I’m writing this during the holiday season, but these gifts for writers aren’t just for the holidays. I’m talking about sharing, self-care and supporting your writing every month of the year. This gift guide is for you, for your mom, for your friends. Twelve gifts for writers to dip into something writerly every month of the year if you wish. Whether for a special occasion, to learn something new, market yourself as a writer or give yourself a boost, there’s something here for your writing life.
Some of the links in this list of gifts for writers are affiliate links and the books all lead to Amazon. That means I get a small percentage for every book you buy, but you won’t pay more because of it.
Enjoy the little things with Lagom.
You’ll often hear me talk about the importance of finding balance in life between family, work, friends and all the other things on your to-do list. There’s a Swedish word for that, and my friend Lola Akinmade Åkerström wrote a book about it. That book is Lagom!
Lagom. It’s Swedish for hygge, which is the Danish and Norwegian concept for “just right.” It’s all about keeping things in balance, not pushing yourself too far to one side or another. Lagom also provides insights into what it’s like to live in Sweden when you’re not actually from there.
Lola is an incredibly talented writer and photographer. She was born in Nigeria and now lives in Sweden with her family, but her work takes her all over the world. She inspires me professionally and personally. Get your copy of Lagom on Amazon!
Read an excerpt from Lagom:
Lagom awakens our consciousness and implores us to keep asking questions. It wants us to live with intention and an inquisitive mindfulness that keeps examining our actions, improving our lifestyles and protecting what we cherish.
Many of us don’t have the benefit of a system naturally designed to subconsciously foster a love for nature over time, like Swedes. Often, we don’t live against a backdrop of policies that actively push us out our front doors to engage with and enjoy nature.
Be inspired by gorgeous writing and a breathtaking story.
I read Rene Denfeld’s The Child Finder in one night and even when I was finished, did not want to put it down. The story. Naomi is called to a small town as the last hope of two desperate parents to find their missing daughter since Naomi has a history of finding the unfindable. The writing is beautiful. The story, riveting. Every sentence draws you to the next and the next and the next.
Rene and I are Facebook friends, which means I’ve had the privilege of reading her posts that encourage writers and also share incredible insights into the world of adoption, fostering children and criminal justice. Rene’s view of life is as expansive as her life experience. She amazes me with her incredible kindness and the compassion with which she addresses incredibly difficult topics. You’ll hear that voice of compassion in The Child Finder.
Get a taste of her writing in her NYT’s Modern Love column about adopting three children to make a loving family of four. Get your own copy of The Child Finder on Amazon now!
Read an excerpt from The Child Finder:
“I’m sorry we didn’t hear of you sooner,” the father said, rubbing his hands together from his position in an armchair near the window. “We’ve tried everything,” the man added. “ didn’t even knew there were investigators who did that.”
“Call me Naomi,” she said. The parents took her in: study build, tanned hands that looked like they knew work, long brown hair, a disarming smile. She was younger than they had expected — not out of her late twenties.
“How do you know how to find them?” the mother asked. She gave that luminous smile. “Because I know freedom.”
The father blinked. He had read of her history.
Encourage young readers and writers.
Leslie C. Youngblood regularly posts on social media about getting up early to write. She got up at 5 am to write every day, before she knew she was going to publish a book before there were any guarantees. Now, her debut novel Love Like Sky is out in the world. It’s the story of a young girl named Georgie dealing with her parents’ divorce and managing blended families. An excellent read for middle-grade readers and adults, too!
I usually get my books for Kindle, but in the case of this book, I really wanted the hardcover. It’s such gorgeous artwork, and I wanted to be able to share it with my daughter and others, too.
Get your own copy of Love Like Sky on Amazon.
