20 under $20 Best Gifts for Authors 2025 Edition
Wondering what gift to buy the author in your life? Look no further! THIS is the definitive Best Gifts for Authors 2025 Edition. These are PERFECT gifts for authors, writers, or folks who love to journal. For 2025, I also kept it to budget-friendly gifts for authors!
This year, I’m offering 20 gifts under $20. Remember, I have NO control over pricing so these are under $20 when I’m creating the list but prices are always subject to change and are out of my control. To get free shipping, I DO recommend that you get Amazon Prime. Click here for a free trial.
I try to make the Best Gifts for Authors Gift Guide as EASY to use as possible. There are about a MILLIONS links – and I’ve checked them all at time of publication. But I don’t keep up on them throughout the year(s) so they may or may not still work in past guides.
These links ARE affiliate links – mostly to Amazon. If you purchase through that link, I may receive a small commission. Any Amazon link WILL kick me a few pennies, even if you order something else. Which I appreciate because this guide takes HOURS every year and I make (usually) about $0.30. So click and buy and share the love!
Speaking OF sharing — be sure to share the Best Gifts for Authors 2025 Edition on ALL your social media channels and help me spread the word. (Tee hee, pun!)
20 under $20 Best Gifts for Authors 2025 Edition Share on X
Sacred Creativity: Inspiration to Reclaim the Joy of Your God-Given Gifts
I’m currently reading this one – and savoring every moment. While the author – Jena Holliday – is a watercolor artist like me, her words on creativity, the creative process, and honoring our God-given talents will resonate with every person in the creative space. Highly recommended!
Sticky Note Holder with Stencil
Perfect to create lines for your sticky note! I love it that you can choose to only trace every OTHER line if you write a bit bigger (like me) and it also helps you fit as much as possible onto the sticky note. Another bonus – the sticky note pad won’t get all beat up and fuzzy on your desk.
Positive Latte Jar with 60 Affirmation Cards
A friend got me a similar jar for my birthday and I love pulling a card each morning while I’m waiting for my cuppa to brew. I especially love that they are all 100% positive and since they are so tiny, it’s a quick thing to do while I’m waiting for my coffee. In fact, I often READ them to my friend via the Marco Polo app while I’m making my daily coffee. These aren’t exactly the ones I have but they seem very similar.
Open Book Necklace
We both know that this isn’t a high-quality gift. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love fun book-related costume jewelry like this! Available in three finishes: rose gold, silver, or golden.
Famous Authors Postage-Stamp Collage Puzzle
Every winter, I set up a card table down at River House and enjoy cloudy afternoons with a jigsaw puzzle. I LOVE puzzles with great illustrations and I love them even more if they have words on them. So delightful. This puzzle promises just enough challenge at 1000 pieces. (Hint hint: This is on MY list this year!)
Someone Out There Needs Your Writing Sign
This is something I talk about every year at my live event and I just CAN’T stress it enough. And yes, I’m 100% into those little anchors we can put into our writing space that help us remember WHY we’re doing what we do. I think this is very apropos for non-fiction authors. (And yes, the lack of a period on the sign for AUTHORS is driving me up the wall!)
50 Writer Stickers
The little girl in me LOVES stickers. She also loves to hoard them and hardly ever lets me stick them onto things – even into my own notebook! So grab this set of 50 assorted stickers that are all about writing and put them on all your stuff! (P.S. You also have my permission to throw out any that you don’t love. Shhhh.)
Go Away! I’m Writing – socks
For my event, I include a hand-made door sign that says “Scram! I’m Writing” – which doesn’t work for ME since only my oldest kid can read. I love these socks especially if you’re using a laptop in your living room to announce to everyone in the house what you’re doing. (Or what you’re supposed to be doing!)
Just One More Chapter Pillow Case
Okay so this is just the pillow case – I recommend ordering the pillow too. Both together are still under $20 and then the gift receiving author doesn’t have to go shopping (or hope a pillow they own will fit!) And while “one more chapter” can mean READING one more, take it to heart, author, and WRITE one more chapter before you call it a day!
Authors Card Game
I think this is like a Go Fish style of game but with AUTHORS. What’s not to love. The deck includes famous authors like Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Louisa May Alcott, and Edgar Allan Poe. Perfect for the nerdy author on YOUR gift list. (You?)
