2016 Gift Guide for Readers and Writers

This is not a sponsored post. There are no affiliate links and I was not asked to write this. I will get no money, whether you buy any of these things or not.

Are you doing your holiday shopping yet? I am, and I hate it. Every other year I’ve known just what my kids want. This year they have no idea, so I have no idea. It’s not a fun place to be.

Since I can’t help myself, I’ll try to help you. If you have a writer on your shopping list, at least.

Now, I did this same thing last year. Here’s a link. So I’m going to stretch out a bit and give you ideas for the readers in your life as well. Because, let’s be honest, no one’s a writer who isn’t also a reader. I will, again, be giving you two guides. One that will cost you money dollars, and one that will cost you only time. Here we go.

Gifts for readers that cost no money, only time.

• Promise them, right now, that you will give them free reign to gush about their favorite book for a pre agreed to amount of time. Even better, read their favorite book.
• This one might be big, because there are some big book movies coming out. Allow one ‘this movie sucks, the book was so much better’ rant.
• If there are little ones in the house, promise some time without the little ones to read in peace.
• Be a shoulder to cry on when their favorite character dies. Notice I don’t say if.
• Find them a bookish wallpaper from one of the hundreds of free wallpaper sites. It costs no money at all, but it does save the reader time.

Gift for writers that cost no money.

• Double a recipe and freeze half, then take it to your favorite writer.
• Make a promise that you won’t use the phrase ‘real job’ even once in 2017. In fact, go ahead and promise never to use that phrase again.
• Install Open Office for them. It takes some time, but it’s shareware, so it’s no money. It’s compatible with everything, and it’s the writing software that I use.
• Take down their decorations for them, or do some other chore for them that they despise.
• If you’re artistically inclined, draw a picture of one of their characters.

Gifts for readers that cost money dollars.

• The Magical Art of Tiding Up. I recommend this book because, if you follow it, you only have to clean your house one more time, ever. Think of all the reading time you’ll have!
• This cute little snail tea bag holder. I despise losing the little paper tag in my tea cup.
• If you really love your reader, get them an E-reader or tablet. I love mine; it enables me to carry a whole bookshelf around in my purse. What reader doesn’t dream of that?
• Get them a copy of your favorite book. This is a special, intimate gift that I think everyone should give people they love at least once. More times if you’ve known them longer and your favorite changed. Since I can’t buy a hundred copies of a book, I’ll tell you all that my favorite book is The Giver. If you haven’t read it, you should.

Gifts for writers that cost money dollars.

• Elements of Style, by White and Strunk.
• On Writing, by Stephen King.
• Your Best Year, 2017. Because writing is a business and this is the best guidebook to a meaningful business I’ve ever seen.
• A premium subscription to Grammarly.
• Bossypants, by Tina Fey.
• Yes, Please, by Amy Poehler.

I hope this helps you in your gift giving pursuits. I can tell you that I have everything on that last list, and I appreciate them all.

Did I miss any great gifts? Let me know in the comments below!