8 Birthday Gifts For Writers: Supporting Small Businesses
Never again will you have to panic and scroll through endless Etsy pages for the perfect gift! Writers - those elusive, introverted creatures - can be tricky to shop for when their birthdays come around because who wants to spend hours figuring out what book they haven't read yet?
Hint: They've read everything. Twice. Probably.
Here's another hint, though, writers are voracious readers. Below is a list that's suitable for setting the atmosphere whenever your friend wants to sit down and pen their newest novel or relax on a Friday night with a book (of their own choice!)
Not only that, but each of these stores is a small business that you aren't likely to find in the mall. Now more than ever, it's time to support your small businesses. The care and joy they put into their products are unmatched.
You might even surprise your friend by introducing them to a store they've been secretly following on Instagram!
Here Are 8 Unique Small And Budget Friendly Birthday Gifts for Writers:
1. Page Anchor
You can buy them here.
Price Range: $49.99 - $374.99
Page Anchors are the premium way to keep a book open without having to strain your thumb or shove your elbow in as you brew a cup of tea. You can even use them to keep your notebooks open!
These anchors won't harm a book's spine, come with a lifetime warranty, and include free shipping worldwide.
Plus, they're absolutely gorgeous. It's perfect for the reader in every writer.
2. Bookish Candles from Wick and Fable
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You can buy them here.
Price Range: $5 - $85
Your writer friend will surely love these bookish-themed candles. With the varied range of genres and fandoms, there's a scent for everyone in their massive catalogue.
The good news is, every scent is ideal for setting the scene when your friend is facing a tight deadline or looking to relax with a good book or two!
3. Journals from Little Inklings
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You can buy them here.
Price Range: CAD$10 - CAD$45
These journals are not only beautiful for those Instagram posts, but they're also highly intuitive, with various pages dedicated to the different sorts of notes that your friend might take while reading.
Pie charts, organized lists, book challenges, and many more features are found within each and every planner.
Little Inklings is also known for their bookmarks, which could be a potential alternative to the journals they offer.
4. Book Sleeves from Book Beau
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You can buy them here.
Price Range: $15.29 - $29.99
Book Beau is the original creator of the book sleeve. They've expanded their site to include various sizes for every novel, and they add new designs all the time.
Your friend might be wary of carrying her tablet or new book in their bag - because who wants a dented cover or folded pages? - so a book beau is sure to protect their belongings.
I guarantee that your friend will want more than just one so they'll have choices when leaving the house with a book in hand. You'll find bookish designs as well as everyday looks to compliment every aesthetic.
5. Bookish Tea from The Simply Bookish Co.
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You can buy them here.
Price Range: $1.50 - $51
What writer - and reader - doesn't love tea? Forget the unoriginal Earl Grey or English Breakfast you can find at the grocery store and find a more personalized gift over at this shop.
The Simply Bookish Company offers a wide range of products, but their tea can soothe any busy mind. Mix and match flavors, complement it with a mug rug, and you can even purchase a bookish mug to go with it.
6. Magnetic Bookmarks from Happy Hello Co.
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You can buy them here.
Price Range: CAD$3.08 - CAD$40.00
Hand-drawn magnetic bookmarks are the most versatile gift you could get your writer friend. Apart from their intended purpose of marking a page, they could be used as mini decorations or even tree ornaments if you hook them through a string!
Happy Hello loves to add new book characters to their collection, and they also have pins and greeting cards to satisfy the needs of every customer.
7. Bookish Posters from Litographs
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You can buy them here.
Price Range: $24 - $119
For the writer who is looking for a unique piece of home decor to show off to their friends, then a poster is the perfect solution.
Litographs is known for more than just their posters. You can get the entire text of a book printed on blankets, t-shirts, scarves, and many more. If you can subtly figure out one of your friend's favorite novels, then Litographs is likely to have it.
If you want to make the gift even more personal, you can order custom text to be printed on a product of your choice!
8. Book Box Subscription from Owlcrate
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You can buy it here.
Price: $29.99 - $167.94
What writer doesn't want a book in the mail? But not just a book; the whole box is filled with goodies centered around the particular theme for that month.
Some will contain socks, candles, art prints, and many more! Owlcrate is especially perfect for lovers of YA or Middle-Grade fiction, and you can decide which plan works best for your budget.
Their boxes sometimes include products that can also be found individually in the shops listed above, so if you're looking for a choice that will surprise your friend every month, Owlcrate is the way to go.
Any of your writer friends will definitely appreciate the gifts listed here. You can sleep tight knowing that you have a host of options that are suitable for any budget.
Happy shopping!
Opinions and Perspectives
Been using Book Beau sleeves for my entire collection now. No more damaged corners!
The Little Inklings designs are so elegant. Perfect for minimalist aesthetics.
These are all wonderful but my wallet is crying just looking at some of these prices.
The Owlcrate community is so welcoming. Love sharing unboxing experiences with other subscribers.
Just discovered most of these shops ship worldwide. Great for international gifting!
The Simply Bookish Co packaging is eco-friendly too, which I really appreciate.
The Litographs quality is impressive. The text is actually readable on their products.
The Book Beau sizing guide is super helpful for choosing the right sleeve.
Those candle scents really do help set the mood for writing sessions.