Wrap-It Storage – Cable Labels
In my new office set up, the BACK of my computer is the first thing I see when I walk in. Trust me, that mess of cables could use some organization and some pops of color. Perfect to organize the myriad of cords that seem to accompany any tech setup. Plus – you can WRITE on them (so you don’t have to remember what color means what!)
Ceramic Elephant Tea Mug
This thing SCREAMS that it isn’t practical… yet I love it anyway. I really love that it can hold the tea bag after steeping – perfect when you carry the mug into the office and don’t have any place to put the soggy bag when you’re done steeping the tea. (And if you just leave it in, the tea gets bitter.) Plus… it’s cute!
Clever Fox Password Book
I set up a new computer in July – mid-launch! And it was an enormous PITA. But what was worse was that my old computer was the one registered with all my various sites and accounts so I had to re-log-in to EVERYTHING. No, I don’t have my browser remember my passwords but the new computer meant endless rounds of CAPTCHA and triple verification. I took some time to reset some passwords but… I need a better (paper) system to keep track of it all.
Much ADO About Nothings Shakespearean Sticky Notes
Oh come ON these look fun! Each booklet is full of hundreds of colorful self-sticking sheets featuring two different designs. Included are 5 tab-style notes in pink, green, blue, orange, and yellow, a small note with William Shakespeare’s signature, and one large pad with an image of The Bard himself! Are they practical? Probably not. Whimsical? Absolutely!
Mini Label Maker Machine
I have a big, fancy label maker on my computer. But when Aunt Jo showed up with her tiny portable one… I was hooked. It means you can create the label while you’re WITH whatever needs to be labeled. No more going back and forth to the computer or ending up with a handful of labels that aren’t ON the thing you wanted to label! Plus, it comes in fun colors!
Jane Austen’s Finest Balm
Because WHO doesn’t love weird household items with a literary bend? I have no clue if the peppermint is nice or overpowering but the packaging alone has me sold.
Coffee Sticky Notes Set
Yes! I own these! (Again a gift from a friend – because COFFEE.) And I use them All.The.Time. So much more fun than regular sticky notes. While the dark brown ones ARE a bit dark, they are perfect for tab dividers in my notebook. And COFFEE!
Literary Insults Poster
I would LOVE to have this for my office (hint hint) because just how fun and smart and LITERARY is this?! They do have some lovely insults from the master of wit – The Bard himself. I’m nerdy enough to also love a good flow chart.
Stellar Factory Book Darts
I love the idea that these aren’t just a bookmark but allow you to use them over and over. I am a sucker for good design and these SEEM to have it. Plus… I like the name.
Library Due Date Coaster
I adore things that are book-ish without being heavy handed. Not like we get a ton of company out here at the Ranch but these would 100% fit the vibe in River House. I also like that you can get them in 6, 12, or 24.
And because I couldn’t help myself, here are two MORE gift ideas for writers that are between $20 and $30.
BookLamp Foldable Paper Lamp
This is just too charming. I have no clue if it works (but the reviews seem okay) but I just love the aesthetic of it. Again, 100% my vibe down at River House (where the kids run a bit LESS roughshod in all the rooms.)
Adjustable Laptop Stand
I am NOT a huge fan of my laptop in general AND I go through periods where I use it a ton – especially not on a table or desk. So an adjustable table like this seems perfect. (And I bet it could double as a watercolor table too!)
And the absolute BEST gift for writers?
Buy their book!
If you haven’t already, be sure to get your free trial of Amazon Prime! Click here.
P.S. No, there was no Gifts for Writers Guide for 2020. I was personally very sick and just couldn’t manage it!
And as always, you can always see past year’s Author Gift Guides Here:
2013 – 20 Great Gifts for Writers)
2014 – 20 Gifts for Writers Under $20
2015 – 25 Gifts for Writers
2016 – 20 Gifts for Writers 2016 Edition
2017 – 5th Annual Gift Guide for Writers
2018 – 17 Unique Gift Ideas for Writers
2019 – 20 Uncommon Gifts for Writers
2021 – Best Gifts for Writers 2021
2022 – Best Gifts for Authors 2022
2023 – 56 Best Gifts for Authors – 2023
2024 – Best Gifts for Authors – 2024
- Are you writing for READERS? - July 28, 2026
- Prime Day 2026 Gift Guide for Authors - June 21, 2026
- A Crazy Challenge for Connecting with Your Creativity - February 17, 2026
