The thing we love most this time of year is letting our loved ones know how much we care and appreciate them. A thoughtful gift says: I see you, I understand you. I love all the things that make you, you!

So what can you give your writer friends? Here are some of our favorite ideas.

Book gifts

A writer can never have too many books! Seriously, most of us are happy just looking at books, never mind reading them. But you’d be surprised at how creative and thrifty you can be with book gifts.

Shop vintage or secondhand

If your writer friend has a favorite book, visit secondhand bookstores to seek out a vintage version (dare we say first printing?) of their favorite or one with an eye-popping cover. No favorite? Try a classic book instead.

Go local

Your local indie bookshop likely has a collection of books written by local authors. Offer double support by shopping local AND sharing a local author friend.

Make a sale

We’d argue most published authors want nothing more than book sales. Consider this outside the box gift idea – buy a bunch of your friend’s books from a local bookstore and donate them to a good cause, like a local shelter or a low-income school. And, if your friend has published a book, one of the best gifts you can offer is an online review! Book buyers look at existing reviews before making a purchase.

Think big

If your writer friend has “read them all,” check out Bibliophile: an Illustrated Miscellany. Gorgeous artwork mixed with reading lists, fun literary facts, and sneak peeks into bookstores and writer spaces make this coffee table book a must for book lovers.

Cozy writing gifts

Get cozy

Most of writers work at home, often writing in sweats. In colder seasons, there’s nothing better than a cozy pair of socks to keep feet toasty. Pact Socks offer thick socks that are sustainable and organic – and come in different colors and patterns. The packaging is recyclable. For more whimsical options, check out the Awesome Socks Club, started by beloved author brothers Hank and John Green. All profits go to supporting medical care in Sierra Leone.

Send a sip

Many writers enjoy a warm cup in their hands during typing breaks – especially in winter months. Arbor Teas is known for its sustainable, fair trade practices and its backyard compostable packaging (even the labels break down!) Alaya Tea is a woman-owned company committed to supporting organic and biodynamic farms. Does your writer friend prefer coffee? The Green brothers have you covered yet again: The Awesome Coffee club is committed to sustainable coffee-growing practices, and 100% of profits are donated to supporting medical care in Sierra Leone. If you’re in Canada, check out Sister’s Story Coffee, whose fair trade coffee is purchased from female Indigenous farmers in the Andes; a portion of profits are donated to women’s shelters and sexual assault centers.

Creativity Boosters

Pick a card, any card

While you may associate tarot decks with fortune tellers, these decks can also serve as writing prompts. Whale Rock instructor Heather Demetrios often uses oracle or tarot cards as a way to ease into her writing. Unsure how a character is thinking in a given scene? Pull a card and see if the image resonates. Unsure where your novel is heading? Pull a card and see whether the image sparks plot. Two of our favorite decks are the The Modern Witch and Light Seers decks.

Break in case of emergency

There’s nothing like getting stuck in a writing rut. For the stalled writer, the Writer’s Emergency Pack is a deck of cards designed to help authors get unstuck.

Pop the top

For the writer who is heavily immersed in revising and editing, a pack of colorful gel pens is a great tool for categorizing notes around plot, character, pacing and more.

Homegoods and clothing

Wear words

Looking for something a little more personal? Out of Print offers an incredible collection of book-themed T-shirts, totes, and more. Does your writer friend have a book they love more than any other? Check out Litographs for clothing and homegoods with designs made from book manuscripts.

Kind Cotton offers apparel with values-driven, appealing slogans, like “Read More Books” and “Be Kind.” Every order will help place a book in a student’s hand.

Hang out

The Picture Book Gallery offers an incredible collection of original artwork by award-winning Canadian picture book illustrators that goes towards supporting the Canadian Children’s Book Centre programming. You can also check out Sur Ta Mur, with works by Quebec illustrators

Self care

Stretch it out

Your writer friend sits at a desk all day long. Their back aches, their neck pinches. Consider treating them to a massage or a small-group online exercise class they can jump into in between writing chapters. Two of our favorites are
Anna Nettles Small Group Online Training and Jill Braverman’s small group yoga.

Go nuts

When they are totally immersed in a project, writers forget to eat! Send grabable nutritious munchables, like organic trail mix or nuts from Tierra Farms, whose products are ethically sourced and whose packaging is 100% compostable. Also check out Mid Day Squares, high-protein chocolate bars that will satisfy your sweet tooth without brain fog.

Deliver dessert

Our virtual weeklong and mentorship students receive a package of goodies as part of our programming. Over the years, we’ve narrowed down three favorite cookie delivery options. For organic, kosher hockey-puck-size cookies, check out Bang Cookies. For gluten-free goodies, Sans Bakery is always a hit. Finally, our dairy-free/vegan students request Maya’s Cookies year after year. If you’re feeling ambitious, or you want to do something homemade, try whipping up a batch of Whale Rock’s very own Writing Cookies.

Wrap up a workshop

Finally, for the ultimate self-care treat, buy yourself or a friend a workshop at Whale Rock! Purchase a gift card that can be used towards any workshop at any time. (Please note: gift cards only work for online purchases using credit cards.)

Holiday Gifts for the writers in your life