Buying for a writer is harder than it looks.

The obvious gifts are everywhere. Mugs about writer’s block. T-shirts with literary quotes. Candles that supposedly smell like old books. Some are funny, but how many mugs does one person need?

There’s better stuff out there. A really good pen. A notebook they’ll actually want to write in. A book that gets them excited about writing again. And if they’re six years into a novel they swear they’re almost finished, maybe something to help with that, too.

You don’t have to know anything about writing to get them something good. You just have to know a little about the writer.

We’ve broken things down by price, with a few suggestions for the different kinds of writers on your Christmas list.

Under $15

Field Notes Original Kraft, 3-pack ($12.95).

Every writer has had a great idea at the worst possible time. In the grocery store. Halfway through a meeting. Three minutes before falling asleep. By the time they get around to writing it down, it’s gone. These little pocket notebooks are made for catching those ideas. Each has 48 pages, and they’re small enough for a coat pocket or bag. Available in ruled, graph, plain or mixed paper. Field Notes

Zebra Mildliner highlighters, 5 colors ($7).

Not exactly the most glamorous Christmas present, but there’s something satisfying about a good set of highlighters. Especially when you’re staring down 300 pages of a manuscript that needs work. Mildliners have softer colors than traditional highlighters, with a fine tip on one end and a broad tip on the other. Give each color a job: dialogue, pacing, cuts. An easy stocking stuffer. JetPens

A Ten Bad Pages workbook ($13 each).

For the writer who’s been complaining about the same problem for months, a little targeted help might be just the thing. Our printable, fillable workbooks each tackle one job:

They’re printable, fillable PDFs, so there’s no shipping to worry about. If you want something to put under the tree, print out a copy and wrap it up. Then forward the download email so they have the digital version, too. Just remember that the download links expire after 30 days.

$15 to $40

A Writing Book They’ll Actually Read ($15–$35).

Writers love buying books about writing. Reading them is another matter. The trick is finding one that matches what they’re working on. We’ve picked seven writing books we think are worth owning, with recommendations for who should read each one. A few favorites: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott ($20) for someone who’s stuck, On Writing by Stephen King ($19.99) for someone starting out, and Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody ($20) for someone wrestling with the structure of a novel.

Leuchtturm1917 A5 hardcover notebook ($26.50).

Some writers have a dozen half-filled notebooks lying around. This is the kind that might convince them to finish one. It’s a handsome hardcover with 251 numbered pages, a table of contents, and good paper. Great for plotting a novel, keeping character notes, or writing a first draft by hand. Ruled, dotted, squared or plain. Leuchtturm1917

LAMY safari pen ($25 rollerball, $37 fountain pen).

A good pen is a surprisingly great gift for someone who spends a lot of time writing by hand. It’s something they’ll use constantly but might never splurge on themselves. The LAMY safari is comfortable, sturdy, and comes in plenty of colors. The rollerball is the safer choice; the fountain pen is for someone who enjoys filling it with ink. Rollerball · Fountain pen

Blackwing 602 pencils, set of 12 ($34).

Thirty-four dollars for twelve pencils sounds ridiculous until you try a really good pencil. Blackwing 602s have a firm, dark graphite core and replaceable erasers. They’re a small luxury for someone who likes to draft, sketch, or make notes by hand. And unlike a lot of fancy desk accessories, these are meant to be used. Blackwing

The Storymatic Classic ($34.95).

Know someone who loves making up stories but occasionally runs out of ideas? Give them a box full of strange combinations and see what happens. The Storymatic has 540 cards featuring characters and situations you can mix into writing prompts. Fun for warming up, trying out story ideas, or bringing to a writing group. You might even play it together on Christmas afternoon. The Storymatic

Desk Set One ($29).

