If you're struggling to figure out what to buy for your writer friend or what to tell your loved ones to get you, try some more of these (and forget things like "printer paper"--I'm trying to include things that are both fun to give and get):

Membership to AvantGuild, Freelance Success, Ask Metafilter, Lexis Nexis, Journalist Express or their favorite magazines.

A certificate for a massage, after all that time in front of the computer.

A paper shredder.

Noise-cancelling headphones.

Writer's Block wine.

And a few others, based on suggestions I got from Upod: a cool messenger bag/satchel like one from Timbuk2 for out of town assignments, digital recorder, a copy of the Slang & Euphemism Dictionary; Lojack For Laptops: "If your computer gets pinched, stolen, snatched, lapjacked or otherwise it will contact Lojack the next time it's connected to the internet and (secretly) provide IP info so they can track the culprits"; A copy of "Please Understand Me" by Keirsey and Bates "to help you deal with challenging clients (or to learn how to spot and avoid them at all costs)" and "The Panasonic KX-TG5672 phone, which talks and slows down incoming
conversations."