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38 creative gifts for book lovers and writers

by | Nov 17, 2014 | Gift Guides

I’m sure you can think of several friends and family members who are especially fond of the written word. By choosing some of these creative gifts for book lovers and writers, you’ll soon be able to check a few names off your list—all from the comfort of your armchair.

After all, most people don’t need another sweater. So this year, instead of rushing out at the last minute and grabbing who-knows-what off the rack, why not make gift-giving more meaningful by shopping ahead of time with readers and writers in mind?

We’ve rounded up 38 ideas that include books, beverages, journals, jewelry, games, gadgets, and puzzles—gifts for book lovers and writers, young and old. Poke around to discover some fresh, unique possibilities to make someone’s day merrier!

(Updated 11/2019. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.)

{1-8} Totally Toteable

Out of Print literary accessories

Out of Print is a company that features classy-looking accessories for writers and bibliophiles, such as:

You can even make a gift package for your favorite writer by filling one of these bookish totes with a

Add a Starbucks or Panera Bread gift card and tuck in a sweet tin of hazelnut cream-filled cookies. Then, encourage her to slip away for a couple of hours where she can write to her heart’s content!

{9-12} Out of the Box

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

These four highly rated games will delight word lovers young and old. There’s something for everyone on your list!

Story Slam is a storytelling game featuring 600 cards for setting the scene and choosing plot twists to tell stories collaboratively or competitively. Or make up your own rules as you go! Content is family-appropriate, making it a perfect gift for mixed ages—from tweens to grandparents!

The Storymatic Classic is a ton of fun! Prompt cards can be combined in thousands of ways to spark the imagination. When played alone, the ideas can kickstart writing sessions, but it’s also a lively group game. Available in both a grownup/family version and a kids’ version (ages 5 and up).

For family game nights, play fast-paced Wordical! Players combine cards and dice in a race to build the longest words.

A pocket-sized creative story generatorRory’s%20Story Cube Complete Set – Original – Actions – VoyagesRory’s Story Cubes is a favorite with my own grandkids. I love that even non-readers can participate! There are lots of versions, including Fantasia, where players as young as 6 years old can make up exciting tales of magical creatures and legendary quests!

{13-15} Calendar Capers

Calendars for book lovers and word nerds

Consider a themed calendar to help avid readers and word lovers track their days. They make great gifts for bookworms and writers alike!

12-Month Planner

Bibliophile 2020 12-Month Planner Filled with stacks of favorite books, famous authors, and book-themed objects, this planner also features notable dates in literary history. Perfect for any book lover or book club pal.

Wall Calendar

Cats in the Stacks is perfect for the cat-loving bibliophile. Lettering artist Laura Dell’Erba uses striking black-and-white artwork and literary quotes to bring together her love of literature and felines to this 16-month wall calendar.

Desktop Calendar

1000 Books to Read Before You Die This 2020 Page-a-Day calendar celebrates the joy of books in daily tear-off format. With recommendations for every age, style, and genre, your wordie will be in literary heaven!

{16-19} Leather Luxuries

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

Spoil the readers and writers on your gift list with little leather (or leather-look) luxuries.

Leather Journal

Who wouldn’t love to pour out one’s heart onto the pages of a vintage leather-bound notebook? Available in several colors, this old-fashioned, unlined journal wraps up neatly with a leather cord.

“Composition Book” Kindle Cover

Leather doesn’t have to be expensive! Kindle Paperwhite users will appreciate this padded leather-like MoKo case masquerading as an iconic composition notebook.

If your budding author or favorite bibliophile doesn’t have an e-reader yet, it’s a great time to give one as a gift—tucked into this awesome case, of course!

Leather Pencil Cup

Need a handsome gift for Dad or Grandpa? A pencil cup in rich mocha leather will grace his desk for years to come.

{20} Tea Time

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ~C. S. Lewis

Novel Teas will make a perfect stocking stuffer for someone who finds no greater pleasure than to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. The package contains 25 individually tagged English Breakfast tea bags with literary quotes from the world over.

