christmas creative writing story starters

150+ Christmas Story Ideas, Tips & Prompts (Fun & Festive)

Welcome to my festive guide of Christmas story ideas, tips, and prompts!

Get ready to ignite your imagination and dive into the magical realm of holiday storytelling. Whether you’re a budding writer or simply seeking inspiration, we’ve got you covered with a treasure trove of dazzling ideas.

So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, snuggle up by the fire, and let the spirit of Christmas guide your creative journey.

Christmas Story Ideas

Table of Contents

When it comes to Christmas stories, the possibilities are endless.

From heartwarming tales of love and generosity to mysterious adventures and whimsical fantasies, the holiday season provides a rich backdrop for storytelling.

Here is a Santa’s bag full of Christmas story ideas to spark your creativity:

• A young girl discovers a magical snow globe that grants wishes.
• An old man befriends a lonely reindeer and helps save Christmas.
• A mischievous elf causes chaos in Santa’s workshop.
• A family travels back in time and experiences Christmas in different eras.
• A group of friends embarks on a quest to find the perfect Christmas tree.
• A lonely snowman comes to life and goes on an adventure to find his place in the world.
• A secret Santa leaves anonymous gifts for people in need.
• A young boy discovers that his grandfather is secretly Santa Claus.
• A magical ornament brings love and joy to whoever possesses it.
• A young girl writes a letter to Santa asking for her parents to be reunited.
• A child discovers a magical Christmas ornament that grants wishes.
• Two rival families learn the true meaning of Christmas.
• A time traveler experiences Christmas in different eras.
• An unexpected guest changes a family’s Christmas traditions.
• A lost pet finds its way home on Christmas Eve.
• A mysterious figure helps people in need during the holidays.
• A group of kids plan a secret Santa for their neighborhood.
• A Christmas tree farm hides a magical secret.
• An elf accidentally gets left behind in the human world.
• A Christmas market brings together two long-lost friends.
• A snowstorm leads to unexpected friendships and adventures.
• A family heirloom brings about a Christmas miracle.
• A couple rekindles their romance during a snowy Christmas.
• A town without Christmas spirit discovers joy through a child.
• A Christmas play reveals hidden talents and dreams.
• A holiday baking competition sparks rivalry and romance.
• A lonely person finds companionship with a stray animal on Christmas.
• A workaholic rediscovers the joy of Christmas through charity work.
• A Christmas ghost story with a heartwarming twist.
• A family’s first Christmas after a significant loss.
• A Christmas cruise leads to adventure and self-discovery.
• An antique shop’s Christmas items hold magical stories.
• A holiday mix-up leads to unexpected connections.
• A magical Christmas Eve changes a skeptic’s beliefs.
• A Christmas party brings together unlikely individuals.
• A holiday light display competition in a small town.
• A Christmas choir unites a divided community.
• A festive scavenger hunt with a surprising reward.
• A holiday-themed road trip with unexpected stops.
• A family learns the importance of giving rather than receiving.
• A soldier’s Christmas letter home sparks a community movement.
• A Christmas market stall holds the key to solving a mystery.
• A struggling musician finds inspiration during the holidays.
• A holiday romance blossoms in a cozy winter lodge.
• A secret Santa tradition uncovers hidden feelings.
• A Christmas Eve blizzard brings strangers together.
• A holiday decorating contest reveals more than just creativity.
• A magical reindeer helps a child believe in Christmas again.
• A writer finds her muse in a festive small town.
• A Christmas tree whisperer helps trees find their perfect homes.
• A magical Christmas hat that grants the wearer one Christmas wish.
• A family celebrating their first Christmas in space.
• A ghost of Christmas past, present, and future visiting a modern-day Scrooge.
• A Christmas-themed amusement park with a secret.
• A baker who creates cookies that predict the future.
• An orphan’s first Christmas with a new family.
• A journalist uncovering the truth about a Christmas legend.
• A town where it’s Christmas every day.
• A Christmas tree that teleports people to different times.
• A Christmas Eve where all the animals can talk.
• A scientist accidentally creating snow that never melts.
• A famous actor disguised as Santa in a small town.
• A Christmas cruise ship caught in a magical storm.
• A holiday romance between rival Christmas light decorators.
• A family’s quest to deliver a forgotten gift to the North Pole.
• A child’s drawing of Santa coming to life.
• A cursed Christmas ornament causing chaos.
• A mysterious guest at a Christmas charity gala.
• A couple stranded in a remote cabin during Christmas.
• A Christmas market where each stall offers a magical experience.
• A group of strangers snowed in at a train station on Christmas Eve.
• A magical advent calendar with real-life daily surprises.
• A Christmas Eve heist to save a historic landmark.
• A mischievous elf causing mayhem in a toy store.
• A snowman who grants wishes on Christmas night.

