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The Ultimate Guide to Buying Gifts for Screenwriters

by Ken Miyamoto - updated on December 5, 2023

What is the perfect present for that dear person you know that just happens to be a screenwriter?

We scoured the stores and the internet to find not just the most desired gifts that screenwriters would appreciate, but also those memorable ones that keep on giving.

So whether you’re a screenwriter buying for yourself or you’re buying for that screenwriter friend or family member, consider this as your compass guiding you to that perfect screenwriter gift.

WriterDuet Pro Screenwriting Software

logo-writerduet-screencraftedition-on-blue-1024

WriterDuet has become the most powerful screenwriting software in the market and is much less expensive than others.

The ScreenCraft Edition offers many, many additional benefits as well for your family and friends that are screenwriters.

Skullcandy Uproar On-Ear Headphones

Scull

Screenwriters often write in bookstores, coffee shops, and sometimes in a house full of kids as they escape to a corner for some writing time. Needless to say, ambient noise can be a writer’s worst nightmare. Beyond that, it’s often recommended that screenwriters write to music. ScreenCraft touched on this somewhat in 5 Habits to Get Those Creative Juices Flowing. Thus a quality set of headphones can be a story telling savior for writers.

You can find them at retailers like Best Buy and Kohl's, or through Amazon.

Standing Desk

Standing Desk

If you’re looking for a big ticket item for yourself or that screenwriter you know and love, consider offering them an alternative to sitting on the couch or at that desk for hours on end. Studies have shown that sitting for hours upon hours can be hazardous for your body and your health. Standing Desks offer the benefit of better body positioning for your neck, back, wrists, hips, hamstrings, and spine. They also offer the chance to burn calories while you write.

This is a gift that will not only help screenwriters conjure more amazing stories with ease, it’ll also lengthen their life.

They can be very pricy, ranging from $175 to $500 and beyond for quality ones. Amazon is a good place to start.

Stephen King’s On Writing

On Writing

One of the greatest books ever written on the art and craft of writing. While the book is obviously geared towards the literary market, it has also become a staple for screenwriters as well. For a taste of what King offers, read ScreenCraft’s 17 Must-Read Screenwriting Lessons from Stephen King where we take some of King’s quotes from the book and apply them the art and craft of screenwriting.

You can find it at Amazon or either online through Barnes and Noble or at their store locations.

Robert McKee’s Story

Story

Robert McKee’s methods of screenwriting, taught through this book and his famous seminars, stands above normal guru screenwriting books that pitch secret formulas. Instead, he breaks down the principles of substance, structure, and style adaptable for any genres. Learn more about his approach in ScreenCraft’s Exclusive One-On-One with Robert McKee.

You can find it at Amazon or either online through Barnes and Noble or at their store locations.

Writing Movies for Fun and Profit

profit

A hilarious and quite on point look into the business of Hollywood screenwriting by two of the film industry’s most successful studio writers. Screenwriters will get a look inside Hollywood and how the business side of screenwriting is. Robert and Thomas offer funny anecdotes, advice, and hard truths. While not everything they write is true for every screenwriter’s journey, this book is an excellent way to understand what it’s like if and when screenwriters actually make it.

You can find it at Amazon or either online through Barnes and Noble or at their store locations.

How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make

How Not

This book was written by a former studio script reader, giving screenwriters a look behind-the-scenes in development to learn the basic guidelines and expectations that Hollywood has for screenwriters. It’s insightful with hard but helpful truths and some of the best practical and easy to implement screenwriting advice out there.

You can find it at Amazon or either online through Barnes and Noble or at their store locations.

Airbnb.com Gift Card

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Sometimes the best way for a screenwriter to really hunker down and make those deadlines is to get away from it all and lock themselves in a getaway house, cabin, room, etc. Whether a screenwriter is writing solo or cramming with a writing partner, a getaway for a night, weekend, or beyond is key.

Airbnb offers people a chance to do so on a budget. Even if it’s a local cabin or cottage for $90 a night, the seclusion can offer screenwriters the chance to put full focus on the screenplay at hand. So $25, $50, $100 or whatever you want to offer can stand as a message to that screenwriter that they can and should get away from it all and have some time to themselves to get that screenplay completed.

