61 gifts for writers because they don’t need another notebook

Do you have a writer in your life? You might recognize them because they never answer your texts, don’t really seem to be a part of reality, and drink way more tea/coffee/booze than any reasonable person ever should. More importantly, do you have a writer in your life who needs a gift? Then I’m here to help, because if there’s anything I love more than writing, it’s shopping. Let’s face it, the writer in your life who just realized they accidentally left one of their characters pregnant for two years needs all the help they can get. Listed below are some gifts for writers that'll be sure to please your budding author.
Notebooks
I know, I know. The title of this article literally says your writer doesn’t need another notebook. That doesn’t mean they don’t want one, even if it’s going to sit on a shelf untouched next to all the other blank notebooks they own. It’s about a lifestyle and an aesthetic at this point, okay?
1. You can never go wrong with the classic Moleskine notebook.

2. Or its slightly hipper cousin, the Leuchtturm1917 A5 with dotted pages.

3. There’s also this Amazon Basics notebook as an affordable option.

4. Go old school with a Mead Composition notebook that’ll also make a perfect Burn Book.

5. For the eco-friendly, the Dingbats Earth A5 notebook is made from FSC certified paper. So it’s not exactly GOOD for trees, but it’s better.

6. Etsy.com also offers thousands of options for beautifully decorated, sometimes handmade, notebooks that suit any style.

7. If you want something a little fancier, check out these lovelies from Do Good Paper Co.

8. You can go wrong with these beautiful stitched notebook sets from Rifle Paper Co.

9. For the renegade writer, a waterproof notebook is perfect for surviving any setting and the pages are made from stone paper. I don’t know; it sounds weird, but I’m intrigued.

10. Or speaking of water… how about a notepad designed to be used IN the shower? So when inspiration strikes (as it always does when wet), your writer doesn’t lose their brilliant idea down the drain.

11. Really wow them with a digital notebook tablet thing from reMarkable. They really won’t be able to justify another paper version again. But they will. I promise they will.

Actually Writing
At some point, a writer needs to write. I’m sorry if that hurts the feelings of any writers reading this. Luckily, there are some tools that can help with that.
12. You didn’t think we’d write an article on the Dabble blog without mentioning Dabble, did you? A subscription to the very best writing app ever, catered specifically to fiction authors, will make you a gift-giving hero.

13. ProWritingAid is the leading online grammar checker and is a necessity for every author’s toolkit. (Psst, it comes built in with a Dabble subscription. How handy.)

14. One of my personal favorite resources are the various thesauri… thesauruses (that sounds like a type of dinosaur) published by Writers Helping Writers, including the ever popular Emotion Thesaurus. There are also a bunch of other thesauri there, too.

15. While they say there are no original plots, Storymatic Studios begs to differ. Their storytelling cards prompt, I kid you not, TRILLIONS of stories, characters, scenes, situations, and plots. Okay, seriously I just bought one while writing this article.

16. One could argue that a set of literary device posters could act as de facto cheat sheets, thereby improving one's writing by their mere presence.

Books
Maybe this goes without saying, but writers are readers. (Don’t even get me started on writers who say they don’t like reading—that’s a post for another day.) Gifts can entail books in their preferred genre, books from another genre, or books about writing. The sky’s the limit. Hint: if they have a Goodreads profile, go and look at what’s on their ‘want to read’ list.
17. Since it can still be hard to know what they specifically want, a gift card to any bookstore is always an option. Find out if there’s a local indie store they like to support.

18. You could also opt for a Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus subscription where a small monthly fee gets them access to thousands of books on the fly.

19. In addition, if they don’t already own an e-reader, this is a great way to show the writer in your life you care. There are dozens of options on the market and the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Clara HD are two of the most popular.

20. You could also sign them up for a monthly book subscription box like Illumicrate, Book of the Month, or Books that Matter. They often come with special editions and other book related goodies. Who doesn’t need more clutter in their house? Kidding, I love book boxes.

