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Creative writing

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Present for a writer

20 replies

Gwenhwyfar · 16/08/2024 17:45

Can you suggest a present for a writer? Someone who is writing a novel, but not had any fiction published yet?

OP posts:
LoinChop · 16/08/2024 18:11

My dsis is not a writer but she has a specific favourite scene from a book when we were small. For her birthday I'm going to buy the book, rip out the page and have it mounted professionally so she can hang it on the wall. Maybe as a writer, your friend would appreciate a gift like this?

InTheBleakMidsummer · 16/08/2024 18:29

Really not sure writers like different things to other people.

Unless she is the rare person actually in need of a fancy fountain pen or leather-bound notebooks, paying for any necessary servicing of her laptop is probably the only tool related gift that’s of any real value.

I am pretty sure that most writers are not keen on seeing books ripped apart - even if they are ten a penny, it seems like sacrilege.

Mosaic123 · 16/08/2024 18:30

Subscription to a writing magazine?

ShyMaryEllen · 16/08/2024 18:44

What's your budget, OP?

My favourite thing is a ReMarkable digital notebook, which lets you write longhand and save your scribbles on a laptop and other devices. They are expensive though.

Or what about a workshop or series of workshops on her favourite kind of writing? There are numerous ones for all types of Creative Writing, and many are online so you don't need to be restricted by geography. Look on Eventbrite for ideas, or check out places like CityLit.

Longtimeworker · 16/08/2024 18:47

If you are after a smaller something then this company has some cute ideas.
www.theliterarygiftcompany.com/collections/gifts-for-writers

umarmalik · 16/08/2024 20:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MySocksAreDotty · 16/08/2024 20:34

Stationery from Cult Pens (live Leuchtturm notebooks), something book-themed from Present Indicative?

Sethera · 16/08/2024 20:38

The most beautiful notebook you can afford. Paperblanks do some lovely ones.

Doable · 16/08/2024 20:38

Time.

Something that saves time (soup maker?) or gives them extra time eg 'I'll have your kids for the afternoon'

ProvincialLady2024 · 16/08/2024 20:41

I'm a writer and I am delighted with a beautiful notebook or pen.

larkstar · 16/08/2024 23:10

Speaking for myself - I have plenty of stationary (and books on writing). What I yearn for is uninterrupted time for myself and inspiration.

I try to go to The Brontë Museum once a year - you can buy the ticket and use it as many times as you can visit in the year. There are other writers houses - it depends on where your friend lives and who they might be interested in. I normally spend several hours there - the staff are brilliant and there are backroom staff who are happy to answer any difficult questions - I think it's an absolute gem of a place.

I remember a very special day writing at a fantastic location - this was at the East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden (Norfolk) - I took my notes and had a whole day to myself writing there - maybe you can think of a place, a nearby National Trust property with a nice garden and pay for the entrance fee, tea and cake.

There are no end of books about writing but one that I actually dip into a lot - and I've had it for years - won't be one of that ever gets mentioned - it's The Bloodaxe Book of Poetry Quotations (Contemporary Quotations on Poets and Poetry) by Dennis O' Driscoll -

{he wrote an awe inspiring book "Stepping Stones" (Interviews with Seamus Heaney) - IMHO - you don't have to be writing poetry to get something from these interviews with one of the greatest writers of our time - Heaney has a brilliant mind and he interviews so well - he's very lucid - I find him the most engaging and inspirational writer to listen to}. I'm a fan of interview collections, letter collections and diaries (e.g. the 2 volumes of Plath) - who is your friend interested in or inspired by?

The quotations book is just a place to search for some topical inspiration - there is a lot about writing and it's struggles but it's also often lightly amusing - it's a very curious and insightful collection of quotes (imho) and being a collection of pithy ideas, it's very easy to dip in and out of: probably not what you might think as right for a fiction/novel writer but - poets are writers too! Does your friend have any interest at all in reading or writing poetry?

Bookmarks! I have plenty now but that's because I've finally got round to ordering some ones I find that I liked - I like having 10 or 20 spare ones.

larkstar · 16/08/2024 23:25

Mosaic123 · 16/08/2024 18:30

Subscription to a writing magazine?

That's a good shout.

Onedaynotyet · 16/08/2024 23:28

A KEEP OUT sign and a door wedge.

stayathomer · 16/08/2024 23:30

The paperback of On Writing by Stephen King and some sweets😉

loropianalover · 16/08/2024 23:33

stayathomer · 16/08/2024 23:30

The paperback of On Writing by Stephen King and some sweets😉

I was going to suggest On Writing too.

Maybe some nice coffee if they write in the morning, or some nice tea/hot choc if they write in the evening.

Do they sit at a desk to write? Maybe a personalised mouse mat?

Gwenhwyfar · 19/08/2024 19:24

Thanks everyone and sorry it's taken me so long to get back here. I didn't get any notifications from the thread so I thought nobody had answered :(

I think there's a chance she's got some of the books mentioned, but if I get a couple of them I may have more of a chance that she doesn't already have both. She's into crime writing.

OP posts:
ReadWithScepticism · 19/08/2024 19:32

If its crime writing she's into, what about a moody film noir poster featuring humphry bogart or some such as an iconic hard-boiled literary detective

larkstar · 19/08/2024 19:34

@ReadWithScepticism I like THAT idea!

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