Notebooks, pens, and coffee mugs are fun and thoughtful gifts for the author in your life, but few things warm a writer’s creative soul quite as much as a good book. For most writers, the best gifts aren’t just things to own but also those that ignite inspiration, sharpen skills, and remind them why they fell in love with storytelling in the first place.
Books, but especially craft books, make perfect presents because they offer something rare: growth wrapped in possibility. Whether your favorite wordsmith is polishing their first draft or editing their tenth novel, a well-chosen book on writing craft can unlock new perspectives, boost confidence, and turn “someday” projects into polished stories ready for the world. Plus, while you’re shopping for others, there’s no rule saying you can’t treat your future self to a holiday gift this season, too.
Read on to find some of IAM’s favorite books on writing—and to see if you’ll find your next favorite among them.
How to Write a Novel by Joanna Penn
Joanna Penn’s How to Write a Novel is geared toward the author writing their first book, but her insights can be valuable at any stage of your career. The book guides readers through the process of creating, from idea generation, through research, plotting, and writing, and all the way to editing the first draft. Along the way, Penn covers basic novel structure, finding your own drafting process, how to know when your book is done, and other helpful tools for writing and editing.
Find it at: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/writenovelbook
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron
If you have an author on your shopping list that doesn’t fit neatly into either the plotting camp or the pantsing camp, this book could be one to consider. In 283 pages, Lisa Cron digs deep into the power of story and what makes readers crave more. The book guides writers through the “blueprint,” as she calls it, of understanding and building the internal and external layers of a story rather than outlining linearly.
Find it at: https://books2read.com/b/49kN9J
The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass
“Writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, but none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel.”
For the writer looking to add more emotional depth to their writing, Maass’s book may hold the answers. In it, he covers all aspects of the emotional journey of a novel, internally and externally, peeling back the layers that exist within the story itself, those of the reader’s journey, and those of the writer’s journey while writing it.
Find it at: https://maassagency.com/books-on-writing
On Writing and Worldbuilding series by Timothy Hickson
Need a gift for the series author on your list? Gift them a series in return—about how to build out their world, characters, and story across books. Although somewhat geared toward Fantasy authors, Timothy Hickson’s three-book series also covers everything a series writer or Speculative Fiction author needs to know to create a well-fleshed-out story world. Hickson uses examples from well-known story worlds to illustrate the concepts he discusses—everything from religious and magic systems to fight scenes to heroes and villains. Plus, he walks you through how to plan your novel once you’ve established it all.
Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08423QJ63
Book Craft: The Art and Science of Writing Great Books by Derek Murphy
Whether you need a gift for a new or established author, Derek Murphy’s Book Craft is one to consider. Murphy’s book description says it best: “Book Craft is your key to unlocking the secret alchemy of storytelling—where art meets craft to create fiction that captivates, resonates, and lingers long after the final page.”
At 423 pages, Murphy’s book offers practical advice on structure, writing techniques, and tools for writers in all stages of their journey. One reviewer describes it as “the writing book equivalent of being in a wizard’s hut as he tells you his secrets.”
Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Craft-write-readers-polish-ebook/dp/B089NJK1SC
Finally, if you’re looking for some extra stocking stuffers, consider gifting subscriptions to Indie Author Magazine or Indie Author Training courses. Authors can learn not just about craft but about the publishing industry as a whole, with new articles and a host of webinars, courses, and discussions bringing joy to your favorite author’s inbox or mailbox throughout the year.
Visit: https://indieauthormagazine.com/#/portal or https://indieauthortraining.com
Even the most seasoned writers know there’s always another layer to peel back, another technique to master, or another truth to uncover about story and self. That’s what makes how-to and craft-focused books such perfect gifts, whether for the author in your life or for yourself. They’re the rare presents that keep on giving, long after the wrapping paper’s gone.
