10 Gifts That Will Cure the Author in Your Life's Writer's Block
If you have a writer or author in your life that you need to get a gift for and aren’t really sure where to start then I have good news for you! Because today I have a list of 10 great gift ideas for authors. And as somebody who works as a writer full time I can personally vouch for all of the entries on this list. Writing can be a complicated artform that isn’t always well understood by people who aren’t engaged in it. So I tried to pick out some great gifts that I think any writer out there will appreciate. And on top of that I made sure to have a couple more extravagant gifts on the list along with plenty of gifts that will be affordable for people on any type of budget. That way there is something for everybody on this list.
1 - A Nice Keyboard for Them to Type On
This Is A Real Quality of Life Improvement That They’ll Appreciate
Grab yourself a Best Buy gift card by following the link!
As somebody who writes professionally I can tell you that it is way easier for me to type on the big keyboard I have at my desk than it is to type on the smaller keyboard on my laptop. So if you know an author and you really want to improve their lives, get them a keyboard with plenty of room and you can even get special keyboards with wrist rest to help cut down on tendon strain while they are typing. Most of us type a little bit throughout the day, but I bet for most of us the majority of our written words in the day are done on a smartphone. So you might not realize just how taxing it can be on your hands to type for 8 hours a day. Especially on a keyboard that is too small for you and you keep making mistakes because it just breaks your rhythm and your flow and it makes it hard to write consistently. So totally rock their world by investing in a high-end keyboard for the author in your life!
Anybody can get a digital Amazon gift card in seconds when they follow the link!
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2 - A Classic Typewriter
That Way They Can Punch Out Their Stories Just LIke All Their Heroes
If they are an author or a book person I bet they think typewriters are really neat. As a writer, or as somebody who is a fan of literature, particularly American literature, then a lot of what they love to read was written on typewriters. So typewriters hold a certain sort of romance in the hearts of authors and writers. All their heroes wrote on typewriters so it feels like it’s how great writing is done. And this one surprisingly won’t break your bank. If you want to find a vintage typewriter it’s totally possible to find one for around $80 to $100, and if you want to get them a brand new modern typewriter you can find one for between $100 and $150. Now those aren’t going to be the very best ones in the world, but that is the average price range you can expect.
2 - A Classic Typewriter
That Way They Can Punch Out Their Stories Just LIke All Their Heroes
If they are an author or a book person I bet they think typewriters are really neat. As a writer, or as somebody who is a fan of literature, particularly American literature, then a lot of what they love to read was written on typewriters. So typewriters hold a certain sort of romance in the hearts of authors and writers. All their heroes wrote on typewriters so it feels like it’s how great writing is done. And this one surprisingly won’t break your bank. If you want to find a vintage typewriter it’s totally possible to find one for around $80 to $100, and if you want to get them a brand new modern typewriter you can find one for between $100 and $150. Now those aren’t going to be the very best ones in the world, but that is the average price range you can expect.
3 - A Meal Delivery Gift Card
That Way They Don’t Have to Stop Writing When They Are Really On A Roll
Grab an Uber Eats or DoorDash gift card by following these links!
THere’s something really interesting that happens in writing where you really get into the rhythm and the flow of the writing and the words just come spilling out of you. Like you don’t even have to think about them. The words just appear and you put them to paper as fast as you can. But with all the responsibilities in the modern world it’s really hard to reach that flowstate and maintain it because it can happen at really inconvenient times. So you can help the author in your life out by getting them a gift card to a meal delivery service. And then when they are really on a tear they don’t have to stop and make lunch or stop and make dinner. They can just keep writing while they’re feeling it and really get a lot more accomplished because of it.
4 - Barnes & Noble
Every Author Out There Will Appreciate A Good Book
Grab yourself a Barnes & Noble gift card by following this link!
If they are an author then they love to read books. NObody ever became an author because they don’t love stories. The very reason they became an author is probably because they want to create a story that is as meaningful of a story for them as a story they encountered meant to them when they first fell in love with reading. So you can hit up your local Barnes & Noble or independent bookstore and get all sorts of amazing books that your author friend will love!
5 - Apple
Let Them Choose From Almost Unlimited Audiobooks
Get an Apple gift card in just seconds by following the link!
This one can be a little hit or miss. But you can get them an Apple gift card and get them unlimited streaming of millions of audiobooks. And the reason I say this one can be really hit or miss is that because of the bookish people I know and the writers I know, everybody has really polarizing opinions on audiobooks. Some book people absolute love and for others they are the absolute worst thing you can do to a book in their mind. So find out if they like audiobooks first and if they do you can set them up with an account to stream millions of them!
6 - Calm
Help Them Relax Their Mind And Get Into the Perfect Writing Flowstate
Grab a Calm gift card by following the link!
One of the things that’s most difficult as a writer is clearing your mind from all the other thoughts that you have and focusing strictly on the narrative you are putting down in front of you. So one great way to help kick start that process is by calming your mind first. So if you have an author friend you can set up an account with Calm and they can use it to play white noise, nature sounds, and even guided meditations to help them clear their mind and really focus on their craft. And let’s be honest, if they are an author they probably deal with a fair amount of anxiety as a lot of bookish people tend to and Calm will help with that as well so it's really quite an effective gift for an author!