Tips for Writing Christmas Stories

Now that you have a list of Christmas story ideas to choose from, here are some tips to help you bring your story to life:

• Start with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention. This could be a mysterious letter found under a Christmas tree, or a sudden, unexplained power outage on Christmas Eve. Your opening should immediately immerse the reader in the story’s world and set the tone for what’s to come.
• Create memorable characters that readers can relate to. These could be characters facing relatable challenges, like a single parent struggling to create the perfect Christmas, or a child experiencing their first holiday after a significant loss. Give each character distinct traits and motivations to make them feel real.
• Set the scene by describing the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. This involves painting a vivid picture of twinkling lights, the aroma of cinnamon and pine, and the soft sound of carols in the distance. Use sensory details to transport your readers directly into the world of your story.
• Use dialogue to bring your characters to life and convey emotions. Dialogue can reveal a lot about your characters, like their personality, background, and current mood. An excited child’s chatter about Santa, or a couple’s tender conversation about past Christmases, can add depth to your story.
• Build tension and suspense to keep readers engaged . This might involve a series of mysterious events leading up to Christmas or a family secret that’s revealed during the holiday dinner. Keep your readers guessing what will happen next.
• Weave in themes of love, hope, and generosity. Christmas stories often revolve around these themes. Show characters performing acts of kindness, like a businessperson helping a homeless person, or a child learning the importance of giving.
• Show the transformation and growth of your main character. This is key in Christmas stories. Maybe a cynical character learns the joy of giving, or a lonely individual finds a sense of belonging. Show how the magic of Christmas brings about change in your characters.
• Add unexpected twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Perhaps a character who hates Christmas ends up saving the day, or a planned holiday goes completely awry, leading to unexpected joy.
• End on a satisfying note that leaves readers feeling warm and joyful. This doesn’t always mean a happy ending in the traditional sense, but your story should resolve in a way that aligns with the spirit of Christmas, leaving your readers with a sense of closure and contentment.

Prompts to Inspire Your Christmas Story

If you’re looking for more specific ideas to get started, here are some writing prompts to inspire your Christmas story:

