7 Gift Ideas for Writers

Posted on 2023-12-11 by Bartholomew Barker

A Fountain Pen is a classy gift
though it’ll remain in its wooden box.
No one writes with pens anymore
and if they do it’s cheap plastic
ones pocketed from a hotel whose name
you’ll find on the shaft.

Artisanal paper is thoughtful and beautiful
but ultimately intimidating. It’ll go unused
because writers rarely think their words
are worth the copier paper they stole
from the office much less that textured
shit embedded with rose petals.

Just get the writer in your life
a bottle of wine, maybe dinner,
do something embarrassing
or confess some dank secret.

The best gift for a writer
is inspiration.

Unknown's avatar

About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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39 Responses to 7 Gift Ideas for Writers

  1. equipsblog's avatar equipsblog says:
    2023-12-11 at 20:34

    Fun post. Do writer’s have deep, dark secrets?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. equipsblog's avatar equipsblog says:
    2023-12-11 at 20:36

    Good answer.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Michele Lee's avatar Michele Lee says:
    2023-12-11 at 22:05

    I did not expect a poem from your title. A pleasant poetic surprise!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. DD's avatar Deedee (DD) says:
    2023-12-11 at 23:38

    A confessional gift of a dank secret

    aussie payroll board
    I call workers ‘constituents’
    contract not renewed❗

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2023-12-12 at 02:53

    Well penned!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Britta Benson's avatar brittabenson says:
    2023-12-12 at 03:18

    Oh, there are plenty of gift ideas for writers. Inspiration, a good one. My favourite, though: a publication that pays a decent fee to its contributors. Writers do like to eat and live in warm houses…. I fully second your stanza about the artisanal paper – far too intimidating. I prefer a plain jotter or anything, really. The poorer the quality of the paper, the better. Anything goes on the back of a cornflakes box.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2023-12-12 at 04:39

    Just…yup!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. luisa zambrotta's avatar luisa zambrotta says:
    2023-12-12 at 05:07

    Beautiful lines!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2023-12-12 at 05:59

    Inspiration is the perfect gift, but quick question. Has my office reached out to you about missing paper? It sounds like it has.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. trE's avatar trE says:
    2023-12-12 at 06:36

    Oh, and here I am with a pen and stationery obsession. 😆😂🤣

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2023-12-13 at 02:38

    Ha! Yes. This. All of it. But I’ll take a box of chocolate. I prefer that to wine.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2023-12-13 at 04:13

    The best things in life…are not things….

    http://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16611

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Stacey C. Johnson's avatar Stacey C. Johnson says:
    2023-12-13 at 19:37

    Yes! : )

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. johnlmalone's avatar johnlmalone says:
    2023-12-19 at 20:36

    this is so good; I have nostalgic feelings towards fountain pens but I suppose I’ll never buy one, if they’re still on sale —

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Nicole Marcina's avatar Nicole Marcina says:
    2024-03-11 at 12:04

    For now, the best gift I can receive as a writer is rest. Ha ha! I love this blog 💙💙💙💙

    Liked by 1 person

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