21. Here is a list of craft writing books that are popular with authors:
- The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass
- Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
- Story Genius by Lisa Cron
- On Writing by Stephen King
- Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
- Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont
- The First 50 Pages by Jeff Gerke

Focus and Inspiration
Look, I’m just going to say it—as a mom with two young kids and not a lot of time on my hands, the best writing gift I ever received was a solitary weekend away where I could do nothing but focus on myself and my book. I didn’t cook, pick up after anyone, or shower… okay, this just got weird. Nevermind. I did shower. I think.
22. So with that in mind, book an AirBnB or a hotel room for your writer and give them the ultimate gift—space and time. Bonus points for something in the woods and extra points for something that’s haunted.

23. Give them the gift of inspiration with the Writer’s Toolbox—64 pages of activities designed to challenge the mind.

24. The FreeWrite Traveler allows writers to block out all distractions with this handy tool.

25. Give them the gift of silence with noise canceling headphones. PCMag has this handy list of the best options for you.

26. There are lots of focus apps for your phone and computer out there. I personally love using the Forest app, and this is a nice, inexpensive gift to offer your eternally distracted writer.

Gifts for a writer's desk
What’s a writer without a writer’s space? The more cluttered and tortured, the better. Eh… maybe? Help them make it less cluttered and tortured with stationary, mugs, and other fun things.
27. This moodboard starter kit is perfect for your writer to hang over their wall.

28. A dry erase board is perfect for jotting down ideas at any moment.

29. How about a writer’s clock that will remind them to edit and maybe consider a new career?

30. I debated on whether this should go in the desk or random section, but really it doesn’t matter because bookish candles are perfect for your writer anywhere and anytime. Check out these based on fandoms:
- Rhysand (listen, if you know, you know)
- Kaz Brekker (wow this is the second post in a row I mention him, I swear I’m not obsessed)
- Jamie Fraser (The scent is what lies beneath a kilt. I’m kidding. Maybe.)

31. If anyone who knows me is reading this, my birthday is coming up and I would really like my own personalized embosser.

32. If you don’t like your giftee very much, consider an actual physical writer’s block with their name right on it. That isn’t a self-fulfilling prophecy or anything.

Random things they absolutely need
Not everything needs to be practical. Or make sense. Or contribute to the writing life other than to be nice to look at. Remember, one must fake it until they make it.
33. A writer isn’t a writer without a writer’s coloring book. Right?

34. To be a writer, one must drink a copious amount of a preferred hot drink, whether that’s coffee, tea, or one’s own tears. So they’ll need a pithy little writer’s mug to go with. Go for something whimsical, something controversial, something refined, or something perhaps on the curve of aggressive.

35. Fingerless writing gloves are basically a writing necessity and a writer can never be successful without them. I don’t make the rules.

36. Pair them with a Jane Austen literary-inspired scarf and that bestseller list is basically begging for them.

37. And we don’t think anyone can live without this book print dress.

38. Fuel their caffeine addiction with a bag of Novel Teas where each canister resembles a beloved book. They think of everything these days, huh?

39. NGL, the idea of a literary action figure weirds me out a little, but I’m not here to judge. This company also makes yodeling pickles, so take that for what you will.

40. A writer's messenger wood box with spaces for your pens and notebooks and it turns into a handy little writing desk.

41. I’m not sure there is a more apt gift for a writer than a set of literary-themed shot glasses. Your Great Writer can also become a Great Drinker.

42. We recommend pairing them with a bottle of Writers’ Tears Whiskey. One of our writers, Doug, has personally tasted it and gives it an enthusiastic nine thumbs up.

43. If your writer has a morbid streak, consider some Dead Writers Perfume. It brings to mind the scent of old libraries and ghosts* and not desiccated corpses, in case you were worried.
*Also, what do ghosts smell like, I wonder?

44. How about a cute little open book charm necklace you can personalize with their first initial?

45. Forget what I said about the embosser. What I really want is this pink vintage typewriter. I don’t know if anyone likes me this much, though.

