Holiday Gifts for Writers & Readers Under $100

Holiday Gifts for Writers & Readers Under $100

If you've got a Benjamin burning a hole in your pocket and a writer or reader to buy for, this is the place to be!

Hands down, if you can get any gift for a writer, get a copy of Scrivener. It's the best $45 you'll ever spend. Available now on both Mac and PC, with iPhone/iPad sync, no writer should be without it.

And once they write their book with Scriv, your writer will need a place to back up that MS. A portable hard drive is a perfect solution, and prices range from $20 for low-capacity versions, to several hundred for two and three TB drives. A writer needs one with about 500 GB or so, large enough to back up their writing playlists, movies, and all the ebooks and manuscripts their hearts desire. Those average about $80.

I can't help but plug myself in here too. For just $35 over at editorcassandra.com, your favorite writer can choose from a ten-page critique, synopsis critique (up to four single spaced pages), submission package (query and ten page critique), and second-pass query help. Even better, two services are $60 total, three services are $80 total, and four or more are $25 each.

My favorite how-to book from undergrad was Mooring Against the Tide: Writing Fiction and Poetry (2nd Edition) that clocks in at $89.80, but it's worth every penny. It's great for the writer just starting out and trying to find their voice.

I'm not a fan (I love my iPad dearly) but Kindles are hugely popular and the Kindle Fire is a hot seller this year. If you don't have the $199 to fork out, but want to jump on the ebook reading bandwagon, the classic Kindle is only $79, and the Kindle Touch is $99.

If your giftee already has a reader, consider getting them a case for it, like the $70 BookBook for the iPad, or the $50 Moleskine-like Kindle cases.

If your favorite writing is considering self-publishing, a $100 boost for cover art creation or formatting/interior design can go a long way towards helping their publishing dreams come true.

Another great gift could be a collectors set of a favorite book series, like Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7) from $52.16 or a set of Hardcover Harry Potter (Books 1-7) used from $69.88.

A nice ergonomic desk chair can really make those long hours writing a lot more comfortable. A nice laser printer (faster and more pages per "ink" cartridges) is also a great idea. Lap desks are really handy, I use this $2.49 IKEA lap desk propped up on a couple of pillows. A more upscale and useful option (storage!) would be the $54.49 Old School Lap Desk that flips open like old desks.

If you're in bigger cities, consider buying tickets to see their favorite writer speak, or spring for a night in a hotel so they can attend a conference.

You could take your recipient out for a nice dinner, send them for a massage, or hire a babysitter for a night so they can get away.

Gym membership is down, so there are some great deals out there. Some places only charge $10 a month, so a six-month membership would only be $60. Don't forget punch cards for Zumba or yoga classes too.