• Write a story about a Christmas miracle that changes someone’s life.
• Imagine a world where Christmas is celebrated in a completely different way.
• Create a story based on a memorable Christmas tradition from your own life.
• Write a story about a character who is on Santa’s naughty list and must find a way to redeem themselves.
• Imagine what would happen if Santa’s sleigh broke down on Christmas Eve.
• Write a story about a magical Christmas ornament that grants wishes.
• Create a story where Christmas is in danger and only a group of unlikely heroes can save the day.
• Write a story about the true meaning of Christmas and how it can change someone’s perspective.
• Imagine a world where it’s Christmas every day and the challenges that would come with it.
• Create a story about a character who receives the gift they’ve always wanted but realizes it’s not what they expected.
• Write about a Christmas Eve where every wish written to Santa comes true.
• A story of two strangers stuck in an airport during Christmas.
• Imagine a world where Christmas is banned and how characters react.
• A family’s last Christmas before their children leave for college.
• A magical snow globe that shows potential future Christmases.
• A retired Santa Claus adjusting to life outside the North Pole.
• A character experiencing their first Christmas in a foreign country.
• A detective solving a mystery during a Christmas party.
• A Christmas angel mistakenly visits the wrong family.
• A couple experiencing their first Christmas after adopting a child.
• A story centered around a unique Christmas tradition in a small town.
• A Christmas market that appears only once every hundred years.
• A character who can hear what Christmas decorations are thinking.
• A family’s quest to find the perfect Christmas tree.
• A character revisiting their hometown for Christmas after many years.
• An office Christmas party that leads to unexpected revelations.
• A lonely widower’s Christmas turns magical with a stranger’s arrival.
• Children planning a secret Christmas gift for their parents.
• A magical Christmas pastry that makes people tell the truth.
• A Christmas Eve blizzard that changes everything for a small community.
• A group of friends exchanging handmade gifts for Christmas.
• A character learning about different Christmas traditions worldwide.
• A toy store’s struggle to survive its last Christmas season.
• A character volunteering at a shelter during the holidays.
• A mysterious Christmas card that arrives every year from an unknown sender.
• A character trying to create the perfect Christmas for a loved one.
• A tale of two cities celebrating Christmas in vastly different ways.
• A character who discovers they’re related to Santa Claus.
• An unexpected romance at a Christmas-themed resort.
• A family’s first Christmas after adopting a pet.
• A group of kids trying to prove Santa Claus is real.
• A holiday baking disaster that leads to a sweet romance.
• A Christmas tree that grants the wish of whoever decorates it.
• A character who hates Christmas until they experience a true Christmas spirit.
• A story about finding lost love during the holiday season.
• A mysterious advent calendar with daily magical surprises.
• A holiday-themed treasure hunt in a snowy mountain village.
• A character facing their first Christmas after a major life change.
• A Christmas parade that brings a divided town together.
• A story about the friendship between a child and a snowman.
• Write about a Christmas where the northern lights bring magic to a small village.
• Imagine a Christmas without snow that leads to unexpected adventures.
• A secret Santa who really is Santa Claus in disguise.
• A family inherits an old mansion with a Christmas mystery.
• A Christmas pageant that goes hilariously wrong.
• A character who finds a portal to the North Pole in their basement.
• A snowy Christmas in a tropical country, and its magical cause.
• A character attending a Christmas costume party where something magical happens.
• A Christmas where every gift is a clue to a family treasure.
• A holiday-themed reality show with a twist.
• A child’s belief in Santa bringing about a miracle.
• A character learning about Christmas traditions from around the world.
• A mysterious figure saving Christmas in a city.
• A group of friends finding a magical Christmas village in the woods.
• A Christmas wish that leads to an epic adventure.
• A grumpy old man’s transformation during the holiday season.
• A Christmas carol that comes to life.
• A magical wreath that transports people to different Christmas settings.
• A toy maker who discovers his creations are alive.
• A family’s first Christmas on a deserted island.
• A pet’s perspective on Christmas.
• A character waking up in a Christmas-themed world.
• A historical Christmas story with a touch of magic.
• A Christmas tree decorating contest with a mystical prize.
• A Christmas Eve where wishes made at midnight come true.

Here is a fun video with more Christmas story writing prompts:

How Can I Come Up with New and Exciting Christmas Story Ideas?

Coming up with fresh and engaging Christmas story ideas can sometimes be a challenge.

To get your creative juices flowing, try the following tips:

First, think about traditional Christmas themes and brainstorm ways to put a unique spin on them. Consider incorporating unexpected settings, characters, or plot twists to make your story stand out.

Next, gather inspiration from your own experiences or those of others.

Draw from personal memories, traditions, or even historical events to add depth and authenticity to your stories.

What Are Some Tips for Writing Compelling Christmas Stories?

Writing a compelling Christmas story involves capturing the essence of the holiday spirit while keeping readers engaged.