46. If you want to offer the retro feel without the retro paper and ink, give them a Qwerky keyboard that mimics the clickyness of typewriter keys but, you know, works with a computer. I own one of these and I can attest I can type 34.567% faster on it.

Online Courses
There are a million things to learn when you’re a writer. While lots of people think it’s easy to write a book, it’s not. And anyone who thinks so has never actually tried it. I don’t want to point fingers, I’m just saying.

Anyway, even the most gifted of writers can elevate their craft, so here are a few courses you can give your budding writer to help them level up their craft.
47. Give them the gift of time with the Novelry’s Book in a Year writing course.
48. A subscription to Masterclass connects them with some of the best writers in the world like Amy Tan, Roxanne Gay, and NK Jemison.
49. If they’re past the actual writing (it can happen), help them invest in themselves with a marketing course from Mark Dawson, a self-pub guru.
50. Help them level up their writing with a copyediting class to figure out where all those commas are supposed to go.
51. Gotham Writers offers an entire suite of fiction writing classes that focus on various aspects of the process. This has nothing to do with Batman, though.
52. While these courses from the Editorial Freelancers Association are aimed at editors, many of them are useful for writers, too, especially since a lot of writers work as editors, also.
53. The Publishing Mastermind Course can help take your writer from conception, to creation, to delivery in this all-encompassing program.
54. You can also give them a class on writing a short story if they’re not into novel writing. (Short stories are good for those with completion issues.)
55. A writers’ retreat is another great way for your budding Hemingway to hone their skills. This handy database lists a whole bunch so you can look for one in your area.
Things that don’t have anything to do with the actual writing
Being a writer is a business these days and there are a lot of expenses that writers incur you may never have thought of. Since writing also doesn’t tend to pay a lot for the most part, I’m sure many, many writers in your life would love some help with all the extras.

