Christmas is true across the nook, and in the event you’re something like me, you’re frantically dashing to complete up your vacation purchasing. When you’re a author, you may additionally (like me) end up fully at a loss when somebody asks you what you need for Christmas. The older I get, the extra I discover I don’t need to accumulate new gadgets in my residence—the purpose of gift-giving isn’t a lot the merchandise I get a lot because the gesture itself from an individual I care about.
That being stated, writers could be tough to buy and it may be laborious to seek out presents for aspiring writers. There are a couple of apparent decisions (and we’ll discuss these later), however on the subject of writing, there’s actually not an entire lot of fabric required—you want a pen and paper. Perhaps a pc, if typing is your jam. Perhaps a keyboard, if you wish to be fancy about it.
Items for Aspiring Writers
However if you wish to present your like to an aspiring author with a stellar reward that alerts your help—that may be laborious. Like, actually laborious. Particularly as a result of a lot of writing is deeply private, and a lot of the specifics can differ on the subject of style.
So, what do you get for the aspiring author in your life? Or in the event you are the aspiring author in somebody’s life, what do you ask for?
On this article, I’m going to cowl some nice, distinctive presents for aspiring writers that gained’t wind up accumulating mud in some forgotten closet. Let’s get began!
#1 – Writing Software program
Whereas it’s doable to make do with a pocket book or free software program like Google Docs, there are many writing software program choices accessible for writers trying to optimize the expertise of writing itself. These softwares will assist writers maintain their work organized by giving them locations to categorize details about character, plot, and setting.
Writing software program can even make it extremely straightforward for writers to format their very own work, whether or not they’re formatting their novels for self-publication or formatting them to ship in for querying.
Listed here are a couple of software program choices that aspiring writers will love:
Scrivener ($59.99)
LivingWriter ($9.99/mo)
Microsoft Word ($130)
And, in case your aspiring author writes fantasy, they’ll love WordAnvil, which is software program designed to assist with worldbuilding.
#2 – Journals—Significantly
It might sound too apparent to get a author a journal, however writers can by no means have sufficient notebooks. Listed here are a couple of choices:
Spiral-bound single-subject college-ruled notebooks
You don’t must spend a ton of cash to get a author pocket book. A couple of easy college-ruled notebooks like this may undoubtedly be helpful, and yow will discover them virtually anyplace. These are nice so as to add to a author bundle together with a scented candle or tea sampler!
Leuchtturm1917 Ruled Notebook
For a extra luxurious writing expertise, you possibly can’t go flawed with a hardcover pocket book like this. The dominated choice is nice, but when your aspiring author has huge handwriting or usually prefers to have extra inventive freedom with their work, the dotted model of this pocket book is likely to be higher for them.
Rediform Chemistry Lab Notebook
These easy college-ruled notebooks have numbered pages, which is ideal for an organized author. They’re conveniently sized and ideal for jotting down no matter involves thoughts—these are excellent to hold round all day.
Leonard Notebook from Bull & Stash
When you’re on the lookout for one thing extra high-end that your author can use ceaselessly, go for a pocket book with a top quality cowl and refillable pages. The refills imply that writers can order contemporary paper (which is far cheaper than changing your complete journal) and maintain utilizing the unique cowl.
#3 – Books About Writing
Aspiring writers are sometimes hungry for steerage on writing, they usually’re usually (clearly) big followers of books. So what might be higher than a e book about how one can write? I’ve received an inventory right here of choices which can be excellent for starting writers.
Thanks, But This Isn’t For Us: A (Sort Of) Compassionate Guide to Why Your Work is Being Rejected by Jessica Page Morrell
Morrell is a writing coach, developmental editor, and writing teacher, and this e book is a gold mine of beneficial info. I’d been writing for years earlier than I got here throughout this e book, and I discovered so much. Morrell addresses widespread writerly pitfalls and explains how one can right them in a method that’s accessible and sometimes very humorous.
On Writing by Stephen King
That is usually pointed to as the e book about writing, and in the event you’ve learn no different e book concerning the craft, you’ve most likely learn this one. It was assigned in my inventive writing seminar course in school. Stephen King shares recommendation from an extended, sophisticated profession, and even in the event you’re not a author, it’s an interesting learn.
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder has lengthy been established as a basic of the ‘how one can write’ style, and now Random Home has an version of it meant particularly for novelists. In case your aspiring author is a screenwriter, go for Snyder’s version, and in the event that they’re a novelist, take a look at Brody’s.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lammott
This e book is praised as a completely trustworthy information to not solely writing itself, however the way of life which accompanies writing. If you need a information that’s truthful concerning the course of and likewise gives perception from somebody who’s been doing this for a very long time, look no additional.