Here are a few tips to make your Christmas stories more captivating.

Focus on creating relatable and well-developed characters who encounter meaningful conflicts, which can be resolved by the end of the story.

This helps readers connect emotionally with the narrative.

Incorporate vivid descriptions of Christmas settings, decorations, and traditions to evoke a strong sense of atmosphere and immerse readers in the festive spirit.

How Can I Make My Christmas Stories Appeal to a Wide Audience?

To make your Christmas stories appeal to a broad audience, consider the following strategies.

First, focus on universal themes and emotions that resonate with people from various backgrounds. Love, family, gratitude, and the spirit of giving are just a few examples of themes that can transcend cultural boundaries.

Additionally, strive for inclusivity and diversity in your character portrayals.

Represent different cultures, traditions, and beliefs in a respectful and authentic manner, fostering a sense of inclusiveness that can resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds.

Final Thoughts: Christmas Story Ideas

With these ideas and tips, you’re ready to embark on your own Christmas storytelling adventure.

Happy writing!

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Celebrate this festive season with 80 phenomenal Christmas writing prompts! Whether you wish to write about love, family, magic, hope, or dreams, we’ve got the perfect prompt for you. We’ve included a unique mix of funny, thought-provoking, and serious prompts to stimulate your imagination. 

These December writing prompts will shake off writer’s block and make you eager to pen your story. We’ve also added a special section of Christmas writing prompts for kids. So without wasting time, let’s browse through these prompts! 

Take your holiday story to the next level! Learn more

Christmas writing prompts for adults 

1) Write about how a refugee staying in Paris finds the Christmas spirit. 

2) A flight is forced to land in Vietnam during Christmas. An old man is determined to spread Christmas cheer and make the passengers happy. What does he do? 

3) A girl who works at a Christmas store is unfairly removed from her job. Describe how she finds her Christmas spirit. 

4) What unique tradition would you like to create for your family on Christmas? Explain in detail. 

5) Describe how the arrival of a guest at Christmas changed your life. 

6) A kid performs a random act of kindness on Christmas which creates a huge impact. 

7) A woman traveling by train at Christmas meets a childhood friend who tells her a shocking secret. 

8) Write a letter to your best friend on Christmas, telling how much he/she means to you. 

9) A nurse working in the hospital on Christmas gets a big surprise. 

10) A scientist receives an anonymous gift from an admirer on Christmas and an invitation to meet. 

11) A 12-year-old child finds an elf hidden in his garden. The elf takes the boy to the North Pole and they have an exciting adventure. 

12) Write a poem about a romantic Christmas you spent with your partner. 

13) Describe a memorable Christmas dance at a party and why was it special. 

14) Write about a surprising miracle that happened on Christmas day. 

15) Recount a Christmas movie you watched that changed your life. 

16) Write about a unique experience where people from different cultures celebrate Christmas together. 

17) Relate a memorable experience where someone fulfilled a promise they made on Christmas. 

18) Imagine how Christmas would take place in 2034 and pen your thoughts about how technology could change Christmas. 

19) Recount a Christmas when you were alone, away from family. What did you do to make your Christmas special? 

If you want to develop a habit of writing consistently in a journal, we are here to help! Here are some effective holiday writing prompts for your next journal entry: 

Christmas journal prompts 

20) Reflect on an important lesson Christmas has taught you about life and write about it. 

21) Write about your dream Christmas vacation. 

22) Recount a special Christmas gift you received and why was it memorable for you. 

23) Name your favorite Christmas movie and describe why you love the movie. 

24) Describe a wonderful Christmas-themed project/artwork you worked on. 

25) Write about the music and songs you like to hear at Christmas. 

26) Narrate an experience where you received a strange gift at the Secret Santa gift exchange. 

27) Describe your favorite Christmas food, why is it special, and the best memories related to the food. 

28) Write about how you celebrated Christmas with your pet. 