Read an excerpt from Love Like Sky:
How is it then?” Peaches asked, turning on her stomach to face me. “It’s like sky. If you keep driving and driving, gas will run out, right?” “That’s why we gotta go to the gas station.” “Yep. But have you ever seen the sky run out? No matter how far we go?” “No, when we look up, there it is.” “Well that’s the kind of love Daddy and Mama got for us, Peaches—love like sky.” “It never ends?” “Never.” G-baby and her younger sister, Peaches, are still getting used to their “blended-up” family. They live with Mama and Frank out in the suburbs, and they haven’t seen their real daddy much since he married Millicent. G-baby misses her best friend back in Atlanta, and is crushed that her glamorous new stepsister, Tangie, wants nothing to do with her. G-baby is so preoccupied with earning Tangie’s approval that she isn’t there for her own little sister when she needs her most. Peaches gets sick—really sick. Suddenly, Mama and Daddy are arguing like they did before the divorce, and even the doctors at the hospital don’t know how to help Peaches get better. It’s up to G-baby to put things right. She knows Peaches can be strong again if she can only see that their family’s love for her really is like sky.
Geek out in your kitchen.
I love watching Chris Rachael Oseland test recipes for her cookbooks. Even cooler when you get to see the final results in her cookbooks.
Where do I watch her, you may be wondering? On social media. That’s how she connects with readers. It’s so much fun to see her errors and triumphs as she develops the recipes for her cookbooks. Chris Racheal sat down with me a while back to chat about building a writer’s platform and other excellent advice about self-publishing.
She’s funny, insightful, interesting and bakes, cooks and creates the most amazing foods in geeky themes from hobbits to Dr. Who. She even has a section on her website devoted to coloring books. (I’m a big fan of coloring to relax!)
Take an Unexpected Journey to eat like a Hobbit. Or geek out with the Kitchen Overlord: A Geek Cookbook for anyone who loves anything sci-fi to Scooby-Doo.
Drop the emotional load.
Gemma Hartley’s book began with an article on Harper’s about nagging and emotional labor. Emotional labor, if you don’t know, is the mental and emotional organizing you do to keep things running in your life and the lives of the people around you. It’s reminding to put on shoes. It’s making sure someone picks up milk. It’s the million endless details that someone has to remember, but often the work falls on women to do. It’s work often overlooked.
Gemma gives voice to emotional labor and how it plays out in her book Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward.
Right on, Gemma!
Read an excerpt from Fed Up:
It seems like, both at home and in the world, we are all beginning to reach that collective breaking point. The overwhelming support for the #metoo campaign and the seriousness with which we are now handling allegations of sexual harassment and abuse are heartening. These changes suggest that we are ready to move forward and take a hard look at how and why inequality persists. It is time for us to stop using our emotional labor in ways that do not serve us or only serve to maintain the status quo. It is time we look into how we can shift the balance of emotional labor to help us, as well as those around us, lead better lives. It is time for us to value women’s skills and labor and voices.
Finally, make your ideal writing life happen!
For anyone who wants to share your story and your writing voice with the world, but you’re worried you have nothing to say. Or you worry no one wants to hear it. Or you think you’re not good enough. My book, The Writer’s Roadmap: Paving the Way To Your Ideal Writing Life helps you figure out what you want and then map out a plan to make your writing dream happen.
Part inspiration, part organization, you’ll follow some simple writing exercises to hone in on your core values and goals to create your ideal writing life. This is a four-part business plan I developed specifically for writers. I know it works because I’ve used it myself. Once I had my own plan going, I began using this with the other writer’s who came to me for writing support, and it all starts with knowing what you want.
Get the e-book here. Get your print copy here!
Read an excerpt from The Writer’s Roadmap:
You’ll start by envisioning the ideal life you want for your writing. Maybe that means writing that book you’ve always wanted to write. Or publishing articles related to your current interests. Or carving space for your writing while maintaining a career you love and don’t want to leave. Or quit your job to write full time. Maybe something else entirely.
Believe me when I tell you anything is possible!
Over the course of the first chapter, I’ll offer ways to shape your Objective so it truly reflects your ideal writing life. Then we’ll break your Objective into manageable pieces you’ll prioritize and quantify. Finally, we’ll create a plan so you can accomplish each piece.
Step by step, you will see your writing dream become a reality.
Organize your writing like a pro.
Welcome to the first not-book of these gifts for writers. Scrivener.
Scrivener is a word-processing program and outliner designed for authors. You can take notes, keep track of research, include photos and so much more.