#4 – Tea/Cocoa/Espresso provides
Writers are famously fussy, as a lot as they could attempt to deny it, and also you’d be hard-pressed to seek out many writers who don’t have rituals surrounding their work. And central to many writers’ course of is a comfortable beverage—this is likely to be a cocktail, a cup of one thing heat, or a can of their favourite soda. If you wish to assist out the author in your life, however you don’t know a lot about writing, right here’s how one can assist:
DIY Hot Cocoa Mix
You will get your author a giant tin of scrumptious sizzling cocoa combine from the shop and it is going to be warmly, gratefully obtained. However if you wish to go the additional mile, strive making a sizzling cocoa combine from scratch! I like to recommend together with this in that bundle thought I discussed earlier—put this in a basket with a scented candle and a pleasant pocket book and also you’ve received a author equipment!
Tea Sampler and Infuser
Does your aspiring author love tea? A lot of them do. When you don’t know what sort of tea they love, you possibly can’t go flawed with a sampler (and, in fact, a cute infuser to maintain them firm whereas they’re engaged on their subsequent masterpiece).
Awesome Coffee Club
You’d be hard-pressed to discover a author who doesn’t have a mild-to-severe caffeine drawback, or at the very least a deep love of espresso. The Superior Espresso Membership, based by the Inexperienced brothers, gives scrumptious espresso that’s ethically sourced. Right here’s the quote from their web site: “Sourcing companions work immediately with small farmers’ collectives to make sure that your espresso just isn’t solely good for the growers but additionally farmed with a concentrate on regenerative agriculture.” In case your aspiring author is a nerdfighter or one who usually cares about moral consumption of scrumptious espresso, ship a bag of espresso to them for Christmas.
#5 – Writing utensils
Like notebooks, this would possibly appear to be a no brainer, however once more, writers do require countless writing provides. When you’re fortunate sufficient to know what your author’s favourite type of pen or pencil is for on a regular basis use, organize them a giant field in order that they by no means run dry. When you’re undecided, don’t fear: I’ve received an inventory right here of various choices.
Sharpie S-Gel Retractable Gel Pen
For an reasonably priced, on a regular basis pen, you possibly can’t go flawed with the S-Gel. I exploit these on a regular basis and don’t personally discover a whole lot of bleeding like I do with different gel pens. The writing is extremely easy, the pen is comfy to carry—you possibly can’t go flawed.
Parker Jotter Stainless Steel CT Pen
At $20, that is your excellent mid-range pen. You will get ballpoint and gel variations of it, and the all-metal basic design makes it look simply as luxurious because it feels to write down with.
rOtring 600 Ballpoint Pen or Mechanical Pencil
One other nice price range choice is that this ballpoint pen, lauded for its sturdiness, easy design, and, in fact, easy writing. In case your author prefers pencils to pens, strive the rOtring mechanical pencil for an upgraded writing expertise. Reviewers say that the colour wears off, revealing the brass beneath, and this lends it type of a worn-in, private element.
#6 – Native e book retailer reward card
Like I stated earlier than, any given author is sure to be a reader (or at the very least they need to be!). If you recognize sufficient about their style in books to select up a selected e book out of your native bookstore, excellent! If not, there’s no want to worry—you possibly can nonetheless get them the reward of a beautiful new e book.
Try your native bookstore and get them a present card. You can too get them an Amazon reward card in case your metropolis doesn’t have a neighborhood bookstore, however native bookstores have that non-public, particular contact that writers love. Not solely are you giving them the prospect to purchase no matter e book they need, however you’re giving them the prospect to wander by way of a bookstore for a day. For a author, that’s, nicely, Christmas!
This can be a nice reward by itself, or toss it into that bundle with the cocoa combine and pack of pens.
#7 – On-line writing programs
Books about writing and on-line content material about writing are nice locations for writers to get details about steerage on their craft, however the truth is, many writers are determined for customized suggestions. Even in the event you’re one of many fortunate few writers who has a beloved one prepared to learn your work, the probabilities of that beloved one having professional-grade suggestions are slim to none.
Writing programs supply writers the prospect to truly get skilled suggestions on their work. They could be a whole game-changer, and the recommendation they get in these programs may also help them for the remainder of their lives.
No huge deal!
Right here’s a couple of on-line programs for starting writers. Try the Coursera descriptions linked beneath for extra details about pricing, time to finish, and details about for whom the courses are meant.
Coursera Writing Specialization by Wesleyan University
Fiction Writing Level 1 by the Gotham Writers Workshop
Creative Writing 101 by Writer’s Digest University
One other Concept
Is the aspiring author in your life all for writing a e book? They gained’t need to miss this e book define template:
