2022 Small Press Literary Gift Guide
It’s that time of year again where we all feel the overwhelming pressure to show the ones we love the depth of our devotion by submitting to capitalism and draining our bank accounts. While I may not be this season’s biggest fan (I don’t like the cold, shopping makes me queasy, and holiday parties mean wishing I never mentioned my work-in-progress so I wouldn’t have to hear someone I am only vaguely related to lower their voice and ask, “Sooooooooooo, how’s the novel going?”), but I do love that late fall and early winter are often marked by a slowing down of time. This means more time for writing, reflecting, and reading, which, for a writer, are some of the greatest gifts of all, but since we can’t exactly bottle up time and wrap it up for under the tree, we’ve put together a list of gift ideas for the writers and readers in your life. If one must be compelled to participate in the consumerism that is now synonymous with the holiday season, then one might sleep a little easier knowing they’ve supported the dreams of artists. What a gift!
Bookish Merch
These gifts are great for writers who want the world to know they’re well-read! Sure, maybe your favorite writer friend will come off as a wee bit pretentious while donning literary merch out in public when someone stops them on the street to ask about the obscure reference on their t-shirt, but they also just might birth a new lover of indie books!
Author Merch Stores - Earlier this year we published a piece by Abigail Stewart on “Opening Your Own Author Merch Store” - you can shop witchy book apparel at Abigail’s store here. Some other author merch stores we love are Giselle Buchanan’s (check out her zines and Creative Manifesto Poster) and Chelsea Martin’s Etsy store, which made the list last year and is even more stocked this year now that her book Tell Me I’m An Artist is out (this year you can find a companion “Art Project Planner” Workbook perfect for artists and writers alike whether or not they’ve read Chelsea’s book… though they should probably read her book too. It might inspire them to finally finish their own novel!).
Bending Genres Magazine Merch - A favorite online journal with mind-bending merch including actual books AND a writing notebook for those writers who prefer to draft in analog. Be sure to include a card with the gift that lets the writerly receiver know Bending Genres also offers workshops and online roundtables!
@bookXgang literary icon shirts – Brought to you by the Instagram writing/meme account run by Long Day Press, these shirts show that lit is a lifestyle, not just a hobby. Icon options include Moshfegh, Beckett, Kafka, and more. All proceeds go towards making more books.
Rejection Letters Severed-Thumb Tee — This Rejection Letters shirt found its way back on the list for a second year in a row because real writers know there is nothing more universal than rejection. A great physical reminder that rejection just means some people lack taste, so go on encourage the writer you know and love to keep sending their work out and refreshing that submittable page!
Witch Craft Mag Sad Girl Apparel - Witch Craft is one of my favorite print magazines (though I hear they may have just printed their last run of print issues, sad, but excited to see what’s next). Their merch store speaks to the Gothic Lit lover in your life who knows writing, like life, is a miraculous act of suffering.
Word West Pop Culture Revision Tees- These shirts are perfect for the outgoing writer (yes, they exist!) who enjoys apparel that’s a conversation starter. The designs take familiar logos and give them a literary rebrand, so strangers might misread the shirts at first glance and form a new friendship with the wearer over a perceived mutual love of Dunkin Donuts, or they might discover Don Delilo for the first time. Either way, this gift is more than just a shirt, it’s the gift of friendship!
Subscriptions and Memberships
Herstry "Babes Who Write" Membership - Writers spend a lot of time in their own heads, but that doesn’t mean writing has to be lonely. This $8 a month membership is great for female writers looking for community and it includes: access to craft talks with authors, agents, and editors; access to member "coffee hours/happy hours" to network and connect with others, exclusive workshops, discounts on editing services & merch, and more!
Chelsea Hodson's Morning Writing Club - This $9 a month club membership is designed with busy writers in mind and ideal for anyone who could use a little sense of community to get their word-count in before the grind of the day. The premise is simple: a virtual weekday write-in group that meets every weekday(5am-7am PST and 8am-10am EST). Members can go every day for the full two hours or drop in on the days it aligns with their schedule (a bonus for writers that attend on Friday is Chelsea ends the session with a short check-in for writers to connect with one another).The vibe is casual but consistent. Also included with the membership: access to discussion forums, a monthly collaborative writing progress spreadsheet to share daily progress down and see what others are up to, a live monthly Q&A with rotating literary guests (recent line-up includes Bud Smith & Lili Anolik), and more.
Hurley Winkler's Book Club for Writers - Some writer’s might already know Hurley through her “Lonely Victories” substack, and now they’ll be elated to hear she’ll be offering a book club curated for writers. The club will meet quarterly on Zoom and will discuss books about craft and creativity. Book club members will also get 10% off her upcoming fiction and nonfiction writing workshops. The club is ideal for writers of all levels who are craving accountability and community.
**FREE Little Engines Subscription** - A perfect stocking stuffer! Print issues of Little Engines are mailed out FREE (yes, FREE) to anyone who signs up while copies last. Past contributors include Aaron Burch, Mike Nagel, Lexi Kent-Monning, Guaraa Shekhar, Vic Nogay and more! Is there any greater gift than beautifully collected writing you can hold in your hand for free?
The Rumpus Membership - The Rumpus has been an independent literary magazine for 13 years, and over the years they have published some heavy-hitters and continue to be a great space for discovering creative works as well as timely reviews, interviews, and essays. This year, they started a membership program that ranges from $7-$15 per month. Memberships include: early look on calls for subs, rumpus events, member only content, advice from the editors, and more.
ZYZZYVA Magazine Gift Subscription- Nothing like a good ‘ol traditional magazine subscription to brighten the mailbox of your beloved. ZYZZYVA has been a long-time fav of mine and a yearly subscription is only $35.
Classes
I’m a big fan of the idea of spending money on experiences rather than products. Writing classes and workshops are a great idea for the writer (or reader) that might be looking for community or some feedback on their work. Here are some upcoming classes that we’ve heard nothing but praise for.
The Writing Salon — Many programs that were formerly all in-person now have online offerings, meaning writers can attend far away classes from the comfort of their own homes. The Writing Salon,which continues to run in-person classes in their San Francisco classroom, also has a long list of virtual offerings, including classes taught by yours truly. Give a writer you love the gift of me and sign them up for my Mining for Gold Class or register them for the Salon’s trademark Daily Write Round Robin. Other great winter classes include Junse Kim’s Intro to Fiction: Laying the Foundation and We Real Cool: The Craft of BIPOC Poetry taught by poet Thea Matthews.
Climbing Down Intensives with Lindsay Lerman - What is an “intensive”? Not quite a writing workshop, not quite a philosophy or literature course, but some other, third thing. Intensives will focus on studying a single writer/philosopher (one session highlights the work of Georges Bataille and another looks at Clarice Lispector) and use their written materials as source for discussion and creation. This series looks great for the writer who wants a break from workshop or for a serious reader who wants to dabble in writing!
Cool Memories Workshop & Seminars - This fan favorite was founded by poet Ben Fama and includes a sliding scale (so great for those of you buying on a budget). Their upcoming January class is a Poetry Workshop and recent classes include a Simone Weil Workshop and Cinema & Poetry with guest writers Lindsay Lerman, Chariot Wish, Carolyn Funk, and more. Be sure to check out the Cool Memories Merch Store as well!
January Intensive from Smokelong Quarterly - Smokelong Quarterly is not only a wonderful literary magazine (which they definitely are that), but they also regularly host workshops and opportunities for community building. Their January Intensive is an asynchronous class designed to invigorate and disrupt writing habits to start the year off strong. Workshop Leaders include Christopher Allen, Denne Michele Norris, and Elisabeth Ingram Wallace.
Lighthouse Writers Classes - These virtual classes range from one-day to multi-week classes (both synchronous and asynchronous). You can sign a writer up or for a specific class or you can purchase them a gift card so they can choose a class for themselves. Upcoming online writing classes include Outsmarting Your Outlines by R. Alan Brooks and The Snapshot Essay by WODT's very own Brittany Ackerman.
Write or Die Tribe Classes & Mentorship - That’s right, we offer classes and mentorship for writers wanting to be active in our community. Instructors and mentors include Chloe Caldwell, Anna Dorn, and more. Check out this upcoming Writing Personal Essays about Pop Culture class with Lizzie Lawson.
Writing Workshops - From year-long mentorships to day-long seminars to writing retreats abroad, Writing Workshops has a wide variety of writing opportunities. Be sure to use WODT’s discount code, TRIBE, for 15% off!
CRAFT BOOKS
Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without books on writing. Here is a list of some recent books on writing from indie presses for the writer in your life who wants to master procrastination the craft of writing ;)
Stunning Sentences: A Creative Writing Journal with 80 Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style by Nina Schuyler (Fiction Advocate, 2022) - “Nina Schuyler's book is a creative antidote for anyone experiencing stuckedness, malaise, bad news, the doldrums. And just as useful for those who aren't feeling stuck but just want fresh, new ways to charge their writing. In her book you'll find a host of stunning sentences and prompts for she's a finder, she knows how to find the stunners, then shows you through specific examples how to bring forth your own great lines.” - Toni Mirosevich, author of Spell Heaven: and Other Stories
Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative by Melissa Febos (Catapult, 2022) - As the title implies, this book on writing is indeed radical, namely in that it addresses some of the deep personal, cultural, and spiritual blocks a writer might face while attempting to tell their stories. Febos works through the logic of these momentous blocks and declares "I don't believe in writer's block. I only believe in fear. And you can be afraid and still write something." Alexander Chee describes Body Work as "One of the most liberating books on the subject of writing that I can think of."
Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell (Soho Press, 2022) - This slim craft book is great for novelists at any stage and what I loved most about it, and what I think set it apart from other craft books I've read, is how Matt Bell weaves in both macro and micro components of novel writing and revising. He offers many hardcore exercises to do in revision ( Courtney Maum refers to it as the "CrossFit of books"), but even in the moments where Bell is encouraging writers to push their limits he also offers moments of insight that feel kinder and more meditative than any coach in my imagination. He reminds writers that "As we fill our hours and days with work rewriting, our fictions will not be rewritten by any one self but by the spectrum of selves we're always becoming, even as the novel is becoming alongside us." This book is as interested in the process as it is the product.
My Trade is Mystery: Seven Meditations from a Life in Writing by Carl Philips (Yale University Press, 2022) - I immediately added this book to my "tbr pile" after Chelsea Bieker posted a quote from the book on Instagram that reads "As much as possible, let the work be everything; for the work will save you." I came across the post just days after a member from my writing group emailed me a link to an essay by Carl Philip's recently published in The Sewanee Review titled "Stamina" that made me laugh and cry and instantly email it out to some of my favorite writer friends. It felt like fate. David L. Ulin says “How I love the elusive textures of this book. Blurring essay and craft lecture, riff and reflection, My Trade Is Mystery is less a how-to than a meditation on the art. Writing is, first and foremost, a matter of being present, and here, Phillips brings a career’s attention to the subject, not instructing so much as engaging, asking the necessary questions about how to live a life in art.”—David L. Ulin
On Becoming a Poet, Edited by Susan Terris (Marsh Hawk Press, 2022) - "ON BECOMING A POET is a necessary text for any active and engaged reader. Whether you’re a practicing poet, a teacher looking for more sources, or a lay reader who is just interested in poetry, you’ll find something in this text for you. The scale of this text alone makes it worth readers’ while: 25 poets from diverse backgrounds revealing their meaning-making strategies and poetry origins stories! The personal component of this text is so compelling and helps the text to teach without being overly didactic. This book is a blessing and needed addition to the archive and canon." —Douglas Manuel, Bayard Rustin Fellow, Whittier College
Holiday Discounts on Books
And of course, for the purist, a good old book is the best gift of all. Here are some indies we love offering holiday shopping specials.
Malarkey Holiday Discount - For the rest of the year, Malarkey Books is offering 15% off books in their store with discount code MALARKEY. Recent titles include Your Favorite Poet by Leigh Chadwick, the hilarious White People on Vacation by Alex Miller, and Itoro Bassey’s Faith. Be sure to check out their “No Gods, No Master’s Degrees” mug in their merch store!
Split/Lip Press - Currently offering free shipping through 12/15 on all books shipped in the US. Use code FREESHIP22! Titles we know and love include Claudia Putnam’s Double Negative, Mila Jaroniec’s Plastic Vodka Bottle Sleepover, The Incredible Shrinking Woman by Athena Dixon, and more!
Book Bundles & Surprises from Thirty West - Thirty West is offering book bundles starting at $25 and a blind date with a book in the new Mystery Book purchase option, PLUS you can get free perks and discounts with their Season of Savings program running now through the holidays. Recent titles include How to Keep Time by Kevin M. Kearney and Tentacles Numbing by Shome Dasgupta.
Rose Metal Holiday Sale - Now through 12/10, Rose Metal Press is offering 20% off books with the code HOLIDAY20. Their Field Guide to Writing series is a fan favorite and great for writers looking for something to reignite their creative energy. It’s also great for writing teachers who might be looking for some new exercises to try in their classes (I particularly love the prompts in Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction for my classroom). Some great recent titles include The Anchored World by Jasmine Sawers and Aaron Angello’s The Fact of Memory.
Two Dollar Radio Bulk Books Deals - Two Dollar Radio is a long-time favorite press of mine and they have some pretty epic deals for those wanting to get some indie books in bulk. Their biggest deal is probably the Backlist Bangers which comes with 12 books for $100. They also offer a Forthcoming Subscription Sale for readers who want hot off the press books delivered straight to their doorsteps (PLUS it comes with 2 backlist titles of your choosing). For backlist, my votes go to New Animal by Ella Baxter and Dima Alzayat’s Alligator and Other Stories, and of course, everyone I know is eager to get their hands on Kevin Maloney’s forthcoming The Red-Headed Pilgrim.
Small Press Distribution - If you are looking to buy books for indie book lovers and your local independent bookstore doesn’t carry the title you’re after, you can order directly from Small Press Distribution. SPD is the only 501(c)3 nonprofit literary book wholesaler and online bookseller in the country. They carry books like the National Book Award Winner Punks by John Keene, Mine Eclogue by Jacob Kahn, and The Night Before the Day on Which by Jean Day. Some of my favorite recent titles carried by SPD include Shane Kowalski’s Small Moods and X.C. Atkins The Desperado Days. If you really want to go all out, make a donation in their name so they can receive perks like free shipping and discounts on books of their choice all year.
