Gifts for Journal Lovers and People Who Still Write Things Down

The best gifts for journal lovers depend on what they put on the page: a diarist needs room to write, while a list maker may want something small enough to carry everywhere. For a sketcher, blank pages matter more than prompts. Below are picks for five kinds of writer, including the person who keeps buying notebooks and hasn't opened half of them.

Before choosing a cover, think about their habits. Do they write at a desk, make notes on the train or collect scraps from days out? A lovely notebook that doesn't fit the way someone writes can spend a long time looking lovely on a shelf.

For the diarist who writes about the day

Give a regular diarist a notebook with enough space to follow a thought and a cover they'll want to pick up again tomorrow. They don't necessarily need dates printed on every page. An undated book lets them miss a week without returning to a neat row of empty Tuesdays.

A travel journal for notes made out and about

The Light Tan Travel Journal measures 17 by 13cm, has 96 pages and closes with a wrap-around tie. It suits the person who writes on trains or keeps a record of trips: large enough for a proper paragraph, small enough to take along. Slip a note inside the wrapping if it's a gift, suggesting their first entry could be about a place they'd like to revisit.

A leather journal with blank pages

If their diary tends to include little drawings, the True Friends Leather Journal has 80 blank pages of eco-friendly paper, a handmade brown leather cover and a wrap-around band. The embossed quote on the front makes it a more personal gift, so choose it for someone who'd welcome that message. Blank pages leave them free to write across the whole sheet or make room for a sketch.

For the list maker with notes everywhere

A list maker needs a notebook they'll actually have with them when the thought arrives. A small page is plenty for a shopping list, a book recommendation or the name of the café they meant to remember.

A pocket notebook for passing thoughts

The Floral Print Cotton-Bound Notebook is 7 by 10cm, with a cotton-bound cover in one of several floral prints. It slips into a pocket or bag and suits quick notes rather than long sessions at a table. The designs are assorted; if you have a colour in mind, you can request it in the order notes. For a person whose lists currently live on receipts, this gives the receipts some competition.

Somewhere for the temporary list

The Green A5 Intention Notebook with LCD Wipe Screen separates quick reminders from notes worth keeping. Its green leather-effect cover has a reusable screen for temporary lists and messages; inside are 80 lined leaves and a brass-coloured leaf bookmark. That makes sense for the writer who plans the week, crosses things off and still wants somewhere to keep the longer version.

For the sketcher who doesn't want lines

Choose blank pages for someone who draws between sentences. Lines help with tidy notes. For a sketch or a page of words, shapes and scraps, they can get in the way.

A small book for sketches on the move

The Mixed Colour Lokta Mini Notebook has 40 blank pages in a 12 by 8cm format. Its marbled cover combines coloured cotton fibres and natural Lokta paper, giving each one a distinctive handmade look. It's a good size for a quick drawing or an idea caught away from the desk. Someone who works large will need a bigger book, but for tiny studies, the limited space can be inviting.

Paper for the sketchbook they already own

Not every gift for a sketcher has to be another notebook. The A4 Marigold Lokta Craft Paper comes as 20 handmade sheets with pressed petals, visible fibres and warm orange accents. It's suited to journalling and scrapbooking, so your recipient can use it for backgrounds, cut-outs or pages to tuck into an existing book. Pair a few sheets with an invitation to save tickets and notes from your next day out together.

For the gratitude journaller who likes a prompt

A guided journal suits someone who enjoys being given a starting point. It's a different gift from a blank diary: the page asks the question, and they decide how much to answer.

A journal with space for small details

The Blue Gratitude Journal has 120 non-lined guided pages, with sections for daily gratitude, kind acts and standout moments, plus a mood tracker to colour in. Its textured blue hard cover has silver floral detailing and an eye symbol. Choose it for someone who already likes prompts or colouring alongside their writing, rather than someone who guards the freedom of a completely blank page.

A gratitude entry needn't be grand. A good cup of tea, a helpful message or finding the missing pen all fit on a page.

For the person who keeps buying notebooks and not using them

Give the notebook collector permission to start small. Saving a beautiful book for a worthy thought can make the first page feel oddly important, so a little one is often easier to open than a grand new diary.

A tiny notebook with no grand assignment

The Mini Assorted Leather Notebook is one small leather-covered book, approximately 7.5 by 10cm, from an assortment of styles. It could hold a packing list, a few lines from a day out or notes for a gift idea. You don't need to give it a purpose when you wrap it. The point is that an ordinary thought is allowed on the first page.

They might leave it unused for a while, and that's fine too. Some people enjoy choosing notebooks as much as writing in them. If they've already got a whole shelf of unopened books, a sheet of interesting paper or a handwritten letter may be more welcome than another spine for the collection. For more ways to approach that sort of recipient, see our gifts for someone who has everything.

Leather, Lokta or cotton: what are you choosing?

These words don't all describe the pages inside. Leather and cotton usually tell you about the cover or binding, while Lokta can describe the paper itself. Check the page layout separately if your recipient cares about lines, blank space or guided prompts.

• Leather-bound: choose it for the feel of the cover and a book that looks at home on a desk. Leather doesn't tell you whether the pages are lined, blank or replaceable. If you specifically want a refillable leather journal, check for an explicit refillable design rather than assuming a wrap-around tie means the pages can be changed.
• Lokta: look here for visible fibres and a textured page or cover. The mini notebook above has blank Lokta pages; the marigold sheets are loose paper for adding to a journal or craft project.
• Cotton-bound: in the floral notebook above, cotton refers to the cover. It isn't a promise that the writing paper is made from cotton.

For someone who writes every day, page layout is the deciding detail. For someone who makes occasional notes and likes a particular look, the cover may matter more. You can browse more examples in our Lokta paper notebooks.

A few gift-giving checks before you wrap it

The easiest way to get a journal gift right is to notice what your person already reaches for. A battered pocket book tells you more than a tidy shelf of unused hardbacks.

• Check the page style. Lines suit long notes and lists; blank pages give sketches and layouts room; guided pages suit someone who enjoys a prompt.
• Think about where they write. A pocket-sized book makes sense on a commute. At a desk, there's room for a larger page and loose sheets.
• Make the first page less daunting. Write a short note on a separate card rather than inside the journal, so they can decide what belongs on page one.
• Don't assume a new habit. Give for the writing they already do, even if that's only holiday notes or lists of books to read.

A final thought

Match the book to the writer, then check the pages: blank for sketching, lined for longer notes or guided if they like a question to answer. If you're still choosing, start with our leather notebooks and vintage-style journals and think about where their next sentence is likely to be written.