Happy Holidays and Some Writerly Gift Ideas
A few gifts I'd love to get or give, maybe you would too?
Whatever you celebrate this month, wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying some joy amid all that’s happening in the world. I hope your holidays are gatherings that enrich your lives.
It’s that season for gift giving, which can be fun or a total hassle.
If you’re looking for some great writerly gifts, here’s a little round up I put together this week, my favorite and (mostly) inexpensive ways to celebrate other writers in my life. I don’t get any commission or whatever from these, just happy to share what I love so that you might too!
Please post your own ideas for great writerly gifts in the comments!
Note: Prices quoted are in US dollars and are approximate as of this writing.
Inspiration: If you haven’t already become a
fan, do! I regularly buy her books, Wintering and Enchantment, for writer friends during the holidays. Katherine is also offering a new online course called The Way through Winter which carries her Wintering ideas into personal reflection for the dark season (about $145). My other go-to for writers is ’s classic, Big Magic ($10 paperback), which I am revisiting this week to get some extra courage for a new project. I especially love the audio version.Online writing classes: I regularly take writing classes online, to stay fresh and alert to new learning, and my favorite venues are Grub Street (Boston) and The Loft (Minneapolis) Lots of options for the new year, including five-month and year-long courses, in case you or your giftee needs serious immersion. Cost is around $100 for a one-day Zoom class (scholarships available).
Substack newsletters: Another easy gift is a monthly or one-year subscription to a weekly newsletter on writing craft. My favorites to recommend this year are George Saunders’ Story Club ($50 for one year) and Jami Attenberg’s Craft Talk ($50 for one year). There are SO many good ones here, but these two are my go-to for both inspiration and community on this platform.
Sound or no-sound techy stuff: Having enough high-quality quiet is essential to some writers. Having the right playlist in the background as inspiration is vital to others. I’m a fan of my Bose mini-speaker which I use with my phone for music when I’m writing certain characters (about $79). Bose also makes these wireless noise-cancelling headphones that are on my to-try list (around $300 but totally worth it according to reviews in the New York Times and elsewhere).
Candles: ‘Tis the season for candlelight, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. Some writers light an inspirational candle before their writing session. I have trouble with phthalates, parabens, and dyes, so my favorites for years have been organic beeswax candles. The scent is a very light honey. Try the Savannah Bee Company for their organic beeswax pillar candle (around $18) or for a slightly more expensive ($35) variety, check out Ames Farms from Minnesota.
Journals and notebooks: Keeping a writing notebook for each book project is a lovely habit to encourage, for yourself or a writer friend. I’ve mentioned the ZenArt journal before (around $22)—I love it because it has smooth paper and I can be sloppy without worrying about messing up an expensive notebook. Oprah Daily also had a list of their favorite journals for writers here. Finally, there’s the classic Leuchtturm 1917 journal ($25); like most of their line, an elegant hardcover if you prefer that.
And for some great reads this winter! What are you reading now? What books have you totally enjoyed this year that might be welcome on someone else’s TBR list? I’m going through an Amor Towles kick right now, moving backwards from his latest to his first (of three novels), and I can definitely recommend The Lincoln Highway.
Check out the books below in Shout Out! too and give fellow writers a boost by pre-ordering or ordering a copy.
And a tiny shout out for my books . . . Reader response to my two novels, published these past eighteen months with great effort and delight (from me), has been an uplift to say the least. Both have won multiple awards (and one big one to be revealed later this month). If you've read one of them, thank you! If you haven't yet enjoyed either A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO SEARCH & RESCUE or LAST BETS, please consider them for your holiday reading or as a gift to friends and family you love.
Reading is my go-to these days for cheer and stability. It means everything me to have readers like you! I know you'll enjoy these two stories about women heroes who don’t start out that way, their unexpected and rich friendships beyond generational limits, and the exotic locations. I would love to hear your thoughts about either book.
Happiest of holidays to you all, thank you for being here!
Your ideas for great gifts for writers?
Shout Out!
A hearty shout out to these writing friends and former students who are publishing their books! I encourage you to pre-order or order a copy to show your support of fellow writers and our writing community.
(If you are a former student and will publish soon (pre-orders of your book are available now), or have in the past two months, email mary[at]marycarrollmoore[dot]com to be included in a future Shout Out! I’ll keep your listing here for two months.)
Megan Lindhal Goodrich, Beyond Terminal: Processing Childhood Trauma to Reclaim Self (Wise Ink), September release
Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, The Release: Creativity and Freedom after the Writing Is Done (Skinner House), October release
Robert Johns, The Fighters: A Trilogy (River Grove Books), October release
Morgan Baylog Finn, The Gathering: Poems (Finishing Line Press), November release
Ed Orzechowski, Becoming Darlene: The Story of Belchertown Patient #4952 (Levellers Press), November release
Mary Beth Spray, Imprint: A Woman’s Journey from Trauma to Freedom (Beaver’s Pond Press), December release
I’m a lifelong artist, and I love to inspire and support other creative folk, which is why I write this weekly newsletter. My goal with these posts is to help you strengthen your writing practice and creative life so it becomes more satisfying to you.
I’m also the author of 15 books in 3 genres. My third novel, Last Bets (Riverbed Press), was published in April, after becoming an Amazon bestseller during pre-orders. My second novel, A Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue (Riverbed Press), was published in October 2023 also and became an Amazon bestseller and Hot New Release from pre-orders. For twelve years, I worked as a full-time food journalist, most notably through my weekly column for the Los Angeles Times syndicate. My writing-craft book, Your Book Starts Here, won the New Hampshire Literary Awards “People’s Choice” in 2011 and my first novel, Qualities of Light, was nominated for PEN/Faulkner and Lambda Literary awards in 2009. I’ve written Your Weekly Writing Exercise every Friday since 2008.
Wonderful generous suggestions, Mary. Thank You.
Thanks for the recommendation!