The holiday shopping season is just around the corner, and whether you’re shopping for the caffeine-fueled novelist who hasn’t seen sunlight in weeks or the writer in the middle of their worst block, we’ve got you covered with the author’s ideal gift guide for 2024. Prepare to discover gifts that will make any indie author’s heart sing louder than their internal editor screams. From noise-canceling headphones to mugs smart enough to keep your tea hot, we’ve curated a list that’s more useful than a thesaurus and more exciting than finding a typo in a rival’s bestseller.
(Note: The following items have been verified by IAM staff members or received more than one hundred reviews and more than four stars on Amazon.)
The Author’s Planner by Audrey Hughey
Prepare to revolutionize your author’s writing life with a smorgasbord of planners designed to transform a schedule into a well-oiled word factory. Audrey Hughey’s planner series can help your favorite author launch their new book without stumbling, focus their scattered thoughts, or track their journey from a caffeine-fueled dreamer to a slightly more caffeinated author. Whether you’re a pantser or a planner when it comes to your books, Hughey has a productivity planner for every writerly personality, including 2025 author planners, undated planners, the essential book launch planner, and An Author’s Legacy, a planner co-authored by Hughey and 20BooksTo50K® co-founder Craig Martelle to help authors protect their estate after death.
Lighting
Moon Light
$39.99
Long days spent indoors during winter months can affect even the cheeriest writers. This globe sits compactly on your desk and mimics the light of a bright sunny day.
LED Desk Lamp for Dual Monitors
$55.89
This LED desk lamp is evenly illuminated, with no glare, no flicker, and no blue light hazard. Soft and even lighting helps to relieve eye fatigue caused by long-time use of computer screens. This light option is especially suitable for large workstations with wide curved monitors.
Govee Smart Light Bar
$59.99
Let Smart LED lights with twelve scene and music modes, a Bluetooth color light bar, and mood lighting create the atmosphere you need to write that perfect scene. With several dynamic aesthetic modes to choose from, you can experiment with the setting that fits your environment—or your character’s mood—best.
Desk Accessories
Desk Clamp Power Strip
$32.49
For any author working on their own devices or looking to protect their works-in-progress, a surge protector is a must for your writing space. This desktop-mounted surge protector offers a 40-watt charging station with four PD 20-watt USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, five widely spaced outlets, and a six-foot flat plug to protect your devices from overcharging and overloading.The strip has an energy rating of 1,200 Joules and is made of fireproof plastic material.
Monitor Memo Board
$8.99
This transparent memo board for your computer turns your monitor into the perfect storage space for your most-needed tools. Now your phone, notes, and character sheets can stay within reach during your writing session. The board can be moved to the right or left of your screen, and the phone holder is at the bottom, allowing you to charge your phone while working and keep the screen visible.
Heated Snailax Footrest
$49.99
The Snailax vibration foot warmer comes with three levels of adjustable heating that can be controlled with the touch of a button, providing fast warmth and improving blood circulation for your feet in winter. It’s a perfect gift to keep your favorite writer cozy while they’re stuck in one spot until they finish their latest novel.
Comfort and Health
Under-Desk Treadmill
$287
Standing while writing isn’t as difficult as it sounds, and walking while writing offers authors an easy chance to stretch their legs and work more movement into their daily writing routine. This treadmill offers two ways to get more steps: use the built-in writing desk, or drop the handrails flat and use it under a standing desk you already own.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
$299
Sometimes writers need to tune out their environment in order to concentrate. These Bose QuietComfort 35 II wireless Bluetooth headphones are noise-canceling and have built-in Alexa Voice Control—plus, they come in a limited-edition rose gold. Three levels of noise cancellation allow you to adjust your settings for a listening experience that suits your environment.
Writing Chairs
Furnimart Swivel Criss-Cross-Legged Chair
$99
If you’re the kind to get antsy at your desk or need to shift positions often at your desk in order to endure longer productivity sessions, this armless office chair offers a sleek, ergonomic design with space to cross your legs or tuck them beneath you while you work. The chair offers plenty of durability and support for long-term use.
Executive Reclining Massage Chair with Heat and Footrest
$199.88
With six different vibration settings available, this office recliner might help you feel less exhausted while pounding out your next manuscript. A comfy heated office chair helps your blood circulate and provides you with a regulated temperature during the winter months. This version can warm up to 100°F.
Futon Convertible Chair
$229.99
Not every author prefers to write at a desk. If you’d rather work from a couch or your bed, or just want to take a reading break in the evenings, this three-in-one pull-out sleeper and reading chair has two USB ports to charge your phone or other devices. The chair also has cup holders in the armrest and two side pockets for storage, plus extra storage space under the footrest.