Some writers would rather get something they can use than another book to add to the shelf. Desk Set One bundles our three writing workbooks into one download: a 30-day plan for finishing a novel, a guide to improving dialogue, and a workbook for using AI to help edit a completed manuscript. They’re designed to be worked through, written in, and returned to when needed. It’s $29 for all three. Print them out and wrap them up if you want something physical to give on Christmas morning, then send along the digital copies. Desk Set One

$40 and Up

TRAVELER’S COMPANY Traveler’s Notebook ($60).

A leather notebook cover that picks up character with use. When the paper fills up, you replace the insert instead of buying a new notebook. A lovely gift for someone who journals, writes by hand, or carries ideas everywhere. TRAVELER’S COMPANY

IKEA RÖDFLIK desk lamp ($44.99).

A good desk lamp doesn’t have to look like it came from an office supply closet. The RÖDFLIK has a classic metal shade, an adjustable arm, and a gray-green finish. Practical, good-looking, and a nice upgrade for a desk that’s seen better days. IKEA

Scrivener ($59.99 for Mac or Windows; $23.99 for iPhone and iPad).

If the writer on your list has a novel scattered across seventeen Word documents, Scrivener might finally get everything in one place. It’s software built for long projects: organize a manuscript into scenes, move chapters around, and keep notes and research beside the draft. Check what computer they use and whether they already own it. The Mac and Windows trial lasts 30 days of actual use, so they can try it first. Literature & Latte

Who you’re buying for

Not sure what to get? Think about what the writer in your life actually does. Or, better yet, what they won’t stop complaining about.

The one who keeps starting over.

You know the one. They’ve written the first three chapters of their novel six times, but somehow chapter four remains a mystery. Bird by Bird is a good place to start. Anne Lamott makes the whole business of writing feel less intimidating. Pair it with Finish Your F*&^%$G Novel if they’re ready to stop tinkering with the beginning and finally reach the end.

The one with an ear for dialogue.

We all know what it’s like to think of the perfect thing to say about three hours too late. Writing dialogue isn’t much easier. You can hear the conversation perfectly in your head, but getting it onto the page is another story. Robert McKee’s Dialogue is a great gift for someone who wants to make those conversations work as well on paper as they do in their imagination. Pair it with Why Your Dialogue S^%$S, our $13 workbook for making conversations work on the page, if they want to put that advice into practice.

The one who just finished a draft.

First, congratulations. Finishing a novel is a big deal. Then comes the slightly terrifying realization that they’ve got to edit the thing. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel can help them look at the story’s structure. A Leuchtturm notebook gives them somewhere to work through revision notes. For a more hands-on next step, pair either with Edit Your Novel With AI, our $13 workbook for revising a draft without handing the writing over to a machine.

The student writer.

Maybe they’re taking their first creative writing class. Maybe they’re filling notebooks with short stories and poems. Either way, they probably don’t need a $200 fountain pen. On Writing by Stephen King is a good introduction to the craft. The Storymatic is fun for experimenting with ideas, and Field Notes are easy to throw in a backpack. Pick whichever suits their personality.

The one who has everything.

Their shelves are full. They’ve got favorite pens, favorite notebooks, and strong opinions about both. Buying for this person is a dangerous game. Go with something they’ll use up. Blackwing pencils are a nice little luxury, even for someone who already owns plenty of writing supplies. If they’re particular about stationery, another set of their favorite pencils is a safe bet.

What not to buy

A few gifts that seem like good ideas until you think about them for more than ten seconds.

  • Another notebook with an inspirational quote on the cover. Most writers already have a small graveyard of unused journals. If you’re buying a notebook, make it a good one.
  • A writing course they didn’t ask for. Unless they’ve specifically mentioned wanting it, this can come across as a fairly expensive way of saying their writing needs help. Stick to books, tools, and things they’ll enjoy.
  • Anything that asks when the book will be finished. They’ve already got a deadline in their head, whether they’ve told you about it or not. Christmas morning isn’t the time to ask why their novel isn’t published yet.

And please, no mugs about writer’s block. We have enough problems.

Prices are US prices on each maker’s site, checked October 2026, and they change. Some links go to stores that sell for less than list.