The Best Gifts for Writers (and Not One Pen — We Promise)

Writers can often be (lovably) cranky, aloof folks who shut themselves behind closed doors for hours a time. In other words, not always the easiest friends or family members to buy for. We're here to help. From books that will take a prominent space on their shelves to tools that'll help them be their best literary selves — and a few fun, clever gifts thrown in for good measure — here is our guide to the best gifts for writers of every genre.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

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$250 from Amazon
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This vintage-inspired keyboard might be a little on the precious side, but that doesn't mean it's not cool. It comes with a tablet stand and USB and Bluetooth compatibility. Buyers seem to enjoy it. Noted one: "I fully appreciate modern keyboards, but sometimes it's relaxing to slow down a little and enjoy an old-timey keyboard."

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$33/month and up from Cratejoy
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Another monthly subscription box aimed at writers, this one includes an autographed novel, teaching booklet, materials about the publishing process, and curated writing gifts. Reviewers give it 4.5 stars and have largely positive things to say about it.

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$30 and up from The Adventure Challenge
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What imaginative writer doesn't want their own life to be epic? These books contain 50 scratch-off suggestions for fun bonding activities with family, friends, or that special spouse or partner. Each "surprise" adventure comes with an estimated time commitment and cost, usually $20 or less. And each entry includes a place to include a photo and notes, so books become cherished keepsakes even after the challenges are long-completed. There's also a version for solo adventures, a "naughty" edition, and bundles that include an instant camera.

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$9 from Etsy
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Doesn't every writer enjoy the aroma of old books?

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$25 from Uncommon Goods
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With zingers like, "You had to stand in line to hate him," and, "She did not so much cook as assassinate food," this chart can be used as a humorous diversion when their brain needs a break.

$33 from Simpson & Vail
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Not every gift has to be in service to your writer's craft, especially if they're already well-stocked and have a good routine. In that case, you can pick up one of these teas inspired by writers and poets from Jane Austen to Maya Angelou.

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$40 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Sometimes a writer needs to concentrate on anything but his or her latest work. This versatile tool will let them do that while keeping their brain in creative mode.

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$20 on Amazon
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Character development is important, but the world those characters dwell in can be just as important a detail in a story. This wonderful book takes readers on a journey through "the greatest fictional worlds ever created," including some they've probably never heard of.

$16 from Amazon
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For something that could help an uninspired artist crank past their writer's block, there's this: 26 illustrated cards with "helpful suggestions and specific tips." Writer's Digest called it a "portable tool for story resuscitation."

$119 from Decomposition
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Sure, those leather journal things are cool, but if you've got a plot development or character study you need to get down quickly, few notebooks are as easy to wrangle and write in as a spiral. This set includes 12 notebooks with fun and eclectic nature-themed covers, which will keep your writer armed with (attractive) note-taking resources for quite some time.

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$32 from Amazon
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This cool cotton canvas tote features portraits of some of history's most famous (and infamous) writers, including Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, Langston Hughes, and Oscar Wilde.

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$16 from Amazon
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This book by Grant Faulkner, who's also executive director of National Novel Writing Month, offers "a wide range of insights and advice for writers at any stage of their career."

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$17 from Amazon
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Most writers are mega-word nerds and will love a book that celebrates "unusual but useful" words such as scullion, petrichor, circumcrescent, and many more. The book promises to deliver the "3,500 most beautiful English vocabulary words" that are rarely used.

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$39/month and up from Cratejoy
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Every writer knows they need to read to improve their craft, and the occasional jolt of caffeine to get them through the latest chapter. Enter this subscription box, which provides both. You can choose your recipient's favorite genre to give the gift even more meaning.

$10 from Amazon
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There are lots of books on the craft of writing — few get as consistently positive reviews as this one by Stephen King. Amazon buyers have rated it 4.8 stars, and it's worth noting that only about 5% of reviewers give it 3 stars or fewer.

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$10/month and up from Masterclass
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Atwood is the author of "The Handmaid's Tale" (plus a bunch of other novels) and through the site Masterclass, she walks word-crafters through lessons such as "Getting Started," "Structuring Your Novel," and more. Not an Atwood fan? Not to worry. The site offers classes from plenty of other writers, including Neil Gaiman, Judy Blume, and David Sedaris.

$44 from Caskers
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They're going to need something to put in those shot glasses, and this bottle of copper pot Irish whiskey is both clever and award-winning (it was a gold medal winner at the International Spirits Challenge in London).

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$48 and up from Journal of the Month
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Reading the work of up-and-coming authors can provide a big boost of creativity for an aspiring writer. Through this site, you can gift someone anywhere from four to 24 journals that can be delivered monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly.

$75 from Rayo and Honey
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Literary work is about writing and editing — ad nauseam. This banner, which can be hung up near a writing desk, is meant to inspire that process. Measuring 12.5 by 17 inches and reading "Much to be Done … & Undone," it's made of cotton canvas, a cotton black hanging string, and an oak hanging stick.

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$25 from Amazon
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Writers spend a lot of time in front of their computer screens. Help reduce the strain on their eyes with a pair of these popular and well-rated Amazon specs, which come in a few colors and styles.

$25 from Etsy
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We are in love with the Etsy shop PopChart, and this scratch-off chart of 100 novels essential for any writer is a perfect example of why. It's utilitarian while also creative, clever, and wonderfully designed.

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$14 from Amazon
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Story development can strike at the oddest of times, and sometimes a writer just needs to get that down on a stickie note and save it for later. This handy two-pack of monitor-adjacent message boards will let them do that and come back to it later.

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$9 from Amazon
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This useful but inexpensive gift will make sure your favorite writer doesn't get interrupted when creativity does strike.

$499 from Freewrite
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The problem with laptops is that they're full of distractions, which can be the death knell to any story. This Indiegogo-funded product is the opposite of that. Like a 21st-century typewriter, it offers a distraction-free writing process but has a four-week battery life and weighs less than 2 pounds.

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$15 from Chronicle Books
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This set of 20 notecards and envelopes has colorful, graphic illustrations that will resonate with any writer and/or book lover.

$29 from Amazon
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This quote from Benjamin Franklin hanging on your writer's wall is a reminder that part of crafting great stories is getting away from the keyboard and living.