The Writing Barn’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide is here!
The holidays came quickly this year, and if you’re like us, there’s a writer on your list that still needs a gift. Whether you are searching for the perfect present to make the writer in your life smile or you want to treat yourself to something special this holiday season, you won’t be disappointed with these gift ideas.
Help your writer friends unwind with a Mini Cross Stitch Embroidery Kit. These crafty gifts can help declutter a busy brain and promote overall mindfulness. Plus, there are tons of designs out there that are perfect for writers, like this one from Etsy.
Every writer needs a good notebook! Get them one that the planet will love, too, like the journals and planners from Rocketbook. The company has lots of awesome digital products, but according to them, “that doesn’t mean that the most important part of cognition, the original handwritten note, has to leave a paper trail.” These notebooks are made of recyclable materials so you can feel amazing about the gift you’re giving.
Stuff their stockings all while supporting POC-owned businesses. Be Rooted, the emerging yet popular Black-owned stationery brand, is dedicated to disrupting the stationery industry with representation and inclusivity. Their journals, planners, pens, and pencils make the perfect gifts.
For the young creative in your life, give the gift of Writing Barn Youth Programming. With a stellar faculty and guest authors, flexible and accessible lessons, and so much more, our 4-month virtual program is sure to inspire the writers of tomorrow.
A little organization never hurts, especially when it comes to your writing workspace. Gift your loved one a stylish-yet-practical desk organizer like this one.
For the writer who absolutely needs to write a memoir, give the gift of Storyworth: a unique way to preserve stories for years to come.
Create a peaceful ambiance for their workspace with Gingko’s smart booklights. A beautiful addition to any desk or bedside table, these unique lights look like laser-cut wooden books when closed, but when opened, they turn into the perfect lamp for late-night writing or reading.
There’s nothing like the power of a nice pen! Give the gift of an elevated writing experience with these Lamy Safari Fountain Pens for beginners.
For the writer who doubles as the host with the most, give them the gift of literary-themed libations with Cocktails for Book Lovers (bonus points if you purchase from an indie bookstore).
Treat your loved one to a class (or classes!) at the Writing Barn with a WB gift card. Maybe we’re biased, but we think this is a foolproof present.
Know a writer who loves the vintage look and feel but doesn’t want to sacrifice the ease and simplicity of modern tech? They can have both with this Bluetooth Typewriter Keyboard.
If you’re gifting something to a book club lover, this Book Club Card Deck will make a great addition to their meetings (PS: This is a great gift for teachers, too!).
Show some love not just for those on your holiday gift list but for our incredible Success Stories at the Barn, too! There are so many new, brilliant books by friends of The Writing Barn available for purchase, including:
Over, Bear! Under, Where? by Julie Hedlund
Child of the Flower-Song People by Gloria Amescua
The Staring Contest by Nicholas Solis
She Sang for the Mountains: The Story of Jean Ritchie—Singer Songwriter, Activist by Shannon Hitchcock
Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist by Evan Griffith
Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June
365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr
About the writers:
Sophie Velasquez, Program Associate/Intern Coordinator
Sophie Velasquez is a writer and digital marketing specialist from West Texas currently living on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. She received her BA in Writing and Rhetoric with a focus in Creative Writing from St. Edward’s University. She loves to combine her skills in tech and marketing with her passion for creative writing to make meaningful digital content. In her free time, you’ll find Sophie writing poetry and fiction, reading on the beach, cooking, or making travel plans.
Katarina Rodriguez, Intern
Katarina Rodriguez is a senior at St. Edward’s University, studying to receive her BA in Writing and Rhetoric. She’s originally from Galveston, Texas and is a board member for The Ricky Roa Memorial Scholarship fund. Her love for writing began at a young age, and she mostly enjoys writing poetry and short fiction. Some of her favorite genres include mystery, romance, thriller and science fiction. Outside of writing, Katarina loves to read, cook, sing, play her ukulele, watch softball and annoy her three cats.
Cate Mandelski, Intern
Cate Mandelski is a recent graduate from The University of North Texas. She received her BA in Media Arts and plans to pursue a career in the film industry. Cate has had a love for writing from a very young age, sparked by her mother, who is a YA romance author. Cate has a passion for screenwriting, often writing them in her free time. She also loves to read, her preference being for contemporary novels, specifically ones that revolve around unhinged women. Aside from reading and writing, Cate enjoys photography, watching films, and baking as well as tending to her cat (who is seemingly always hungry).