56. You might not know this, but querying to get a literary agent is literally one of the most painful things a person can try to do. Help your budding writer with a query consultation from the Manuscript Academy.
57. Most writers need a website if they want to publish, so you can buy them a domain name for their website from sites like GoDaddy, Ionos, or Domain.com.
58. Or help with their website hosting. A lot of authors use Wordpress, Wix, or Squarespace, for example.
59. There are other tools that many authors use, like Book Funnel, Story Origin, or BookBrush. Basically, these all help them get eyes on their published writing and help them market their work. And they all cost money.
60. Authors also often have newsletters and this costs money too. A subscription to MailChimp, MailerLite or MadMimi might be appreciated.
61. A ring light so your budding writer can make videos for social media with ease. They can’t go viral on TikTok without it. Trust me.
TAKE A BREAK FROM WRITING...
Read. Learn. Create.
Characters are the most important part of any story. They are the beating heart and the blood that flows through your novel’s veins. Yes, your plot and world and story structure are also important, but most people will fall in love with a book because they love the characters.
If you’re planning to become an indie author, one of the first things you might be wondering is: how do you price a self-published book?
Can't get a clear answer on how many scenes should be in a chapter? Here's how to calculate the answer for your book.
There's no easy way to determine how many chapters you should have in your book, but let's figure out how many will work for you.
You’ve cobbled together 100K words of sheer brilliance, but now you must tackle the hardest task. How do you write book titles, anyway?
Looking for great writing exercises for fiction writers? We've got you covered with prompts to inspire story, character, and more.
How much do authors make? It's a question every writer asks at least once. We break it down for you in this blog!
Theses six steps can help show you how to become a fiction writer. Figure out what works best for you!
Want to learn the secret of how to overcome writer's block? You've got to get to the root of the problem. We can help.
Fight scenes are what some readers live for, but writing them can be tough. Let's dissect how to write a fight scene in your novel.
Romance tropes are the heartbeat of what makes romance novels feel like cozy sweaters you want to snuggle into.
Not sure how to describe clothing writing? It's easier (and more fun) than you might think. Here's everything you need to know.
Character motivation is essential in creating characters your readers will care about. Learn about the types of motivation with Dabble!
How to start a first chapter: include action, character, plot, emotion, and motivation or you’re going to lose your reader.
Want to learn how to write exposition that's not so explainy? Divulge compelling backstory using these tried-and-true tips.
English is whack. Let's make something better. Here's how to create a fictional language in four simple steps.
How long should your chapters be? On average, chapters tend to range from 1,000-5,000 words, with most falling in the 2,000-4,000 range.
Need original character questions to inspire your work in progress? Dig deep with these one-of-a-kind character interview questions.
It isn't easy to write a good villain, at least not without the right ingredients. Let Dabble give you the perfect recipe for a villain!
There are a lot of pieces of writing advice you can ignore, but here’s one you shouldn’t: you need to include character goals in your story.
Why does character motivation matter? Find out why a thrilling plot is not enough and how to design motivation that resonates with readers.
Outlining your future bestseller isn't easy! But we break it down for you so you can plan a novel that rocks.
You might be wondering: how long does it take to write a book? The answer depends on a variety of factors.
Here are sixty-five character development questions, plus tips on how and when to interview your characters. Get inspired and get unstuck!
Conflict is what makes books worth reading. Join us as we explore the four types of conflict you can use to make you story memorable!
Do you have a writer in your life who needs a gift? Check out this list of 61 gifts for writers that will help them with their author dreams.
Need character ideas for your next story? Find a ton of original ideas and brainstorming questions right here!
The words you use to start a story are some of the most important you'll write. We'll help make sure you get them right!
A character flaw is a fault, limitation, or weakness that can be internal or external factors that affect your character and their life.
The Seducer/Seductress archetype can help you craft unforgettable villains and surprisingly sympathetic anti-heroes. Learn how.
The Orphan archetype makes for both inspiring heroes and unsettlingly sympathetic villains. Learn how to use this archetype in your story.
Explore the fundamentals of the Outlaw Archetype and how they serve your story. Explore famous examples of Outlaws in popular media.
The Common Person or Everyman is a powerful archetype that can instantly relate to your readers. Learn how to use it in your writing!
The caregiver archetype is more than a saint. Learn how to craft a fascinating, flawed, and deep-souled caregiver for your story.
The Ruler archetype is one of the most recognizable and is about stability and maintaining order through control and power.
The Creator Archetype breathes life into their art, often to an obsessive level. Learn all about using this archetype in your writing!
Get to know the Innocent archetype, from Buddy the Elf to Andy Dwyer. Learn how to write this lovable (and sometimes chaotic) character.
The Sage archetype is an important one in all storytelling—one that can either help or hinder the protagonist's journey in your book.
Explorer Archetypes long for adventure and seek out new places, ideas, and experiences to live a thrilling, exciting, and fulfilling life.
What is the Jester archetype? Find out what you need to know to give your funniest character true purpose and depth.
Lover archetypes embrace the love they hold for friends, family, their gods, or simply the world around them.
The Magician archetype is one of the most popular archetypes in writing. In this blog, we explain everything you need to know about Magicians!
