Scribbler writer’s subscription box review
One of my goals for 2020 is to finish my first novel, mostly thanks to NaNoWriMo and crossing the 50,000 word count marker!
But it’s not always sunshine and daisies trying to fit writing into an already busy schedule, but one way I figured I could stay inspired on a monthly basis was by signing up for a writer’s subscription box.
I actually got served an ad for Scribbler on Instagram and was intrigued so I signed up for a subscription so I’d get surprised with writing goodies each month and learn from published authors on what it takes to get published these days.
If you’re a writer and interested in a Scribbler subscription, check out my review of the monthly writer’s box!
What’s in the writer’s box from Scribbler?
Each month I can expect a book, a passport on a specific part of writing, like point of view, stakes, plotting, and so on, a contest card, and an invitation for a live chat with someone from the industry. They also throw in some unique writing-themed goodies and snacks as well to keep you inspired to finish your work in progress!
Other goodies I’ve collected from the box include:
- Candy: Chocolate, caramel popcorn, Swedish Fish
- Beverages: Loose leaf tea and hot chocolate
- Candles
- Pens and markers
- Notecards
- Chapter planners
- Writing journals and notebooks
- Stickers/decals
- Magnets
- Posters
- Writing maps
Each month has a theme, like settings, world building, endings, science fiction, and so on. Overall I’ve been pretty pleased with the selection of goodies in each box and it’s always fun unboxing them and being surprised with what’s inside.
Some of the items are super practical, like the journals, notecards, and planners, and some are just fun, like the recent bottle opener with #plottwist on it or the writer on fire candle that smells amazing.
Facebook group
Your subscription does allow you to join a Facebook group for writers and share tips and tricks, resources, and jokes about being a writer. Everyone in the group is nice and welcoming and are eager to help their fellow writers out. Scribbler also polls the group to see what items from the last box were popular and loved and which ones we didn’t care for.
They also send out an email newsletter, which announces any special sales or writer’s gifts in the shop, as well as announces the next box’s theme. I haven’t found that much value in their newsletters but do like the hint as to what to expect next month.
Shipping
I will be honest and say I have had some issues with their shipping. When I first signed up, they had just moved to a fulfillment center and my first order was sent for delivery but didn’t have an apartment number though my billing details showed an apartment number. They quickly fixed it and reshipped the box which was fine.
Then they switched back in October to doing it themselves and my October box was delivered somewhere else. I had to contact them and the Post Office to get it figured out and it was delivered a month after everyone else got theirs. Since then, shipping has stabilized and I can typically expect my box in the mail two days after I get the shipping notification email.
Customer service
For the most part their customer service is good and they do get you a resolution, but it does take a few days to get a response or you’ll just get an autoresponder response. I do wish when I was having problems with my lost box that they had responded quicker to my email, or my Facebook message, or even my tweet, but I do understand they’re a smaller operation, but in this day and age where customer service teams are good at keeping response times down, it was a bit of a letdown.
Price
I’d say their pricing structure is on par with other subscription services, considering all the items you get. Month-to-month is $29.99, but you will pay shipping on top of that.
You can also do a pre-paid three-month, six-month, or 12-month subscription, but even the yearly subscription only brings the cost of the box down to $27.49 per box. Right now I do the three-month subscription and haven’t had any problems with the auto-renew.
Overall I’ve enjoyed my Scribbler subscription and will let it auto renew in March. If you’re looking for something to keep you motivated as you work on your writing and want to be a part of a close-knit writing community, I’d recommend this subscription box for writers. The passports always have helpful information for writers on a variety of topics, it’s interesting to hear from the author of the box’s book on their career highlights and how they got published, and the writer-themed gifts always bring a smile to my face.
If I could make any improvements to it, one thing I think they could adopt is the way Ipsy allows you to customize your box by choosing a specific goodie you want included in the next month’s shipment. But for now it’s exciting to open the box and not having any idea of what to expect beyond knowing the theme they’re focusing on.
Do you subscribe to Scribbler? If so, tell me what you love about the box in the comments below or on Twitter!
