17 Gifts For The "Guy In Your MFA" In Your Life

We all know him, the literary hipster who likes his books by Kerouac and his alcohol on the rocks. Here are gift ideas if you manage to get one of them away from their typewriter long enough to open it. Inspired by @GuyInYourMFA

1. Leather Journal

Via shop.nordstrom.com

A fine, leather-bound journal is what every prospective novelist needs. Ideal for thoughtfully writing on a park bench, or a train.

$68 from Nordstrom

2. Personal Library Kit

Via amazon.com

For the man with more post-modernist literature than he knows what to do with.

$15.93 from Amazon

3. DIY Coldbrew Kit

Via brewwrightsupplyanddemand.com

Nothing says tortured artist like coffee brewed in a mason jar. Black. And cold.

$19.99 from brewWright Supply & Demand

4. Organic Cotton Scarf

Gifts.com / Via gifts.com

These scarves are from a sustainable farming community in Laos. But I'm sure your mass-produced capitalist piece of flannel is nice too.

$105.99 via Gifts.com

5. Jacob Bromwell Copper Flask

Jacob Bromwell / Via jacobbromwell.com

A rugged, handmade flask for a man's man to take on his writer's retreat.

$199.99 from Jacob Bromwell

6. A Hemingwrite Digital Typewriter

Hemingwrite / Via hemingwrite.com

For the old-school writer who gets a little distracted by the newfangled Internet.

$349 via Kickstarter

7. The David Foster Wallace Reader

Amazon / Via amazon.com

Of course he's read every DFW book. Twice. Hundreds of times. But that means the paperbacks are probably worn out, and he could use a collection of the visionary writer all in one place.

$17.50 from Amazon

8. Sci-Fi Coaster Set

Out of Print / Via outofprintclothing.com

He might eschew genre fiction in workshop, but anyone would love this super cool vintage-y coster set.

$20 from Out of Print

9. Literary Poster

Etsy / Via etsy.com

Stark, simple quotes from famous writers add an elegant touch to any room.

$24 Obvious State on Etsy

10. Album As Books Poster Print

Etsy / Via etsy.com

For the guy who loves obscure vinyl almost as much as he loves obscure literature.

$29.06 from StandardDesigns on Etsy

11. Personalized Mug

The Literary Gifts Company / Via theliterarygiftcompany.com

Even if his manuscript hasn't been published yet, you can still get the Guy In Your MFA in your life a glimpse of what his literary masterpiece would look like as a Penguin Classic.

£12.95 via The Literary Gifts Company

12. Tequila Mockingbird

Barnes and Noble / Via barnesandnoble.com

Because if he wants to be anything like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, heavy drinking is a must.

$11.99 via Barnes and Noble

13. Herschel Supply CO. Duffel Bag

Nordstroms / Via shop.nordstrom.com

The perfect thing to fill with black t-shirts and paperbacks, throw over your shoulder, and take to New York City.

$80 from Nordstroms

14. Vintage-y iPhone Alarm Dock

Uncommon Goods / Via uncommongoods.com

If Cheever or Kerouac had to charge their iPhones.

$39.50 from Uncommon Goods

15. Gorgeous Pencils

Pencils.com / Via pencils.com

These are the pencils John Steinbeck used - sleek, hip, and vintage. Giving fancy pens is so overdone.

$19.95 from Pencils.com

16. Connox Book Hook

Connox / Via connox.com

Well-crafted, innovative and simple, this is like the Hemingway of bookmarks. Perfect for those late, tortured nights reading Derrida.

19.50 € from Connox

17. Lunch with Jonathan Franzen

Electriclit / Via electriclit.electricliteratu.netdna-cdn.com

No one understands the struggles of the upper-middle class better than JF. Do you know him? Do you know his hairdresser? Anyone who might get his number? Please?