The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s that time of the year: buying gifts for friends and family (and, most importantly, yourself!)
If you have a published author on your holiday list and would like to buy him/her something other than notebooks and pens, here are some suggestions from a fellow writer.
Though I would like to note, every writer I know always appreciates a new journal! Pens can be more tricky if they have a favorite kind (like I do).
I’m going to refer to gifts that you might give someone else, but remember, you can also treat yourself!
And before I jump into these gift ideas, do you want to know the best present to give an author, especially an indie author? Buy their book on Amazon and leave a review.
Unless you’ve published an indie book, you most likely won’t understand how much this means to a writer. The vast majority of books are sold on Amazon, and a review helps boost the book with the algorithm.
Having said that, some fun and perhaps quirky ideas include:
Personalized Christmas Ornament
Make a Christmas ornament of your friend’s book cover! If you really want to make your present special, get a dozen or two made.
Many platforms like Etsy offer custom holiday decor. You can even order ornaments through Walmart Photo or a site like Vistaprint or Shutterfly.
If you’re on a budget, you can also make ornaments. One ornament is a glass ball with miniature books inside or an ornament that looks like a book. This example is for Harry Potter book cover ornaments, which are cute, and you can easily swap in your cover. (I might make myself a few Harry Potter ornaments this year….)
Wrapping Paper
Create custom gift wrapping paper of your friend’s book cover.
Places to get paper made are Zazzle and Vistaprint. You can even find places to design wrapping paper on Amazon.
Holiday Greeting Cards
Make book cover cards for your friend to send out for the holidays or any time during the year. Many of the places above will also do cards. You can also design and have them printed through Canva.
Hot Drink & Winter Reading Box
Create a gift box for your favorite author. Add loose tea or hot chocolate and a comfy throw or blanket and some fuzzy slippers. Include a mug with “Published Author” imprinted on it.
Add some handwritten, encouraging quotes to help keep your friend inspired. Barnes & Noble Press has a list to help spark ideas.
Author Survival Kit
To create even more of a celebration, compile a collection of goodies. Be creative! Find a pretty basket and fill it with items authors appreciate. Any items mentioned in this article are good ideas; other suggestions include:
- Snacks – though chocolate is tempting (and of course you can put some in!), the sugar rush can lead to a sugar crash. Err on the side of protein – protein bars or, better yet, nuts like almonds, cashews, and pecans.
- Lip balm
- Eye mask
- Hand cream
- Essential oils, especially peppermint, lemon, or lavender to wake up an author
- Stress reliever such as a cute stress ball or fidget toy
- Tissues (extremely important for first-time indie authors!…)
- Wrist guard or ace bandage – yes, writing and working on a computer all day can leave your hands and wrists sore
- Massager – shoulders and necks get sore also!
Bookish Apparel
Give book-themed apparel—such as sweaters, t-shirts, or socks—printed with covers of books or quotes from popular authors. Even better, have quotes from your friend’s book printed onto the item.
Just as fun are more standard gifts, including:
Personalized Coffee or Tea Mugs
Create a coffee mug with your family or friend’s book cover on it. If other people on your list know the writer, you could also give them a mug, crossing a few names off your list!
Another suggestion is to put an encouraging quote on the mug, such as:
- Chapter by Chapter, Sip by Sip
- Editing in Progress – Handle with Caffeine
- Fueled by Coffee (or Tea), Word Count, and Dreams
- One Mug Away from a Bestseller
- Plotting New Worlds, One Cup at a Time
- Proud Owner of a Published Book (and This Mug)
- This Mug and I Survived Editing
- Write, Edit, Repeat
- Writing is Rewriting
Vistaprint has no minimum or how many mugs you order, so it’s one of the various companies you can use.
Door or Desk Signs
Have signs made that your author friend or family member could put on their door and desk. Some ideas include:
- Author at Work
- Bestseller in Progress
- Published and Proud
- Quiet, Please. Plot Twists Brewing
- Careful, I Might Put You in My Next Book
- Author in Residence
You can create signs at some companies on Etsy or through Vistaprint.
Subscription to a Writing Group or Organizations
If your author friend has indie (self) published, you could get them a year’s subscription to ALLi – the Alliance for Independent Authors. It’s an excellent organization that offers discounts and resources and helps the writer connect with other authors.
There are many writing groups, organizations and associations, so you could also look for a more local group.
Planner & Journal Set
Purchase a yearly planner and personalize it for your friend. You can include inspirational quotes in various spots throughout the year and make a festive cover related to their writing.
Whether you get your writer friend a gift or not, the best present can be some encouraging words. Writing can be a lonely act, and all writers have ups and downs – letting your writer friend know you’re there for them and believe in them is the best gift of them all.
Diane Hatz is a writer, organizer, and inner activist. Her award-winning book “Rock Gods & Messy Monsters” and the follow up “Fallen Spirits” are available at all online retailers. Sign up for her email newsletter to stay in touch.