Gift cards can be given any amount, big or small. While they’ll still have to pay some out-of-the-pocket money to go on the trip (unless you buy a whole night, weekend, or week for them), the gesture can often be all they need to just do it.

IMDBPro

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IMDBPro is a film and television industry standard online tool. Screenwriters can utilize it for research on movies, television shows, production companies, studios, agencies, management companies, etc.

In the end, it’s one of the greatest tools that screenwriters can have, as we featured in 3 Essential Online Tools for Screenwriters.

IMDBPro is available for the annual price of $149.99 or $15.95 per month. (prices may vary)

Writers Store Gift Card

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The Writers Store is a screenwriter’s candy store of knowledge with software, DVD collections, books, and courses. Offering a gift card to the Writers Store would give the screenwriter the ability to choose their own gift in the end, based on their own needs and wants.

Writers Store Gift Cards can be purchased for any amount and are sent through email.

External Battery Pack for Laptops and Other Devices

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The daily life of a screenwriter often involves trips to the local book store or coffee shop in search of those prime table locations where they can plug in their laptops or Macs. Unfortunately, there are all too often more writers at these places than there are outlets.

An external battery pack can buy your screenwriter family or friend hours of writing time.

This RAVPower model in particular stands out as one of the best available.

 

Streaming Devices

5

Screenwriters need to ingest as much as they can. One of the simplest way to learn about screenwriting is to watch movies. Plain and simple. Even when seasoned screenwriters are in a rut, the best antidote is watching movies. Therefore, whatever it takes to get them into the hands of your screenwriter family and friends could very well be the best gift that you offer them. With the likes of Amazon and HBO alone offering cheap monthly streaming memberships (among many others), a streaming device is a gold mine for screenwriters.

In this case, we go with any and all streaming devices.

They are available in retail stores and online as well.

Movie Theater Gift Cards

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The home theater doesn’t always have the magic that the cinema has. Screenwriters often need a little magic so buying them gift cards for their local movie theater chain is an amazing way to get them amped up about their writing. Movies inspire and influence screenwriters. They are a go to source, thus, you're likely not just giving them a night out at the movies, but possibly the fuel to get through some writer's block.

You can get any gift cards at any local theater chain. All too often, you can also pick them up at most big retail stores on their endcaps. If you don’t know what theater to buy them for, you can always go the Fandango route where they can buy tickets online to almost any theater chain.

Hard Copy Screenplays of Their Favorite Movies

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We live in a digital world so it’s not too often where screenwriters have hard copies of screenplays anymore. If you know your screenwriter family or friend, you’ll likely know their favorite movies. What better way to make a gift more unique and personal than buying them a hard copy script of those favorite movies?

Script City is the best place to buy hard cover copies of screenplays to movies both old and new. If they are aspiring to be a television series writer, Script City has a plethora of teleplays as well. Prices are usually $14.99 per script unless it’s for a miniseries or something of that nature.

You can also order gift certificates by calling (818)701-0012.

The Best of the Rest

  • Starbucks Gift Cards. However, if your screenwriter family or friend writes in a Barnes and Noble coffee shop, know that they do not take Starbucks Gift Cards. They only serve their coffee and aren't official Starbucks establishments. In that case, buy...
  • Barnes and Noble Gift Cards.
  • DVD and Blu-rays. Sales throughout the holidays within major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart usually located in a plethora of discounted movie bins. You can find these throughout the stores. Amazon will often run excellent discounted prices as well.
  • Wireless keyboard and mouse. Laptops often don't offer the best ergonomic experience, thus it's nice for any writer to have a wireless keyboard and mouse.
  • Offer to pay for screenwriting contests. Screenwriters are always looking for a way to break into the film and television industry. One way for them to do that is to enter some of the more connected screenwriting contests. The Nicholl Fellowship runs a prominent program and of course there are the ScreenCraft Genre Screenplay Contests.
  • Find niche items from movies they love. Most screenwriters are movie buffs. They'd love that collector's action figure from their favorite science fiction movie or that framed poster for their favorite classic Alfred Hitchcock movie. Or maybe you go online and find props on sale from those favorite flicks. Don't be afraid to ask them what they're favorite movies are and just work from there.

WANT MORE GIFT IDEAS? CHECK OUT SCREENCRAFT'S 2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR SCREENWRITERS!

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