What is the hero archetype? From epic heroes to anti-heroes, here's everything you need to know about crafting a compelling hero.
The seven basic plot points offer perhaps what is the most open-ended of the structure archetypes with broad, high-level descriptions.
Chekhov's Gun is a fundamental principle in writing. Join us as we examine what this principle is so you can apply it to your own writing.
What is three-act structure? Learn why this story structure is so effective and whether it can help you plot your novel.
Save the Cat is one of the most popular ways of drafting screenplays and novels in modern storytelling.
The Hero's Journey is a classic story structure. Learn why it's so popular among writers and how to apply it to your own storytelling.
We call it John Gardner's aquatic monstrosity, the Fichtean Curve is a narrative structure that can help you easily plan out your novel.
We break down Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method, a type of outlining that can make writing your book much easier and faster.
A New York City story coach shares her best tips on how to create compelling characters. She walks through each step in the process.
Learn about Dan Harmon's Story Circle—what it is, how it can help you plot your novel, and whether it's right for you.
One of the original story structures, Freytag's Pyramid is the foundation for dramatic stories and tragedies. Learn all about it with Dabble!
Learn how to write a children's book with this ultimate guide and template for designing a story that resonates with young readers.
In this article, we’ll explore what active and passive writing is and when you should use them. Contrary to some beliefs, sometimes passive voice does make sense. Not everything you write should or needs to be active (though it should be most of the time).
Editing your book can be a daunting task. In this article, we breakdown the different types of editing and when you should apply them.
Learn how to write a book synopsis that gets the attention of agents and publishers. It's easier than you think.
3rd-person limited or 1st-person epistolary? Here is what you need to know about narrative point of view and your story.
Story structures are the frameworks that tie your story together. A story structure can help guide your book to be the best it can be!
Bestselling author Kristina Stanley breaks down the three questions you need to ask to self-edit your book's characters, plot, and setting.
Which of the four character arc types is right for your story? And what is a character arc?
To write a romance you need to manage three separate arcs: your main character, your love interest, and the romance itself.
Character archetypes can help you write complex, three-dimensional characters. Learn more about them, including 14 common types, with Dabble.
Learn how to write a book in this ultimate guide. Plus find editing tips, map out a publishing journey, & download a free outlining template.
Unsure of how to start writing? This easy guide and checklist will help you turn your writing dreams into a reality.
Writing with proper punctuation can feel like the hardest part of writing. Don't worry, we've made a Beginner's Guide to Punctuation to help!
Plot is pretty much everything that happens in your story. So let's look at some methods that can help map out your story.
Snag this free, downloadable character development worksheet, designed to help you craft compelling characters and write an unputdownable story.
Finishing your first draft is quite possibly the biggest challenge you'll face as a fiction writer. To be successful, where should you start?
The publishing landscape is always changing, so many writers wonder: should I pay a publisher? Let's take a look at all your publishing options.
Time to learn one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal. Welcome to the Plot Grid.
Author's tone is an abstract, slippery concept. But once you've mastered this skill in your writing, you'll have a powerful tool for captivating readers.
It's time to start writing. Get started by setting goals, and removing some sneaky myths from your mind.
If you’re embarking on a topic that requires a lot of research, you might wonder where you even begin. How do you make use of all those juicy tidbits, and what kind of process should you use to ensure complete and total accuracy?
Writing well requires preparation. Set up your space, gather your tools, and adjust your mindset to crush your writing goals.
You have the knowledge and you have the tools. Time to become the writer you want to be. You got this!
Today we’re going to look at story beats to help craft your romance novel. Beats are specific points of significance that occur in stories that a) help keep the tension up and b) help drive the story forward. They can also be extremely useful in helping you map out your story before you dive into your first draft.
Not sure how to become a successful author—or if it's even possible? Learn exactly what it takes to make it as a writer.
Your writing method will determine a lot about your process. Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?
Have you every wondered whether you can make a living as a writer? It is far from easy, but we break down the way you can achieve your dreams as a career author.
Antagonists are some of the most important types of characters in stories, but also some of the most difficult to write. Let's breakdown what makes a good antagonist.
Prose describes how you write your book, and it can be challenging to get right. So, in this article, we cover what makes good prose.
Characters are the heart of a story. Let's talk about arcs, conflict, and growth.
Theme is subtle, tricky, and will likely be the most effective way to get your audience emotionally engaged. So how do you do it?
First person narrative is when you write using the words “I”, “us”, or “we”. It’s when your story is told through the eyes of one person and we spend time in their head, hearing their thoughts and seeing what they see.
Creating character arcs isn't for the faint of heart. You've got to be ruthless. You've got to be strategic. And it also helps to read this step-by-step guide.
We've got you covered with the best character template ever to help bring your story's characters to life!
Characters come with traits, flaws, problems and much more. Time to dig into those and start giving some depth to them.