7 - Bath & Body Works
Help Them Curate The Perfect Writing Environment
Get a Bath & Body Works gift card
Another great way to help them relax and clear their mind is by putting together a care P{package from Bath & BOdy Works. You can get everything you need at Bath & Body Works to help make your home smell amazing and relaxing. So put them together a little gift basket with candles and air fresheners that are designed to help calm their mind and then you have a pretty great gift put together for your author friend.
8 - Yankee Candle
Help Them Relax and Get In the Zone With A Couple of Custom Candles
Grab a Yankee Candle gift card by following this link!
Yankee Candle is kind of the same idea as Bath & Body Works. The only big difference is that at Yankee Candle you can get custom candles made for just five bucks a pop. So pick out like three of their favorite scents and then find pictures with quotes from some of their favorite authors and you can make that the front label on the candle. And then every time they go to burn it they’ll be inspired by a quote from one of their heroes which makes this a gift that just keeps on giving!
9 - Spotify
Let Them Create the Perfect Writing Playlist or Let Them Choose From Over 200,000 Audiobooks
Grab yourself a Spotify gift card by following this link!
A gift card to Spotify is another great way to get them access to millions of audiobooks. But again, just check and make sure they like audiobooks first because they are not for everyone. But in addition to that Spotify als has over 100 million different tracks they can stream so if they like to listen to music while they write you will have really hooked them up.
10 - A Custom Visa Gift Card
That They Can Use to Shop Anywhere They’d Like to Stock Up On Writing Supplies
Get a Visa gift card in just seconds by following the link!
If nothing else on the list looked right then you can try one of these prepaid Visa gift cards. The nice thing about these cards is that they can be used at any business that accepts Visa. So your author friend could use it down at his favorite independent bookstore to help support a business that he really loves!
This article originally appeared on Giftya.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
More from MediaFeed:
5 Actually Useful Housewarming Gifts
Many of us know the excitement that comes with moving somewhere new. New house, new beginnings, new memories waiting to be made. Exciting prospects of maybe getting new furniture and building relationships with new neighbors.
Many people don’t realize when welcoming others to the neighborhood or giving a housewarming gift to someone that there is no “right" gift to give and that whoever receives the gift from you will appreciate it more than you know.
Who doesn’t like a sweet treat? Few people would refuse an offered dessert, right? Desserts from your favorite restaurant are a great treat to introduce new neighbors to local eateries. And a gift card will allow them to explore the area and check it out further on their own. To err on the side of caution, we recommend getting them a variety of desserts and writing a note or letting them know what each item to be mindful of allergies. This is an easy and sweet gesture to both welcome them and share insider information about notable local businesses.
Andriy Bocko/Istockphoto
Now if you have a pretty garden and feel like creating a little bouquet, or if you’re someone who enjoys looking at flowers when out in the store or driving around, this may be the best gift for you to give. Flowers are a great way to welcome an individual as it helps both brighten a place up and make someone feel at home.
Ridofranz/istockphoto
Now, what is a meal train? This is when you gather a group of individuals to create a signup to coordinate dates and meals they plan to provide as part of a group support effort. The best part of organizing a meal train to welcome a new neighbor to the neighborhood is to take cooking off of the new neighbor’s mind and provide them with some home-cooked or locally-prepared meals. We recommend both meals that can be heated in the oven as well as meals that they are able to freeze and use at a later date.
By creating the meal train, you are making it so that the individual who bought the new home does not have to worry about cooking, but also it’s a way to meet other neighbors in the neighborhood.
Highwaystarz-Photography/istockphoto
A welcome basket can always be a safe bet for a gift for someone who has just moved into a new house. The best part about creating a gift basket is that you are able to be as creative as you want. The goal is to make your new neighbor feel welcome and at home in their new house.
Some themed gift basket ideas:
- A cleaning basket includes dish towels, dish soap and scrubber, trash bags, batteries, cleaning wipes, pens, and sticky notes.
- A movie night basket with microwave popcorn, candy, movies, etc.
- For a classier approach, you could gift a basket with crackers, cheese, a cutting board, salami, nuts, and chocolate.
- A self care gift basket includes magazines, information about local favorite restaurants, places to work out, and places to visit. Fruit (fresh or dry) depends on what your esthetic preference is. Nice cooking oil and some nice popcorn.
A scented or decorative candle is a gift that instantly creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere to a new home. The hardest part about giving someone a candle is finding a scent not too overpowering for an individual’s senses.
The trickiest thing about gifting candles is that there are many different colors, sizes, and scents to choose from.
We don’t know about you, but this was a new and brilliant idea for a housing-warming gift for someone. With the QR code, new residents can set up wifi and include the login information in a direct QR code. After finishing the setup, all they have to do is choose a simple place in their home to put it. Instead of memorizing the WiFi password, guests can scan the QR code and get connected to the internet within seconds.
DragonImages/Istockphoto
A flowering potted plant or succulent brings life to any space. Be mindful of plants toxic to pets and may require extensive upkeep. Ensure you’re not gifting your friend an extra chore. Succulents require less frequent attention and maintenance, while still bringing verdant life to a space.
These are just some of the many possibilities for what to get someone with a new house. We hope you found an idea or two for next time someone close to you moves to a new home.
This article originally appeared on Giveinkind.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
