Got a writer in your life? It's the passion that makes a gift memorable and few people are more passionate about their hobby than we writers are. So, this one's not difficult at all! Let's take a look at the top five gifts for the writer in your life.
Not Just Any Writing Tool
True, most work is done on the keyboard these days. But appreciation for the handwritten word is a likely characteristic of many writers. Sometimes the feel of physically writing a sublime quote is all this writer needs to clear my mind. Check out some high-end writing tools for your receiver. Moleskine notebooks are a constant favorite while these pens have a weight that matches the weight of your writer's words.
Wordplay Tees
Do you know a writer who isn't good at word play, or who can't drip thinly-veiled sarcasm at a level that will make your head spin? Do you know any writers who don't appreciate a solid quote that hides a kernel of truth in plain sight? Me neither. We may seem quiet, but us writers like to brag a little about our ability to wield words like a weapon. That's why we so often let our tees do the talking. These tees feature quotes from masters of language and lines from the classics. Flavored Threads features a t-shirt in Greek that will make the language nerd in your life squee, and (bonus) their design studio lets you splash your own sarcastic wordplay on someone's chest.
For Everyday Use
The everyday and the useful can't be overlooked. Not only are these gifts thoughtful, but their daily use means you'll be on your writer's mind whenever they're putting in their BIC (butt in chair) time. Some of my personal favorites: proofreading software from the Associated Press that plugs directly into Microsoft Word and suggests edits based on AP-specific rules and usage guidelines. This is incredibly convenient for the writer who publishes in magazines, newspapers and blogs. Another fave is Dragon Naturally Speaking software, a talk-to-text program that allows your writer to speak their first draft.
Inspirational Décor
Well, let's admit, we could go in several directions here. Inspirational décor might be your writer's style. For example, these literary prints had all my writer friends on Facebook over the moon. I wanted to get my hands on them, too. But, what if your writer is less literary and more irreverent? Well, you can't go wrong with this print from Etsy which declares "I like big words and I cannot lie," because, come on, who doesn't want to have a giggle about that every day?
Gift of Time
As the writer at About.com's site on freelance writing, I outline a post similar to this one every year, suggesting gifts for writers. One year, I turned the list over to my readers. The best response I got? One reader, Cammi, said that her husband wanted to support her writing, so he bought her a weekend away at a local bed and breakfast, where she was to go with a clear head and a clear schedule, and do nothing but write. Believe me, as a writer who is composing this list on Thanksgiving Day, the gift of time to write would be the ultimate testament to the support and love that any writer needs.
Looking for more gift ideas for the writer in your life? Follow me on Pinterest for ideas for both writers and readers. And, leave your ideas in the comments to help out your fellow gift givers!