I use it to keep track of ALL my pitching, from the articles I write to organizing books to research. I haven’t yet learned to use all of the features, but a favorite of mine is the corkboard index card that lays out your chapters and lets you rearrange them as you visually create the structure of your book.
You can get Scrivener for Mac or for PC.
Get comfortable with the tech side of your writing life.
Barb at Bakerview Consulting is an expert at all things newsletter, websites, self-publishing and more. Her straightforward and patient approach has helped me through many a jam. Like when I tried to set up my book on Amazon and got so confused I considered just not publishing it. She also helped me optimize my website and streamline my mailing list. She is the goddess of tech for authors.
The Ultimate Bookmarketing Guide offers “everything author needs to know about book reviewers, blog tours, book promotion and their online presence.” You can also find individual books on each topic! Whatever solution you need, she’ll have something for you on her bookshelf.
Journal your way through everything.
Every writer craves a journal. It doesn’t matter if you already have a stack of them with plenty of empty pages. There’s nothing like the allure of a pristinely bound cover and the crisp pages underneath.
New York Magazine reviewed the best notebooks of the season with options for both leather lovers and vegans.
My personal favorite? The Moleskine soft cover, preferably in cranberry red or another bright color.
I also love the Bullet Journal system. I don’t have an official Bullet Journal, but I’ve adapted the system to a Moleskine.
Feel the joy of an excellent pen.
And what good is a journal if you don’t have a pen to mark it up, draw in it, make charts and jot down all those ideas that pop into your head when you least expect it? Again, New York Magazine has rated the best pens out there, from felt tip to rollerball to fountain and more.
My favorite pen has changed over the years. In high school, only fountain pens for me. Now I love a good set of multi-colored felt tips of different weights. There’s something about pink, red, orange, green on the pages of an unlined or dotted notebook that makes me want to keep writing.
I am not, however, the sort who creates those beautiful and intricate designs in their journals, but there’s nothing like an empty page, a set of pens and a table at a cafe where I can people watch.
Join a community!
It’s the long game that’s important when it comes to writing. The key is to keep writing no matter what. In order to keep moving forward in spite of the many ups and downs that are simply part of the writing life, you need three things:
A methodology to develop your skills. A community for accountability and support. Ongoing opportunities to learn.
You can find all three in The Workshop, my online community for ongoing support.
You’ll get monthly workshops focusing on building writing skills, as well as hearing from published writers and their route to publishing. We have weekly Q&A sessions to answer all your burning writing questions. Plus, you have access to a library of resources on topics ranging How-to Write and Publish A Personal Essay to How-to Pitch Editors and Getting Paid for Your Writing.
I often share content from The Workshop and invitations to our classes in my ongoing newsletter. Sign up for more here!
Build your writer’s platform.
Social media is a bit of a quandary for me. I like it but it’s overwhelming. It’s also hard to know what to post, when to post it and what kind of content will help me build the right audience for my writing and community.
Rachel Thompson guides all of my author branding and social media book marketing.
Start with the BadRedhead Media 30 Day Book Marketing Challenge, then check out How to Best Optimize Blog Posts For SEO.
Rachel isn’t just a social media maven and connector, she’s a gifted writer as well. Her writing and poetry in BrokenPieces: Essays Inspired By Life are “poetry, prose, and essays to let you into one woman’s life — a searingly raw examination of topics most people avoid.”
Read an excerpt from Broken Pieces:
This book is set up so you can read it all the way through, or an essay at a time. Read a few, walk away. I’ve set the book up how I experienced it, how these pieces came to me, in an organic order that makes sense to me.
My hope is to touch a nerve, make you think, make you feel.
My journey will take you to familiar places many often shy away from. It might be hard to read. Some of the pieces were hard to write. What I experienced stayed inside me, waiting for me to learn how to tell it on the other side of time.
And now it’s here for you — in the raw.
There you have an evergreen guide of books and more to inspire and improve your writing, one to twelve. There are other things I love that are also excellent gifts for writers. Like body butter from The Body Shop and Lindt Chocolate. I can’t get either in Argentina or even have shipped here, so they’re both a treat when I’m back in the US.
In the spirit of whenever you read this, treat yourself well and never stop telling your stories!
