gift guide for the author in your life - to suit any budget

Gifts for the author in your life

(to suit any budget)

Looking for the perfect gift to show your loved one how much their writing means to you? I’m an author and writing mentor, which means I’m both the target audience for these gifts and I spend most of my days in the company of the target audience for these gifts. That’s how I know this guide is packed with winning present ideas. With options ranging from budget-friendly to higher-ticket splurges of £100 and more, there’s something here for everyone.

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Just so you know: this article contains affiliate links, so I may earn a commission on purchases made by clicking the links below. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I only recommend brands, products, and services that I personally know and love, or which I’ve had recommended to me by people I trust.

Under £20

Writing Slogan Mug

The mug linked here was a gift in years gone by and remains one of my favourites. But writers tend to consume a lot of hot beverages in the course of creating their stories, so a mug is always a welcome addition to the writing desk, and you’ll find a multitude of writing-related slogans available.

Magnetic Poetry Kit

Turn snack time into poetry time with this selection of over 200 words and word fragments on magnetic tiles that you can rearrange into lyrical masterpieces. This is the Book Lovers version, but this fantastic author gift comes in multiple versions and themes.

On Writing

This was one of the first books on writing I ever read and it remains a firm favourite. The twentieth anniversary edition now includes contributions from Joe Hill and Owen King – with a new foreword, ON JOY, by Stephen King himself.

Wreck This Journal

“Think of Wreck This Journal as the anarchist’s Artist’s Way – the book for those who’ve always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it,” reads the blurb. If this sounds like an author you know, you’ll be on to a winner with this gift. (Affiliate link.)

The Artist's Way

Julia Cameron’s multi-million-copy worldwide bestseller has inspired millions of writers worldwide, including Tim Ferriss, Elizabeth Gilbert, and many of my fantastic students and mentoring clients.  (Affiliate link.)

Eats Shoots and Leaves

This hilarious guide to apostrophes, commas, and more is my favourite book about punctuation and a must-have addition to any writer’s bookshelves. (Affiliate link.)

The Elements of Style

The definitive guide to getting your manuscript error-free and ready for submission. Especially if your writer is submitting to the US market, this guide is absolutely indispensable. (Affiliate link.) 

The Writer's Block

Shaped like an actual block and featuring 672 pages of prompts and exercises to fire up the creative muscles, the Writer’s Block offers almost 800 ideas to get your writer out of a creative dip.

Save the Cat! Writes A Novel

One more for the bookshelves: This is one of the structuring frameworks I teach to writers who like to plot their novel in advance but don’t know how to get started. Novelist Jessica Brody applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing.  (Affiliate link.)

Under £50

Scrivener Subscription

Software that’s created by writers, for writers. I personally use Scrivener over any other writing programme. It was a gift to me by a very thoughtful gifter and I’d be prepared to bet your writer will be just as grateful to receive this. (Affiliate link.)

Motivational Art

You can spend a little or a lot on motivational art for your writer’s writing space, but aiming for up to £50 is a good ballpark. This Literary Insults poster is sure to raise a smile (and maybe fire the creative muscles too).

Portable Bluetooth Keyboard

A portable Bluetooth keyboard allows your author to easily connect to their tablet or smartphone and turn any location into a productive writing space. This model is compact and easy to carry and the powerful battery life means your author won’t be caught short on the go.

Literary Magazine Subscription

I’ve been a Mslexia subscriber for many years now and, as a female-identified writer, it’s one of my favourite literary magazines on the market. But any literary magazine subscription gives your writer a sense of community and connection with other authors.

Writers' & Artists' Yearbook

The ultimate guide to publishers, journals and literary agents in the UK and Ireland and an absolutely iconic and indispensible aid to any writer looking for submissions opportunities for their novels and short stories. (Affiliate link.)

Writers' & Artists' Subscription

Alternatively, if your writer prefers a searchable database, the folks at W&A offer monthly and annual subscriptions to their online resources. I love having the book as a tangible asset, but the online database is INCREDIBLY useful.

Under £100

Adjustable Laptop Stand

This is another one of those gifts that can cost a lot or a little, but for the real posture-improving benefits, it’s helpful to splash out a little. Your writer’s spine will thank you for something like this slimline option from Posturite.

the writer's launchpad logo

The Writer's Launchpad

A structured, step-by-step guide for the author who’s struggling to get started on the novel they’ve always wanted to write. My online course offers lifetime access and is on pre-launch sale at 50% off until 31 December 2024. (Launches 15 January 2025.)

ProWritingAid Subscription

This powerful writing assistant offers comprehensive tools to enhance clarity, style, and grammar, helping authors refine their craft. Features like in-depth reports, contextual thesaurus suggestions, and real-time editing really help take the pain out of polishing a manuscript. (Affiliate link.)

External Memory Drive

You can obviously spend a LOT of money on external memory drives, but really the aim here is to create a backup of the work-in-progress in case of disaster (I’ve seen in happen!) so small, portable, and reliable is best, like this one from Samsung.

Portable Laptop Power Bank

Most every writer knows the frustration of having to stop writing early because the laptop has run out of juice and there’s no power point nearby. With a portable power bank, your writer won’t get caught out again, no matter where they choose to write. I use an Anker portable power bank and highly recommend the brand.

writer's block buster

Writer's Block Buster Mentoring Session

If your writer’s creative path has hit a bump in the road, help them get 2025 off to a productive start with the gift of a focused 1-hour mentoring session designed to get to the heart of their writing challenges and get them moving again.

Over £100

A Writing Retreat

I’ll never miss the opportunity to shout about the River Mill in Co Down, Northern Ireland: my happy place and my very favourite writing retreat. If rural Ulster isn’t a viable option for your writer, though, writing retreats are all over the world, and giving your writer the gift of unbroken writing time is absolutely priceless.

London Writers Salon Membership

The London Writers Salon is a collaborative space where writers of all levels can come together to write, share their work, and engage in workshops. Membership starts at £29 per month and offers access to a host of writing-related benefits.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Not all writers need complete silence to write, but there are a fair few of us who do. These QuietComfort Ultra headphones from Bose are pricey, but they’ll be worth their weight in gold to your author.

A Standing Desk

Save your writer’s poor spine with the gift of a standing desk. Not only does it promote better posture and help to relieve the physical strain that comes from hours of sitting, by allowing your writer to alternate position it can also help boost energy levels and enhance focus. 

1:1 Mentoring

Writing can be a lonely process, and sometimes it helps to have an experienced cheerleader in your corner, encouraging you and helping you push back against challenges. My mentoring services come in multiple tiers so you can pick the one that suits your writer.

Coffee Subscription

My creative process is almost entirely fuelled by coffee, and I’m far from alone among writers. Pact coffee is my supplier of choice as it not only tastes great, it also supports smallholder farmers around the world. Plus, they also have a range of Christmas themed coffee gifts on offer at this time of year.

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