As lock down eases and we are propelled into the outside world again, you might be thinking about getting organised with your writing and treating yourself to some new gear to get you in the mood for a professional and/or creative boost. Or perhaps you’re looking to find a special gift for a writer-friend but don’t fancy grappling with social distancing etiquette in the shops? With that in mind, we’ve created our latest gift guide with everything available online, so you don’t even have to leave your sofa! This time round, we’ve made sure to include some thoughtful gifts for smaller budgets, gifts that also do good, and those which support smaller independent brands.
Some (not all!) of these recommendations contain affiliate links which means you can help support us and the blog at absolutely no extra cost to you! For the Amazon links, you DON’T even need to buy the recommended item – you can purchase something different, as long as you click through any of our links to access the Amazon website, we’ll get a small percentage of the sale which goes straight back into running the blog!
1. London Playwrights’ Workshop Membership
Here’s a gift that really does keep on giving! For the writer who has everything, why not treat them to a 12 month membership to London Playwrights’ Workshop and give them access to a year of inspiration, support and writing resources – whilst also doing a good deed by supporting our work? This gift couldn’t be easier to buy and you can have it delivered straight to the recipient’s inbox. £40 for 12 months membership, or £3.63 per month. click here to buy.
2. A Virtual Theatre Ticket
If you’re looking for a super thoughtful gift on a budget, why not treat that special someone to a virtual theatre ticket? So many theatres are streaming live productions at the moment, and most are only asking for a small fee – which also helps to support the theatre in this worrying time. Check out our list of live streams here for some ideas – throw in a bottle of wine and some snacks and you’ve provided a night at the theatre for just a few quid!
3. A Nordgreen Watch
If there’s one tip we can give to writers to increase productivity, it’s to put your phone away! Wearing a watch rather than relying on your phone for the time is a great way to avoid the temptation to scroll. If you’re looking for an extra special gift for someone (or yourself!), then it’s worth checking out these stylish watches from sustainable Danish brand, Nordgreen. There’s something to suit everyone and you can also swap the straps to create multiple looks. If you want luxe quality from an ethical company with an affordable price-tag, then look no further. Infinity watch £159.
4. Theatre Tokens
Here’s a gift that does a good deed! If you’re not sure what to buy for a playwriting or theatre-loving friend, then why not gift them some theatre tokens which can be redeemed against their favourite West End Shows once theatres reopen? Find out more here. Alternatively, you could consider making a donation to their favourite theatre on their behalf – there is a fantastic list here containing information on how to donate – and don’t forget, if you have a lovely local regional theatre you’d like to support, you can likely find out how to donate to them with a quick search on their website!
5. Papier Notebooks
It goes without saying that writers love a good notebook and these ones from London brand Papier will smarten up your desk and make you the envy of everyone in your writing group! From personalised notebooks to monogrammed journals, there’s something from this brand to make any writer’s day. Personalised notebook, £19.99.
5. Fancy Pens
It might be a cliche but a special pen really does make a great gift for a writer, and who doesn’t get a kick out of using a writing instrument that isn’t a chewed up old biro? Check out these classic pens from Cross, which are available in a range of glorious colours. Cross Classic Century Pen £34.40.
6. Earphones (and Podcast Recommendations)
For a lovely, personal present on a limited budget, why not purchase a snazzy new pair of earphones and pair them with some recommendations for Podcasts? If you have a bigger budget, these Anker Soundcore earbuds (£38.21) would be great, or you could grab these cheap and cheerful JVC Gummy Earphones which come in a range of fun colours and will only set you back a fiver. As we’re extra nice here at London Playwrights, we’ve created a downloadable card with a list of Podcast recommendations which you can print off to add to your gift, just click here: Podcast Recommendations Card.
7. Script Feedback
We all know that getting feedback on your work is super valuable but it’s not always that easy to obtain. It’s near impossible to get free feedback from an experienced reader who is also impartial but sometimes, forking out for a script consulting service just isn’t in the budget either. So why not buy some feedback as a gift for a writer who might need it? We offer a range of different services to suit all budgets (including bespoke options), so check them out here and if you want to buy one as a gift, just email us at scripts@londonplaywrightsblog.com to discuss your requirements. Prices start from £30, or £78 for a full script report.