29) Narrate your experience about a memorable office Christmas party you went to and what happened. 

For writers who want more December writing prompts, we’ve included a special section. Discover exciting Christmas story writing prompts about mystery, adventure, family, and more! 

Christmas story prompts 

30) Pen a story about how a prince and princess trapped escape from the clutches of a witch on Christmas. Narrate what they do to return to their native land. 

31) Compose a story about how a stranger convinces a family to celebrate Christmas. The family has not celebrated Christmas for five years. 

32) An elf has to rub fly paint on Santa’s reindeer to make them fly. He drops the fly paint and the fly paint falls on the floor. Now the reindeer cannot fly. What happens next? 

33) You open the door of a shed that is unused for years on Christmas. The shed leads to a magical world where all toys can talk. 

34) Craft a story about a songwriter who writes a modern-day Christmas Carol, reminding people of the true meaning of Christmas. 

35) Narrate a story about a girl who visits her ancestral home in Scotland at Christmas and finds true love. 

36) Tell the tale of how a teenager finds a mysterious map of a hidden treasure on Christmas. 

37) A 15-year-old boy discovers a land of magical Christmas ornaments and gifts. He then gets trapped in the land. What does he do? 

38) Write a story about how a swimmer saves an injured dolphin on Christmas. 

39) An artist takes a solo trip to Venice for Christmas and rediscovers her lost creativity. 

40) A chef participates in a cooking competition at Christmas. He must create an unconventional cake using modern cooking techniques. 

41) A group of elderly people decides to organize a charity event at Christmas to save an orphanage from closing. Will they succeed? 

42) A vet volunteers at an animal shelter on Christmas Eve and falls in love with another volunteer. 

43) A witch disguises herself and visits Earth to celebrate Christmas and gatecrashes a party. What happens next? 

44) An old teacher wishes he was younger by throwing a coin in a magical fountain before Christmas. He wakes up on Christmas day and realizes that he is 20 years old once again. 

45) Write a story about how a soldier defending his country’s border celebrates Christmas. 

46) Narrate how a standup comedian who received bad publicity makes an amazing comeback on Christmas Eve. 

47) Describe how a girl takes one step closer to her dream of performing in the Olympics on Christmas day. 

48) A boy runs away from his foster parents, galloping on his horse Starlight on Christmas Eve. 

49) Pen a story about a grandfather who reconnects with his grandson on Christmas day and fulfills exciting wishes on his bucket list. 

Christmas writing prompts for kids 

50) Imagine that you created a snowman on Christmas that suddenly became powerful. What powers did the snowman have? How did the snowman use those powers? 

51) Write a story about how a talking baby rabbit finds a home on Christmas and a loving friend. 

52) Write a poem on what you love about Christmas. 

53) You discover a monkey in your shed on Christmas and decide to take care of it. Explain what happens later. 

54) Imagine you are a Santa helper who is given the task of packing all gifts for Christmas. You realize that there are fewer gifts for children. What do you do? 

55) Describe the most special gift you gave someone for Christmas. 

56) Imagine you are given Santa’s sleigh and reindeer. Where would you go? What would you do? 

57) Write a dialogue between Santa and his helper about a special surprise to make Christmas more special. 

58) Write a story about how Tom (the cat) and Jerry (the mouse) spent Christmas. 

59) You want to host a party at Christmas. What games will you play? What food would you order? How would you decorate the house? Write all the details. 

60) You find a blue wishing feather on Christmas and realize that it makes your wishes come true. What do you wish for? 

61) You realize that a teddy bear you received on Christmas can talk and do magic.

62) You find a package in the snow on Christmas and unwrap it. You see a beautiful and expensive toy train. What do you do? 

63) Someone has locked you in a room full of Christmas gifts by mistake. 

64) You get the chance to decorate a Christmas tree. How will you decorate the tree? Explain in detail. 

65) Imagine you met Santa Clause when he was secretly keeping your gift. What would you ask him? 

