Last-Minute Christmas Gifts for Writers

When checking to make sure you have gifts for everyone on your list, you may find that your author friends are the hardest to buy for. Here are a few suggestions to make the holidays merry for writers everywhere.

1. A nice pen. I am not suggesting an expensive pen. Just something that writes well. Authors love pens and need them by their computers, by their beds, and to sign books. A writer can never have enough pens and the thrill of a new one never grows old.
2. Time to write. If your writer friend or relative has children, offer to babysit or take the kids for ice cream so he or she can focus fully on his or her writing for an hour or two.
3. Help him or her to tidy up the office. Although the office of a writer often looks like a cyclone came through, he or she probably knows exactly what is where. However, writers enjoy a tidy space and often find things cleaning up that that have been missing for months.
4. Make a meal and take supper to the writer’s family. Here again, a gift of time to write.
5. A briefcase. Like a new pen, a new briefcase is always welcome and makes a writer feel he or she is moving up in the world of publishing.
6. A writer ornament for the tree or a piece of jewelry that identifies him or her as a writer.
7. Help him or her attend a writers conference. This is the best way to help writers move ahead their careers. You could do this in several ways:

• Provide funds for them to attend.
• Offer your flyer miles to help with transportation.
• Help care for children while they attend.
• Buy a new briefcase for them to use at the conference.

One of the very best gifts you can give a writer is to help him or her feel validation. Brag to others about the writer’s accomplishments. Offer to suggest your book club read his or her book. Share news of published articles online. So many people think because writers work at home that their work is more of a hobby than a career. So any praise or recognition you can offer is always welcome. Everyone needs a little support now and then and applause makes a great Christmas gift!

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 17 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of