Tis’ the season for scrambling to find a gift for that hard-to-shop-for friend or family member. If you’re shopping for a journalist or blogger, it can be tempting to go for easy gifts like mugs/coffee, journals, and pens.

These options are so reliable, we’ve of course included them in our gift guides from years past. But this year, we wanted to try to find a few different options to help you switch it up.

Didn’t find what you wanted here? For even more ideas, check out our lists of gift ideas from previous years.

One-of-a-Kind Keyboard

Hand cramping from the copy/paste motions? What originally began as an April Fool’s joke is now a full-fledged product that sold out of its initial inventory. Pre-order this programmable three-key macropad to get it shipped before Christmas. If the gift recipient doesn’t need it for copy/paste functions, it can be programmed for pretty much any key command.

Buying the keypad also goes toward a good cause. A portion of proceeds from every sale will go to digitalundivided, a social startup that develops initiatives that generate economic growth in Black and Latinx communities.

Game Night for Writers

Who wouldn’t appreciate a good board game? It can be a great escape at the end of a hectic news week and a nice change from binging TV. Here are some unique games that are good fits for writers and creatives:

• Mixtape: Get some practice telling your story through music rather than text. Rather than knowledge or skill, the game relies on emotions, memories, and life experiences.
• Charty Party: Embrace your data-visualization nerd with this card game. It’s like Cards Against Humanity, but instead of pairing phrases, you’ll be matching a phrase to a chart with a missing y-axis label.
• Paperback: OK, fine. This one isn’t a physical board game that you play or can purchase, but I had to include it. Make it a new Christmas Eve tradition.

Stories Written by Loved Ones

Time to let someone else do the writing, am I right? StoryWorth is a unique way to preserve memories and stay connected to loved ones. Each week, a loved one will receive a question you’ve never thought to ask them. Their stories will be emailed to the recipient and compiled into a keepsake book at the end of a year.

One of the reviews on the site reads “I gifted this to my Dad last Christmas and it has been a wonderful adventure. I am learning so much about him as he records his stories, all in his own words. Priceless.”

If the giftee would rather be the one doing the writing, this stationery set includes 52 cards to send throughout the year and a journal to document the process. The gift of a slower form of communication can be a welcome change for the new year.

Custom Portrait

One of the most memorable gifts I’ve received is a custom photo with my husband and me turned into a Renaissance painting, similar to these ones. I had to hang it up immediately.

Luckily there are some writer-themed options out there as well. Have the writer in your life animated like a Simpsons-esque reporter, a caricature, or as a character in their favorite show.

And if you’d like to turn a favorite photo into a painting, there’s an option for that, too.

Unique Book Ideas

Books are always a great gift idea for writers. Here are a few out-of-the-box options:

• Commemorative Book: This is a book with the front pages from the recipient’s favorite paper – one front page for each of their birthdays. The recipient’s name is embossed on the cover, and the book includes a custom dedication on the title page. Some of the newspaper options via Uncommon Goods are the Washington Post, LA Times, and Seattle Times.
• Coloring Book: Coloring books for adults have really experienced a popularity explosion in recent years. This one blends coloring and brainstorming, perfect for the creative people in your life.
• AP Stylebook: AP Style is constantly changing, and it can be tough for writers to keep up. The best way to stay on top of updates (aside from following our quarterly recaps, of course) is to subscribe to the AP Stylebook. An online subscription puts all the rules right at their fingertips and buying an annual subscription could make a great, practical gift.
• Journal of the Month: This subscription service delivers a copy of a new print literary magazine each month (or on the schedule that works for you). The magazine changes from month to month, giving the recipient a mix of exciting fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.

Gifts for Staying Cozy

Does typing all day make anyone else’s hands cold and fingers ache? It can’t just be me. I regularly wear fingerless gloves while I work and they could make a great stocking stuffer.

While we’re on the topic of staying warm, why not gift the writer in your life some tea to cozy up with? These Novel Teas make for a unique gift. Nearly all our past gift guides recommend coffee, but this year we’re showing some love for the tea lovers as well.

Last year, my husband gifted me a foot massager, and it’s lived under my desk ever since. This gift is the perfect way to get in some relaxation time while writers work to meet their deadlines.

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