66) You get a chance to meet your favorite cartoon character at Christmas. Describe how you spent the whole day with the cartoon character. 

67) You find a homeless man on Christmas who looks hungry. What do you do? 

68) Express how you spent a day playing with your friends in the snow during the Christmas holidays. 

69) An uncle gifts you a pet parrot as a gift on Christmas. The parrot is intelligent and can talk. Describe how what the parrot said made everybody laugh. 

Now let us see some fun Christmas creative writing prompts! These writing prompts for December include ideas related to fantasy, horror, childhood, snow, and, more. 

Fun Christmas writing prompts 

70) Write a story about a group of puppets coming to life on Christmas Eve. 

71) Describe how fairies and elves celebrate Christmas together in Fairyland. 

72) A tourist visits a haunted house on Christmas and discovers a ghost. 

73) On Christmas Eve, A wizard gifts a boy a magical table that produces whatever food you ask it to. 

74) Compose a poem about your favorite childhood memory of Christmas. 

75) A clumsy and amateur wizard becomes a hero and saves everyone on Christmas. 

76) A girl discovers the true identity of a spy on Christmas. The spy must do everything to prevent the girl from revealing her identity. 

77) An angel visits an old man staying alone at home and makes his Christmas memorable. 

78) Write a story about a unique snowman-making competition where the person who makes the best snowman gets a special prize. 

79) A woman discovers exquisite handmade Christmas gifts in her attic. She realizes that every gift is worth thousands of dollars. What does she do? 

80) A cynical journalist visits North Carolina to write an exciting story about a famous legend. He finds his lost Christmas spirit and discovers a shocking truth. 

We hope these holiday writing prompts for Christmas help you craft the perfect story. After you’re done with writing, the next step is editing. As experts in editing and proofreading services , we’d love to help you perfect your story!

Here are some other articles you might find useful: 

• How to Write Unforgettable Antagonists
• Foil Character: Definition, History, & Examples
• What is the Setting of a Story? Meaning + 7 Expert Tips

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Novel writing ,

50 christmas story ideas, tips & prompts.

By N J Simmonds

Are you trying to write a festive novel but have run out of ideas? Or perhaps you need some snowy inspiration for your Christmas short story. In this article we will be sharing lots of fun Christmas writing prompts to kick-start your winter writing – plus we’ve also asked top Christmas book authors for their inspiring tips . 

Why Write Christmas Novels?  

Christmas is a magical time of year. And for many of us who experience it during the darkest, coldest months, it can be the only fun and joyous occasion of the entire season. That’s why Christmas novels are so popular. There’s nothing cosier, on a bleak winter’s day, than huddling under a blanket with a mug of hot cocoa and a book full of festive cheer, plus all the nostalgia and decadence that goes with it. 

That’s not to say all Christmas books have to be romances or women’s fiction. The great thing about writing with Christmas in mind is that it can be applied to any genre – from festive chillers and thrillers , to horror stories and gruesome tales that take place during the most magical time of the year.    Read on to discover some great Christmas writing prompts, plus top tips from leading authors of festive books. Although bear in mind that these are adult writing prompts – so may not be suitable if you’re looking for December writing prompts for your classroom or children !  

20 Christmas Story Starters And Festive Prompts  

The great thing about writing a Christmas sho r t story , novel or novella is that no one expects anything too serious in winter. So let your imagination run wild! As long as you include plenty of festive fun, nostalgic traditions, and a sprinkle of magic then you’re on to a winter winner.    Here are our twenty Christmas story ideas and prompts, split into four different Christmas genres…. 

