I have tried tear-away daily to-do sheets, daily planners, and apps of all kinds and found that a goal planner helped me the most in my writing career. I even found that a monthly planner may be better, so for 2025, I ordered the same version of my 2024 planner but a monthly version of it. There's something about color-coding pens, highlighting, and physically "checking stuff off" that motivates like no other. I discovered PlumPaper who allows you to fully customize your planner, journal, notebook whatever and just having that level of control is amazing to me. They are a tad pricey, but they print and ship your specific personalized planner once you order it. I haven't really found another company that does this as well as PlumPaper. Check it out. I have the A5 Ultimate Goal Planner. For 2025, I just ordered the monthly version of it rather than having weeks.

Writing in sprints is the BEST way to finish a novel quickly. Most authors start at 5 minutes and work their way up to an hour. Having a timer like this one with a built in clock so you don't lose track of time is perfect. To start the timer, just turn the clock to the side that has the set timer amount you want.

I love this mug. Nothing like yelling Plot Twist at 2am! This is one of my favorite mugs, and I got it from one of my favorite stores: Etsy!

Pilot FriXion Erasable Markers! These last a long time and erase completely once the ink dries on the paper. Some of them are nice and dark colors like the purple and blue and the colors like the pink and green are almost pastel, and I love the variation on all my projects.

Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Pens! I use these pens for everything (except for the stuff I don't want someone to erase, haha). There are so many colors! As an added bonus, they write smoothly and erase cleanly.

These erasable pens have an extremely fine tip and I love them for when I need to write tiny. They layer well and erase completely with usually one back and forth of the eraser tip.

These ink dot markers are every doodler's dream. I use certain colors to dot the dates in my planner for days that taxes are due, newsletters are due, or days I probably won't get a lot of writing done, and I use them to mark off my wellness scales at the end of the month. Great little dot markers. Not a must-have but certainly fun to use.

I got the smoky colors but the metallic came a close second. I have them on my wish list for Christmas!

I think an author would be lost without some sort of dry erase board to hold all of the essentials for a quick reference without an app or dead battery device. I use my dry-erase board for my big vision and goals, so it rarely gets updated, but it makes for a nice visual when I begin to lose motivation. A fellow author friend uses hers for plotting.

I put this framed piece (a gift from my momma) on the wall opposite my desk so that if I ever felt discouraged, I could glance up and be inspired to continue writing.

For a size reference, my frame is 18x24.

Get the author in your life or yourself some noise-cancelling headphones to either sit in silence or stream Brain.fm creativity beats and increase focus! These Skullcrushers are comfy and don't give me a headache (which is a shocker).

After ordering headphones, get them a nice base to rest on. I only have one pair of headphone but I loop the cord on the other side and it makes for a really nice-looking stand. The base is heavy so it doesn't move and I store the tv remote and my UV-filtering glasses on the base holder. I really thought it was a great purchase.

Authors sometimes need to do podcasts, interviews, training, narration, TikToks, or whatever, and they are going to need a good microphone. I got the FIFINE desktop USB microphone. Several author coaches, including Derek Doepker, the indie audiobook guy, highly recommended it for those looking to not spend a lot of money on a Blue Yeti. So, I got it, and I can't complain.

I love L-desks because I can have so much stuff on my desk and it not feel or look crowded. I also needed a sit-stand because my lower back is shot. I researched a great many desks, and I wanted the whole L-desk to rise, not half of it. I finally found a few, and this one was the cheapest, but honestly, it's a great quality. I've had it since 2022 (circa pic date), and it still works great!

Now, I do not have this and if I ever got it, it would be solely due to a complete impulse splurge. But it heats your coffee constantly for up to 80 min off its charging coaster.

The best gift if you care about eyes. Staring at a computer screen all day is ROUGH. I wear mine all the time and my eyes thank me. I usually store them laying flat on the side of the headphone base but I pulled them around and titled them on their frames to show them off for the picture.

This is by far the best desk lamp I've ever purchased. It folds down flat, straight up to use as backlighting for pictures, and anywhere in between. It's brightness can be adjusted to brighten the whole room or just a small portion of the desk. There are three light modes: bright, white, and warm, and there is a timer if you want to turn it on and see to walk out of the room in the wee hours of the morning without stubbing your toe and know it will shut off, so you don't waste electricity. Great lamp. There is a outlet, a both USB type charge ports, as well as places for pens, scissors, etc. I put my staple remover, whiteout, scissors in one and in the other, I put my roll-on essential oils for when I have headaches. I keep my sprint timer cube on the base, if you were wondering what that cube was.

This comes in extra handy as a thinking chair or a place to lay down and daydream your next scene. My kids also love playing on it, my niece loves to sleep on it, and it's held up pretty well.

This has been a tried and true fan. A little bit of a hum when its on top speed, but my headphones keep out the noise. Sometimes a whoosh of cool air keeps the creative juices flowing.

I am not a person who swears by essential oils, but I do think this particular Focus blend helps me focus and gives my office a warm and calming aroma. We've used this one as a cool mist humidifier in the kids' rooms when they are sick with some eucalyptus and lavender. It runs for 6 hours so its nice to have one that doesn't have to be constantly refilled. Always remember to use distilled water! :)

This focus blend is my favorite. I usually run it about an hour and then let the room settle a bit before I start working. By the time I end for the day, I always feel productive and my office smells nice :)

Protect your desk with these handy coasters because, as a writer, you will always have coffee or tea or water close by. They come with felt pads on the bottom of each coaster, which is nice for not sticking and sliding.

You will have a lot of pens, and this sturdy typewriter pen holder makes for the perfect ambience.

I have an entire collection of author mugs, and this one will likely be the next addition. I struggle so bad with imposter syndrome while drafting. It is so hard to get over that hump. This mug would be a constant reminder to keep pushing on.

I don't have this because my children would not honor it. BUT I can hope, one day.