The magnetic bookmarks are surprisingly strong. They don't slide off like I expected.
Love that all these businesses seem to really understand what writers want.
The Little Inklings journal paper quality is fantastic. No bleeding even with fountain pens.
Owlcrate's customer service is exceptional. Had an issue once and they resolved it immediately.
Really impressed by the durability of the Book Beau sleeves. Mine still looks new after a year.
The Simply Bookish Co tea flavors are so creative. The names alone make me smile.
These are all lovely but nothing beats a simple handwritten note with a bookstore gift card.
The Wick and Fable candles last way longer than expected. Really good value for money.
Got the Little Inklings reading journal last month. The quality exceeded my expectations.
The Page Anchor looks nice but seems more like a luxury item than a necessity.
Anyone else hooked on collecting Book Beau sleeves? The designs are so addictive!
Those magnetic bookmarks are perfect for textbooks. They don't leave marks like regular bookmarks do.
The Book Beau sleeves have saved my kindle multiple times during travels.
Love seeing small businesses getting recognition. The personal touch in their products really shows.
The Simply Bookish Co tea packaging is gorgeous. Makes for a beautiful desk display even before brewing.
Been subscribed to Owlcrate for 6 months now. The quality is consistently good but the themes can be hit or miss.
The Litographs custom text option is perfect for gifting to authors. Imagine their own work on a blanket!
These gifts definitely beat getting another notebook that'll just sit on the shelf unused.
Just ordered some Happy Hello bookmarks. The shipping to Canada was reasonable too!
The Little Inklings journals have become essential for my book reviews. The layout is so intuitive.
Curious about the Wick and Fable candles. Anyone know if they ship internationally?
The Page Anchor really transformed my reading experience. No more cramped hands trying to keep books open.
Love that these items are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Perfect for those Instagram shelf photos!
The book sleeves seem unnecessary until your favorite book gets destroyed in the rain. Trust me on this one.
I've gifted those magnetic bookmarks to several friends and they're always a hit. Practical and cute!
The Simply Bookish Co tea collections make perfect care package items for writer friends on deadlines.
These are lovely but I find some of the prices quite shocking for what are essentially accessories.
The Owlcrate subscription seems perfect for aspiring YA authors. Love that it includes writing supplies sometimes.
Anyone tried the Page Anchor with really thick textbooks? Wondering if it works well for academic books.
The variety in these gift ideas is impressive. Something for every type of writer and every budget.
I'm currently using the Litographs poster of The Great Gatsby as my zoom background. Gets lots of compliments!
The magnetic bookmarks from Happy Hello are adorable but they're a bit bulky for paperbacks.
Book Beau sleeves have saved countless books in my bag from coffee spills. Worth every penny.
Not sure about the candles. What if the scent is too strong and distracting while writing?
Those Little Inklings journals have seriously improved my reading notes organization. The pie charts are especially useful.
I appreciate that these suggestions focus on small businesses. It's so important to support independent creators.
The Page Anchor looks beautiful but I can't justify that price. My bent paperclip works just fine!
These gifts are great but let's be real, most writers I know would be happy with a gift card to their local bookstore.
The Simply Bookish Co teas are wonderful. I got their writer's blend and it's perfect for late-night writing sessions.
My experience with Owlcrate has been amazing. Each box feels like a birthday present, and the curation is thoughtful.
Anyone else fascinated by the idea of having an entire book printed on a t-shirt? The Litographs concept is brilliant.
I love supporting small businesses but some of these items seem overpriced for what they are. The magnetic bookmarks are cute though.
The book sleeve prices seem reasonable compared to replacing damaged books. Wish I'd known about these sooner!
Just ordered a Page Anchor after reading this. Yes, it's pricey but considering how much time I spend reading, I think it's justified.
The Litographs posters are amazing. I got Pride and Prejudice printed on a blanket last year and it's become my favorite reading companion.
I never knew I needed a book sleeve until now. My paperbacks always get destroyed in my backpack.
Can we talk about how gorgeous those book sleeves from Book Beau are? Finally something to protect my books in my bag without looking boring!
The magnetic bookmarks are such a clever idea. I'm always losing my regular paper ones or having them fall out.
Thanks for sharing these! I've been struggling to find something unique for my friend who's publishing her first novel. The Simply Bookish Co tea sets look perfect.
The Page Anchor isn't just functional, it's basically art for your desk. I display mine even when I'm not reading.
I actually disagree with the article's suggestion about Owlcrate. While the boxes are nice, they're quite generic and my writer friends prefer more personalized gifts.
The journals from Little Inklings look perfect for my writing group. We're always looking for new ways to organize our book notes and story ideas.
The bookish candles caught my attention. I've been following Wick and Fable on Instagram for months but never pulled the trigger on buying. Anyone tried their scents?
These are some creative suggestions but honestly those prices seem a bit steep. $374 for a page anchor? I'll stick to my trusty paperweight.
The Page Anchor is totally worth it! I got one last year and use it daily. It's especially helpful when I'm copying recipes from cookbooks or studying textbooks.
I love these gift ideas! The Page Anchor looks absolutely stunning. Has anyone tried it? I'm wondering if it's worth the investment for my sister who's always complaining about holding her books open while taking notes.