Christmas Rom-Com

• A teacher is putting on a school nativity play. She don’t get on with the new teaching assistant and things start to go terribly wrong…until they realise love is blooming among the mistletoe. 
• She hates Christmas day at her parents as all they ever talk about is how she is single and childless. Except this year they’ve invited the neighbours – along with their three very different (and very attractive) sons! 
• Her boyfriend dumped her on Christmas Eve, so she jets off to an exotic hot country to forget all about the festive season. But the local waiter refuses to let her remain sad and grumpy. 
• Ever since his cat, Snowy, was run over on Christmas Day Tom has hated Christmas. This year he decides to stay home alone…until a cat appears on his doorstep. A cat belonging to his crazy new neighbour. 
• Single mother, Carol, has to attend ten different Christmas school events for her three children and she’s at the end of her tether. Then she realises the same handsome man is at all of them too. Coincidence? Or fate? 

Christmas Romance

• She’s gone on a trip to Lapland to get away for the winter as the man she has always loved is getting married over Christmas. But when she’s snowed in at a secluded log cabin only the rugged local Finnish guy can help her. 
• She’s so frustrated with her annoying parents on Christmas Day that she goes on a long country walk, steps into a secluded old chapel, and finds herself face to face with a very handsome man. The only problem is she’s gone back 100 years in history. 
• Christmas day 1998 was perfect because Danny, the boy next door, shared his first kiss with her. Guess who just moved in next door to her new house? 
• Ivy has built a snowman. Not only has he come to life…but she’s fallen in love with him. Will their love last longer than the winter? 
• She’s new to the village and is struggling to make friends. She’s thinking of going back home for Christmas, until the community pull together to convince her to stay…all orchestrated by one very special someone. 

Christmas Thriller 

• A mother and father wake up one Christmas morning wondering why it’s so quiet. Where are the kids? They go into their room and the beds are empty, the stockings untouched. The window is open and the cookies have been eaten. Next to the carrot is a note. 
• They thought renting a little cottage in the secluded countryside would be romantic for Christmas. Until they discovered a body. 
• Nancy is overjoyed to be invited to the lavish New Year’s Eve party that the McPartlans throw every year. Except this year it’s different. This year, every hour on the hour, a new guest is discovered dead. 
• Sally wants to stay home alone for Christmas. But someone has trapped her in her house, and now she can’t get out even if she tries. 
• Christmas shopping on the high street is crazy. Holly is convinced she’s seen a store Santa bundling a woman into the back of a car. But no one believes her…until the woman turns up dead. 

Christmas Horror 

• Father Christmas is real, but he’s not entering your house to leave gifts. It’s something a lot more sinister. 
• Santa’s elves are real and they are living inside the walls of your house. 
• When Harry kissed Anabelle under the mistletoe he didn’t expect her to grow fangs. 
• Christmas day in a secluded log cabin is ever so romantic…unless you discover someone is trying to kill you. 
• No one can hear you scream when it’s midnight, you’re in the middle of nowhere and the world is muffled with snow. 

For added fun, why not mix and match some of these ideas or change their genres. Let’s see what wondrous seasonal ideas you can come up with! 

10 Top Tips For Writing Seasonal Stories By Successful Christmas Authors

1. seek out other christmas book writers writing at the same time as you  .

A Christmas Club, if you wish! it’s a great way of batting over and back in terms of keeping you in the flow and reminding you of those little things that might not be exactly obvious when writing out of season.  Faith Hogan, author of On The First Day Of Christmas  

2. Recreate The Sensory Atmosphere Of Christmas  

You may want to light some scented candles that smell like Christmas trees, enjoy freshly baked mince pies, make the room dark and put up fairy lights etc. Even watching a Christmas movie or seeking out snowy landscapes (or other seasonal landscape depending on where you are in the world) on Youtube can help too.  Beth Kempton, author of Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy 

3. Plan Well Ahead!

I start my Christmas novellas as early as February! Victoria Connelly, author of Christmas with the Book Lovers

4. Follow Your Favourite Christmas Book Author On Social Media  

Reach out and tell them about what you’re writing, they may be able to give you more tips! It’s always good to expand your circle of writers in the same genre as you! Faith Hogan, author of On The First Day Of Christmas 

