The Ultimate Author Purchase List: Gear That Actually Helps You Write.
Welcome to the official Substack for The Writing Community Chat Show.
With Season 18 gearing up, I’ve been looking at the tools that genuinely help us get the words down.
Whether you are treating yourself or looking for the perfect gift for the writer in your life, this is the ultimate list of gear that is actually worth the money. No useless gimmicks, just brilliant, practical stuff that I highly recommend for breaking through the block and hitting your word counts.
(Note: The links below are affiliate links. If you pick up any of these brilliant tools, you help support the show at no extra cost to yourself!)
1. Astrohaus Freewrite Traveler.
Get it here: https://amzn.to/3RN0HRe
We all know the struggle: you sit down to write, and suddenly you’re falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole or checking social media for the fifth time in an hour. The Freewrite Traveler is the ultimate cure. It is a portable, distraction-free drafting tool with an E-Ink screen and a brilliant tactile keyboard. It doesn’t have a browser, and it doesn’t have email. All it lets you do is write. If you want to smash through a first draft of a gritty thriller or get deep into a sci-fi world without the modern world interrupting, this is an absolute game-changer.
2. Amazon Kindle Scribe
Get it here: https://amzn.to/3TeDUya
The Kindle Scribe takes everything brilliant about the standard Kindle and adds a digital notebook element with a premium stylus. For indie authors, this is incredible for reviewing formatting, annotating PDFs, or just proofreading a manuscript without having to print out hundreds of pages. Plus, it gives your eyes a much-needed break from the harsh blue light of a computer monitor after a long day of screenwriting or editing.
3. Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Headphones.
Get it here: https://amzn.to/4fP7zGU
Silence is a writer’s best friend, but it is rarely easy to find. Whether you’re trying to write in a noisy café, blocking out the sound of the telly in the next room, or preparing audio for a podcast broadcast, these are phenomenal. Bose’s noise-cancellation technology is top-tier. Put on a moody instrumental playlist, flip the switch, and the rest of the world just disappears.
4. Logitech ERGO K860 Wireless Keyboard.
Get it here: https://amzn.to/4fMtjTM
When you’re trying to consistently hit an 800-word-a-day challenge, wrist strain is a genuine occupational hazard. The ERGO K860 looks a bit unusual with its curved, split design, but your hands will thank you. It places your wrists in a natural, relaxed posture, which makes marathon drafting sessions vastly more comfortable. It’s an investment in your physical health as much as your productivity.
5. Pipersong Meditation Chair.
Get it here: https://amzn.to/4pzTfFp
Let’s be honest, how many of us actually sit properly at a desk? If you find yourself constantly shifting, tucking a leg under yourself, or wanting to sit cross-legged while you plot your next act, this chair is a revelation. It features a unique, rotating footstool that lets you safely and comfortably change sitting positions throughout the day. It’s wildly popular in the creative community right now for good reason.
6. Two Tumbleweeds Writing Dice.
Get it here: https://amzn.to/4hrhBzc
Writer’s block happens to the best of us. When you’re staring at a blinking cursor and the plot just won’t move, a bit of tactile randomness is often the perfect spark. Roll these beautifully crafted dice to generate characters, settings, situations, and emotions. It is a fantastic little desk accessory and a brilliant gift that can genuinely help untangle a tricky narrative knot.
7. AquaNotes Waterproof Notepad.
Get it here: https://amzn.to/3TOKxY1
It is a universal law of writing: your absolute best ideas, loglines, and plot twists will only occur to you when you are in the shower and miles away from a pen. AquaNotes solves this brilliantly. It’s a completely waterproof notepad and pencil that suction-cups to the shower wall. It’s a fun, quirky gift, but trust me, the first time you save a brilliant idea from going down the drain, it pays for itself.
8. A Writer’s Note Pad & Guide. (The WCCS Author Note Pad Cover Variation Series)
Get it here: https://amzn.to/4vPuy9D
I couldn’t write an ultimate gear list without including our very own! Sometimes, you just need to get back to analog basics. The WCCS Author Note Pad is designed specifically for the community. With a fantastic series of cover variations to suit your style, it’s the perfect, high-quality notebook for jotting down daily tasks, interview questions, or sketching out the framework for your next massive project.
Rated 5 STARS!
What’s your go-to writing tool? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the launch of Season 18!