportunities.

We’re currently hosting our Winter Writing Contest and are offering prizes worth over $3000 for your fiction or narrative nonfiction story.

You can sign up here.

16. Becoming Writer, Premium Workshopping Community ($150 yearly membership)

Writing can feel like an isolated, lonely activity—but it doesn’t have to be. When you join together in community with other writers, the support, encouragement, accountability, and feedback you’ll get will keep you motivated and help you grow.

In Becoming Writer, you can post chapters of your book or short stories and get the feedback you need to grow as a writer. You’ll also get weekly deadlines so you don’t get stagnant in your writing. Finally, we’ll connect you to our partner publications, like Short Fiction Break literary magazine, so your writing can get the attention it deserves.

You can sign up for the community here.

17. 100 Day Book Challenge (starts at $400)

Do you dream of writing a book? This program is designed to get you to finish it.

With scientifically proven motivation techniques, practical writing lessons, and accountability straight from our team, if you want to finish your book, the 100 Day Book Challenge will give you the best possible chance.

We’re about to start our next semester. You can reserve your spot here.

18. Scrivener Superpowers by M. G. Herron ($10)

Scrivener Superpowers is not just another how-to-use software book. It’s an entertaining, easy-to-read, deeply helpful guide that will teach you to take your story from concept to completion using the most cutting-edge writing program available.

You can get your copy here.

19. Let’s Write a Short Story! by Joe Bunting ($10)

Short stories have been the training ground for writers for almost two centuries.

Let’s Write a Short Story! will help take your dreams of a writing career and turn them into practical steps toward achieving those dreams. If you’ve ever wanted to see your name in print, this book will help you make it happen.

Get your copy here.

20. 15 Days to Write and Submit a Short Story Workbook ($10)

The companion workbook to the bestselling Let’s Write a Short Story, this workbook will hold your hand through the process of writing, editing, and getting your short story published.