Whitby Abbey: Dracula

Located in Yorkshire, England (yes, not the infamous Transylvania) is the Whitby Abbey which provided the inspiration for the classic novel Dracula. Bram Stoker was visiting Yorkshire in 1890 when he stumbled upon the crumbling ruins of the 7th Century Christian Monastery and he found the gothic architecture so haunting that it inspired this classic tale. The structure still stands today and as the fog sets into the town looming below and the waves of the North Sea crash against the shore… well, one can see why he chose it.

Top Withens: Wuthering Heights

This decaying farmhouse in West Yorkshire, England is said to have provided some inspiration for the novel Wuthering Heights. Although physically the farmhouse doesn’t bear much resemblance to the family home in Emily Bronte’s novel, there is a plaque affixed to the ruins indicating that the farmhouse bears an association with the book. This countryside is said to have inspired many writers also including Bram Stoker.

Mark Twain Cave: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

In Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, Missouri there is a small cave that provided the inspiration for McDougal’s Cave from the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Formerly known as the McDowell Cave, the location was renamed in honor of the renowned author after it provided inspiration for a pivotal location in his book.

Bath, England: Persuasion

Jane Austen resided in Bath, England from 1801 to 1806 and this town became the inspiration and setting for her novel Persuasion. Not only was the town the center of fashion and nobility in the early 19th century, but it also became the location where her characters socialized, attended balls, and attempted to arrange marriages. Many of Bath’s addresses are included in the novel and Bath itself still honors Austen with events like the Jane Austen Ball and the Jane Austen Festival.

Sands Point, NY: The Great Gatsby

Sands Point, NY, a small village along the north shore of Long Island, provided the inspiration for Easter Egg in the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby. The area is home to a French Normandy-style mansion, which was once owned by Fitzgerald’s friend Mary Harriman Rumsey, is said to have inspired the lavish mansion parties featured in the story.

Stanley Hotel: The Shining

Stephen King’s inspiration for his haunting novel The Shining came in the form of a precarious hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. A member of the Dorrance family recently visited The Stanley Hotel and thought it best to share the story with fellow writers: “Finding inspiration for a story that will capture an audience’s attention can be a writer’s biggest battle. Inspiration will not find you, you have to go out into the world and find it yourself. A change in scenery and pressure will likely be the key to creating an award-winning story. In Stephen King’s case, he drove north for a few hours, climbing treacherous winding roads leading to an eerie place named the Stanley Hotel. Not only did the ghostly hotel, surrounded by the steep mountains of Colorado, fuel his inspiration, but the pressure to perform had him on edge to create a masterpiece. He was under a self-imposed deadline due to the fact that he had to pay for his room each additional night in which he did not find the right idea. The fact is, that this combination of stress and inspirational atmosphere was the perfect concoction in order for him to create one of the most notable novels in history.”

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1) Smart Notebook

For the writing friend who still prefers their notebooks to their computers, gift them a smart notebook. The notebook is able to connect to different drives such as google docs, Dropbox, Evernote, Onenote, iCloud, email, slack, and more. Not only is this much more environmentally friendly than the piles of notebooks they have on their shelves, but the smart search software makes it easy to search for specific notes through the software. This way when they need to find their old book ideas from years ago, it no longer takes an entire afternoon of flipping through loose sheets of paper.

2) Bath Tray

One of the best ways for writers to continue to improve their writing is through their reading. Gift your writer friend a bath tray with a built-in area for their current read. You’ll be gifting them with many relaxing nights of soaking in a warm bath while visiting characters and worlds that they love, which is also the perfect way to relax after a long day of reworking plots.

3) Wrist Rest Pad

Any writer knows that feeling where you get in the writing groove and suddenly three, four, five hours have gone by and you’re still at your computer. You’re simultaneously proud of what you’ve accomplished… and also incredibly sore in your wrists and hands. Help your writer friend make it through those long writing sessions without the wrist pain by gifting them a wrist rest pad. The memory foam material will conform perfectly to their wrists and hands so that they can comfortably write during those long sleepless nights.

4) Writing Books

One way for writers to improve their craft is to look at the work of other successful and acclaimed writers. Giving your writer friend or family member a book about writing can be an excellent way to not only give them a new perspective on their own work but also allow them to connect with one of their favorite authors. A few great options include On Writing by Stephen King, Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, and more.

5) Audible

For those writers who may not have as much time to read as they used to, give them that extra push by gifting them an Audible subscription. Audiobooks are a great option for the writer and reader on the go as they can listen to books in their car, on a walk with their dog, or as they’re waiting in line at their favorite coffee shop. All of these little moments throughout the day can now become moments for reading.

6) Gift cards

When in doubt, get your writer friend a gift card. If you’re having trouble picking out a book for them, getting them a gift card for Barnes & Noble or Amazon will allow them to pick for themselves from their ‘to be read’ list. You could also get them a gift card to either Starbucks or their favorite local coffee shop. Writers love to take their show on the road, grab a cup of coffee, and read/write in a place that fuels their creativity. A Starbucks gift card will allow them to grab a cup next time they make a B&N run or the local coffee shop option will gift them a warm cup of joe next time they swing by to work on their latest novel.

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