{21-23} Readers’ Journals

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

The Book Lover’s Journal is a slim, comprehensive notebook for recording the reader’s book-reading history and keeping a wishlist of books to read.

Books I’ve Read: A Reader’s Journal offers a place to jot down details about the plot, favorite quotes, and more.

Bookworm Journal, a reading log for kids, will delight young readers who love keeping track of the books they’ve read.

{24-25} Creative Writing for Creative Kids

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

For tweens and teens, coming up with ideas is often the hardest part of writing. Leap Write In! is loaded with prompts and writing activities that inspire fanciful poems and stories to help their words take flight.

Also by Karen Benke, Rip the Page! uses fun writing exercises that encourage curiosity and awaken the imagination.

{26-28} Book Bling!

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

Delight your favorite literary lady with a conversation-starting piece of jewelry that reflects her love of reading or writing. You’re sure to find something clever to suit her personality and reading tastes!

{29} Librarian Envy

Bring back happy library memories by giving this Personal Library Kit to a book-loving friend. It would also make a great gift for a child who loves to play pretend!

Each of my grandma’s books bore a bookplate that read, “I enjoy sharing my books as I do my friends, asking only that you treat them well and see them safely home.” Most avid readers I know love to share their books. The hard part is remembering where each book went!

That’s why I’m smitten by this creative gift. Hearkening back to the days of old-fashioned library circulation, the set includes a date stamp and ink pad, real library cards, book pockets, and more.

{30-31} Words for Wordsmiths

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

Word lovers are always excited to discover new resources to help them craft more descriptive passages.

A welcome addition to any writer’s toolkit, The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Attributes will help writers flesh out their stories’ characters. Delight your favorite author by tucking this gift of words into a stocking or library-themed canvas tote.

Characters and settings will spring to life under the writer’s pen when The Describer’s Dictionary is pulled from the bookshelf! This gem contains lists of descriptive words and illustrative passages from notable novels and nonfiction works.

{32} It’s Puzzling

Book lovers and writers on your gift list will look forward to putting together this fabulous Bizarre Bookshop jigsaw puzzle. The artwork detail is incredible, with lots of subtle book humor in the reworked titles. Surprises await at every turn!

{33-36} Stocking Stuffer Surprises

Check out these smaller treasures, each one perfect for sneaking into a stocking on Christmas Eve!

Introduce a touch of romance with a beautiful boxed soy candle from Paddywax’s quality Library Collection, such as this tuberose and gardenia-scented candle that’s embellished with a Jane Austen quote.

At just $1.95 apiece, these funky bookmarks from Literary Luminaries make an inexpensive treat for a book lover! Each one is uniquely illustrated with the caricature of a famous author or artist.

Your favorite grammar geek go wild for these Call Me Ishmael Postcards from Pop Chart Lab. Bound into a mini hardcover book, they feature sentence diagrams of great literary quotes. What a fun little goodie to slip into a stocking!

What wordie doesn’t love all things Scrabble? Someone on your list will go wild for a tile Scrabble coaster. Because the tiles come in every letter of the alphabet, it’s easy to personalize this clever gift!

{37-38} Too Cool For School

Creative holiday gifts for book lovers and writers, including books and beverages, journals and jewelry, and games, gadgets, and puzzles.

Last but not least, teachers, students, and writers will step out in a pair of snazzy school-supply-themed canvas shoes from Etsy shops. Perfect conversation starters, don’t you think? Delight your recipient with one of these favorites:


The holidays are right around the corner—but so are birthdays, graduations, and many other gift-giving occasions. With 38 great ideas just a mouse-click away, there’s no excuse for putting it off. Make a list, check it twice, and choose the perfect presents for your literary loved ones!

Feeling inspired by these gifts for book lovers and writers? Check out 40 more great gift ideas for readers, writers, and word nerds!