Keyboards
Typewriter Keyboard
$199
Setting the right mood in your writing space can be just as important as it is on the page, and for Historical Fiction or Mystery authors—or anyone with nostalgia for “the good old days”—the QWERKYTOYS typewriter-inspired mechanical keyboard and tablet stand offers a chance to tap into your inner Ernest Hemingway or Arthur Conan Doyle with a realistic typewriter feel. The return bar and scroll knobs are functional; the return bar is programmable but defaults to an “Enter” key, and the scroll knobs function as both a page scroll and volume control. The keyboard is metal and works with Mac, iOS, and Android devices, and the heavy-duty tablet stand can support up to 12.9-inch tablets.
Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard
$48.99
Bluetooth 5.1 technology in this multi-device keyboard provides a cordless connection to your work, with an operating distance of ten meters and the ability to connect to your computer, tablet, or phone. The full-size keyboard includes the numeric keypad design, which makes typing easier and more comfortable than other wireless keyboards.
iClever Foldable Keyboard
$53.99
For those looking for an even more portable option, the iClever foldable keyboard and mouse pad folds into thirds when not in use to fit in your pocket. The included touchpad and stand rule out the need for other gadgets, so authors can carry their writing desk anywhere and write whenever the feeling comes over them.
Tablets
Wacom Cintiq Creative Pen and Touch Graphic Drawing Monitor
$1,399.95
The Wacom drawing monitor is a favorite among digital artists for illustration and design work. Multi-touch gestures, on-screen controls, two pen side switches, and more offer one-touch shortcuts and tactile control that can bring your graphics, cover art, or interior illustrations up a notch. The etched glass screen reduces glare and reflections while you draw and are designed to mimic the feel of a pen on paper.
Amazon Fire HD Eight-Inch Tablet
$59.99
It’s important authors stay in the know about entertainment, or even just have a way to unwind at the end of the day. With the Amazon Fire tablet, stream or download your favorite shows and movies from Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and HBO. Enjoy your favorite content from Facebook, Hulu, Instagram, TikTok, and more through Amazon’s app store. And of course, download and read your favorite books—whether they’re yours or another author’s—through the Kindle app.
Samsung Galaxy Eleven-Inch Android Tablet
$167.72
Bring your ability to write or design graphics with you when you travel with the bright, engaging eleven-inch screen on the Samsung Galaxy tablet. Not only for work, this tablet’s powerful speakers and slim, durable design also keep your music, shows, and games portable for writing retreats or conference travel.
Mugs
Self-Heating Coffee Mug
$89.96
If you have a habit of letting your tea or coffee cool when in the midst of a productivity sprint, this temperature control smart mug is the answer. With a built-in lithium battery, your drink can maintain a temperature of 120°F for up to two hours after fully charging. Enjoy hot drinks during long meetings or while working without frequent recharging.
“Future Bestselling Author” Mug
$15.90
Every author needs a specialty mug with a mantra to motivate them toward The End, and this eleven-ounce ceramic “Future Bestselling Author” mug is a gift they will always remember and appreciate.
Note-Taking
Rocketbook Core Reusable Spiral Notebook
$33.36
Every author has a stash of unused notebooks and journals in their closet, but Rocketbook’s reusable spiral notebook rules out the need for more paper and provides a safe way to store your notes, story ideas, and outlines for whenever you need them again. Write on the page with the included pen, digitize your notes in the Cloud once you’re done, erase the page with a damp cloth, then write again. Finally, a notebook with enough pages to house all those stray story ideas floating around in your head.
The Only Plotting Workbook You’ll Ever Need
$11.99
Author T.M. Holladay knows there’s more than one way to outline a story; his guide, The Only Plotting Workbook You’ll Ever Need, offers a detailed walk-through of ten different methods so you can find the right one for your writing style. The workbook includes worksheets, timelines, calendars, and scene maps, with prompts enough to guide your story but not pigeonhole it if you want to try something new.
Writer’s Workbook: With Tips, Checklists and Guidelines
$15.99
Even experienced authors can benefit from returning to the basics, and Tanja Hanika’s Writer’s Workbook is as much a guide to plotting as it is a guide to good craft itself. The book offers tips, checklists, and outlines for shaping everything from character development to story arcs while writing the story, but it also walks readers through creating plot synopses and other marketing materials for once the manuscript is complete.
Career Enhancers
Finally, Indie Author Magazine and Indie Author Training offer authors a chance to keep a finger on the pulse of the ever-changing publishing industry and to learn directly from thought leaders and experts in the field. Consider gifting subscriptions to the authors in your life—or to yourself—and keep on top of the latest resources, news, and trends in the indie author community, through monthly issues of IAM or webinars, courses, and discussions hosted on Indie Author Training.
Even if the author in your life has everything they need, you can still show them love this holiday season. A heartfelt message of encouragement, a cup of tea while on deadline, or a post about their books on social media—no matter the time of year, your support is one of the best gifts you can offer.
Know of any must-have gifts for 2024 we’ve missed? Let us know at suggestions@indieauthormagazine.com! We may feature them in future issues.
Terry Wells-Brown
