2020 has been a year unlike any other, and journalists and freelancers were hit hard. It has felt like just about the longest year ever.
As the holidays approach, we have a few gift ideas for the journalists, bloggers, and freelancers in your life, because they deserve it.
I know these lists typically include the gifts that will help content creators do their jobs: laptops, recorders, pens, etc. Those are always great gifts, but I wanted to find some options that are just plain fun because I think that’s what we all need right now.
Let’s dig in!
Candles
Like I said, it’s been quite the year and everyone, writer or not, deserves some time to decompress and relax this year. Candles can help with that. Whether it's a scent to get the creative juices flowing or help you imagine that you just opened an old book, there are some seriously great writer-themed candles out there.
Puzzles
For me, jigsaw puzzles can be one of the best ways to just kill time and tune everything out. And since we can all expect to be spending a good amount of time at home in the coming weeks and months, puzzles make a great gift.
Check out this customizable puzzle of the New York Times front page. Choose a date that’s important to the recipient, like a birthday, anniversary, date they were first published, etc. You can select any date as far back as 1851 and customize the number of pieces (300, 500, or 1,000).
Fragrance
Yes, you read that right. Fragrance maker Demeter makes a Paperback scent that’s “sweet and lovely with just a touch of the musty smell of aged paper.” It’s available as a cologne, perfume oil, and body lotion. Or try an old-book-scented diffuser oil to make the entire house smell like a library.
Posters and Prints
One of my favorite gifts to receive is wall art for the house. Since we’re all spending a lot more time at home this year, gifting something to liven up living spaces can be a great option.
This literary insults poster is a creative flowchart of zingers from authors including Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare, Mark Twain, and more.
If the insults poster doesn’t quite appeal to the giftee's sense of humor, try giving them a simple yet eye-catching typewriter/dictionary print.
Wine
Because wine is always a good gift, why not step it up a bit with a bottle of Writer’s Block wine from Steele? It’s available in pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, syrah, and more.
All the coffee things
Coffee is a writer’s lifeblood and always makes for a good gift that’s sure to be used.
I have made a habit of buying novelty mugs, and pretty much all the journalist mugs on Etsy are great options.
And if you’re looking for some unique coffee to fill that new mug, check out Jot, a well-reviewed “ultra coffee” concentrate that can be used to make any coffee drink under the sun with just a tablespoon. The small bottle makes 14 cups of coffee and could make a great stocking stuffer.
Lastly, if you want to add in some drink accessories for the coffee or wine (or both), unique coasters, like this typewriter-themed set, should do the trick.
Face masks
I can’t believe I’m writing a gift guide with face mask recommendations, but here we are. To embrace the times we’re in, get the writer in your life a face mask with newspaper print or one that says, “Can I quote you on that?”
Bonus: The Gift of Support
Perhaps now more than ever, journalists’ jobs rely heavily on subscribers paying for news. So help them out during the holidays and buy a subscription or donate to their outlet. Many publications will typically offer deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, so check for those as well.
See the original post on Beyond Bylines.
