If you have a writer in your life, you’re an uncommonly lucky duck. Beyond having someone witty and wise to banter with every day, you also have a person who’s ridiculously easy to please in the gift department. Think I’m exaggerating? I polled my writer friends—real, paid professionals who work the word nerdery all year long—and collected their thoughts on the best gifts for writers, whether for the holidays, birthdays, or any other just-because day.

Generally speaking, writers aren’t a fancy lot, and we don’t want you to get fancy, either. Forget about those “unique gifts for writers” listicles that tout items like Buddha Boards, reading pillows, typewriter cuff links, candles with scents like “old books” (a smell precisely no one enjoys for more than a minute), and Zen gardens; these novelties might see a use or two before being relegated to the “Take out when ____ is visiting” shelf of some half-forgotten closet. To really impress, pick up one of the following gifts for writers, categorized from budget yet sure to be appreciated to long-lasting value and impact to major wow factor.

 

Budget-Conscious Gifts for Writers

 

Gift certificates for books. Yes, you could also buy actual books, but we only recommend this if you’re familiar with what’s on your writer friend’s to-read list. We’re pretty picky when it comes to books, and would prefer to select our own.

Kindle Fire HD 8. For the writer who’s been slow to switch from paper to e-books, now’s the time, what with the technology getting more and more affordable. Get the Fire HD for those who also need Internet connectivity. (The Kindle Paperwhite, which comes with some special offers, is a great choice for folks who want an uninterrupted-by-tech reading experience, but it’s more expensive.)

Gift card for Starbucks or other favorite coffee shop. Preferably with a hand-written note to get out and enjoy it while you do something nice/helpful back at home.

Large ruled notebooks. Seems almost too simple, but most writers like to have a handy place to jot notes and ideas. Pick up a few for the office, plus some portable mini notebooks for the car or stashing in a workbag, and for travel.

Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad. The notebook for those who brainstorm best in the shower.

Tombow Mono Drawing Pen. This was developed for artists and illustrators, but I love it for its smooth, non-smudgy note taking. As I’ve mentioned before, it also happens to write on laminated business cards, which is super handy for taking down information you want to remember later about someone you meet.

Subscription to great literary magazine. Think interesting, well-reviewed, or unusual here, such as The Paris Review, the Harvard Review, Sucker Literary Magazine, or this anthology from n+1.

Audible Membership. Perfect for the writer who frequently commutes or enjoys a long walk or run.

 

Keepsake Gifts for Writers, or Gifts That Keep on Giving

Hand-turned wood pen. True, most of us don’t hand-write the majority of the time, but when we do, we love a pen with nice weight and substance in the hand, and a decidedly non-plasticky appearance.

Bound copy of some of her favorite work. Collect some of her poems, stories, articles, or other writing into a personalized bound edition—Blurb makes the process simple. You can even add photos and cover art.

Digital voice recorder. If your writer friend is the type who’s always asking if you have a pen and a piece of paper and he’s never tried a recording app on his phone, he might appreciate a freestanding recorder. This pocket-sized digital recorder boasts 50 feet of coverage and 8 GB storage.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 13 voice-recognition software. Another great choice for the writer who wants to dabble in dictation, or break away from being tethered to her keyboard. It’s not cheap, but it’s the kind of gift that will be useful for years to come.

Out-of-print edition of her favorite book. Even die-hard e-book readers love a rare or collectible edition of titles that have sentimental value to them. AbeBooks has a long history of hunting down the gems.

Healthy snack subscription box. Even if we also work out at some point during the day, writers spend a significant amount of time sitting in front of a computer. That, plus intense brainstorming and writing (or intense hair-pulling, when they’re not going so well) can encourage frequent snacking. Since most writers love a good snack but won’t always seek out something healthy when they’re stressed, give the gift of a subscription box with pre-portioned, more nutritious munchies.

Mediabistro subscription. With its “How to Pitch” tip section, online classes, and varied job listings, this site is especially good for journalists and those seeking part- and full-time writing gigs.

 

Gifts for When You Really, Really Like This Particular Writer

Tickets to her favorite live-performance or movie venue. You’d be hard-pressed to find a writer who doesn’t like performing arts, whether theater, music, dance, or film. Buy her tickets to a show she’s been dying to see. Or if you’ve got unabiding love and deep pockets, get her a season pass.

A year’s worth of website hosting services. This is a major help for any writer who wants to maintain a strong digital presence (read: every writer who’s actually serious about writing). There are many options for hosting, but I recommend only the one that I use for my own site: Bluehost, for its affordability, superb tech support, and ability to add on extras, if you need them. Packages start at just $3.95 per month.

Travel-friendly clothes. Sorry, guys, this one is female-specific. But since a lot of women writers, like me, also love or need to travel frequently, I’m in the biz of recommending what I know works well—and that’s Encircled, the gold standard in travel-friendly clothes that are also fashionable. I’ve worn these items on repeat during a variety of trips: the Dressy Sweatpant, Wanderer Sleeveless T, Everyday Twist Top, and Sleeveless Revolve Dress. They wash beautifully, are flattering for a variety of body types, and handily answer the question, “What should I wear on a plane if I want to look good and still be pajama-comfortable?” Beyond the plane, these four bits of fashion alchemy can be remixed into no less than ten outfits.  

Masterclass subscription. Like Lynda.com for artists and writers, Masterclass has short video courses with some pretty big fish, from Margaret Atwood to David Mamet and James Patterson. The All-Access subscription runs $180 per year.

A weekend or weeklong writing retreat. The priciest of all gifts for writers, this one will run in the thousands of dollars for programs like the University of Iowa’s Summer Writers’ Workshop, or several hundred for a smaller regional workshop. But you can’t beat studying with renowned writing teachers—or the gift of time to actually dig into your work. This database hosts a pretty wide-ranging list of conferences, retreats, and workshops.

So there you have it. Short of an actual book contract with a six-figure advance, these are the best gifts for writers. Got more suggestions? Get in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.