Most family and friends have no idea what to give authors. Sometimes we authors don’t know what to ask for ourselves! But we do need tools that would help our writing business: books, specialized software, encouragement, editing help, and more. These gift ideas for indie authors, both practical and fun, will enable you to ask for things you actually need or want while also helping your author business!
Craft Book Gift Ideas for Indie Authors
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maas
This is probably the book that’s made the most difference in my writing life. It goes through how to connect the reader to the characters emotionally. This is super important, because when the reader is invested emotionally in our characters, they’ll keep reading our books. I learned so much and use this tool every time I write a new book.
The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
This book pairs nicely with The Emotional Craft of Fiction. When you’re searching for that third level emotion for your characters, you can browse through this book for ideas. It also lists some physical signals and behaviors tied to each emotion so you don’t have to stare at your screen for hours trying to come up with something super clever and unique.
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card
Learn to write the best fantasy and sci-fi by a master of the craft! I enjoy how Card explores the differences between fantasy and science fiction. One of the quotes that’s stuck out to me from this book is: “Science fiction is about what could be but isn’t; fantasy is about what couldn’t be.”
Want to create a believable, fantasy world? This free cheat sheet will walk you through crafting all the elements of your world, from legends to transportation.
On Writing by Stephen King
Another book written by one of the great masters that every fiction author should own. Part memoir, part craft class, this book will make you think hard and deep about all the parts of writing.
Story Trumps Structure by Steven James
Writers are often told not to break the rules until we master them. I tend to agree, and was originally leery of this book. But it’s more about looking at story in a different lens: setting up and delivering promises to the reader, how to ditch more action in favor of escalation (tension), how to craft twists, and more.
Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine
I was a huge fan of Gail Carson Levine as a child, so when I saw she’d published a writing craft book, I had to grab it! And though this book is short and sweet and aimed at younger writers, it has some good advice and fun writing exercises to get you thinking out of the box.
Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
Less of a craft book, Adorning the Dark is more of a compilation of contemplations on creating as Christians. This book isn’t just for writers, it’s for anyone who hopes to create beauty and hope in a broken world.
Is Life Like This? by John Dufresne
Perfect for first-time writers, this book walks readers through all the major elements of a story and offers practical exercises at the end of each chapter. There are also quotes from famous authors and creators to supplement his words and advice.
Business Book Gift Ideas for Indie Authors
Newsletter Ninja by Tammi Labrecque
Every Indie author needs to know how to create a newsletter if they want a fan base that they “own.” This short book leads you through the process, from deciding which platform to use to how you can continue to deliver value to your subscribers. This is a must-have for every author and also has super helpful resources you can access online!
Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
I had to read this book for my day job at a non-profit, and found it helpful for my author business. Because we are selling our stories, and the more we can sell, the more we can write. This book looks at your brand as a story, with the customer as the hero. It’s eye-opening and revolutionary.
Kickstarter by Authors by Anthea L. Sharp
Kickstarter is emerging as a great place to get our stories published. This book covers all the basics–rewards, shipping, pitfalls to avoid–and has a comprehensive checklist so you can stay sane during the process!
The Happy Writer by Marissa Meyer
It doesn’t take long for writing to lose its shine as we dive into yet another round of edits or try to market our books or sell them. The Happy Writer is a heartfelt and optimistic guide that will show you the way to a happier writing journey. This would be a great gift for both beginner writers and published authors!
Service Gift Ideas for Indie Authors
Fantasy and Sci-Fi Editing Services
Currently, all my fantasy and sci-fi editing services–developmental edits, manuscript reviews, and line edits–are 20% off! But there are limited spots. Contact me to reserve your spot before they disappear.
Fun Gift Ideas for Indie Authors
Chapters Tea Co.
Every author should have something yummy to drink on their desk. For me, that’s tea. Chapters Tea Co. has the cutest bags for their bookish tea–too cute to throw away! But if you’re not a fan of tea, they also have lovely bookmarks and an adorable tote bag and shirt.
A Court of Candles
Most authors love ambience, and candles make a great gift! A Court of Candles offers candles based on popular books or just bookish vibes. And they smell amazing!
Which of these items would you most like to receive? To give to someone?