5. Research Christmas Traditions From All Around The World  

Our Christmas novella is set in Lapland, and because our books are paranormal romance we created some fun monsters inspired by Finnish folklore, and added plenty of local Christmas customs too. Think outside of your own experiences and talk to people who have other wonderful and (sometimes creepy) customs. Caedis Knight, author of Goblins of Lapland

6. Make Notes Throughout The Winter

If you have a long lead time, make notes about your mood and emotions throughout the winter (or look back at old journals). Rereading them will help if you then have to write out of season. Beth Kempton, author of Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy  

7. Give Them What They Came For

People who buy Christmas novels expect to see certain things. So give it to them! Make sure to describe the beautiful tree, the hot chocolate, the ice skating, the kiss under the mistletoe. Don’t try and be clever by adding a twist to what they’re expecting…it may fall flat. Caedis Knight, author of Goblins of Lapland

8. Listen To Lots Of Christmas music

I wrote my last Christmas book during a heatwave, at the height of the pandemic. I listened to a lot of Christmas music to get me in the right frame of mind. Rachel Wells, author of Alfie The Christmas Cat

9. Make a List (And Check It Twice)

Make a sheet with five columns for each sensory aspect of Christmas and jot down everything you can think of that’s Christmassy – from what you smell, see and hear, to what you expect to see at Christmas. This also helps with setting and plot. Rosie Blake, author of How To Stuff Up Christmas

10. You can Never Be TOO Christmassy!

Add all the festive cheer fun and heartwarming cheer you possibly can. there’s no such thing as too much when it comes to this time of year! Emma Jackson, author of A Mistletoe Miracle and One Kiss Before Christmas

Ten Top Tips From Author Isabella May  

We asked Isabella May, author of deliciously adorable Christmas rom-com, Twinkle Twinkle Little Bar , to share what it takes to write festive foodie fiction.  

Here are her 10 tips on writing an unforgettable Christmas story: 

1. More Is More

This is Christmas we are talking about so there’s no such thing as too many decorations appearing in your story.

2. Read And Watch Christmas Books And Movie s

Don’t try to emulate what others have done but look at the many festive tropes that are out there and try to bring your own fresh angle. 

3. Immerse Yourself In The Tastes And Smells Of Christmas

It may seem a little extravagant but eating that Christmas pud that’s been lying in wait since FOREVER in the kitchen cupboard and/or buying yourself a fragrant pine-scented Yankee candle, will turbo boost your festive thoughts and lead to some great plot ideas.

4. Think Snow Globe Community Spirit!

The most successful Christmas books have all the characters united in festive fizz… eventually. ‘Tis the season of goodwill, after all.

5. It’s Back To The Senses Again

Dust off the Wham/Cliff Richard/Mariah Carey and play all the Yuletide jingles. You’ll cringe at first but honestly, this is another tried and tested way to get in the spirit and up your daily word count. 

6. Think Of Christmas Past

No, not in a Scrooge way… but reminiscing on the highlights of your own Christmas holidays from childhood can shape and inspire so many scenes in your book.

7. Fact Check

It’s easy to get carried away with the celebratory side of Christmas when we are knee-deep in a glowy, hygge, and twinkly-light festooned story, so we need to be certain that the Italian festive foodie delights we’ve just added to our MC’s dialogue really are typically served in December (and spelt correctly).

8. Research Your Destination Well

Nobody is saying you can’t set your story in Iceland (complete with those tantalising views of the Northern Lights) but if you haven’t been to the location of your Christmas book’s setting, you’d better do some serious armchair travelling (and talking with locals who are native to the area, if possible) to give your readers the most authentic portrayal of the place.

9. Keep It Light

The best Christmas stories are fluffy, frivolous and entertaining. There are always exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking, bookworms turn to festive fiction for escapism/to get themselves in the Christmas spirit when their own may be flagging. Always remember, Christmas can be a hard time of year for many people. Avoid sensitive and/or trigger warning subjects. Readers want to be uplifted and entertained. Your goal as a writer is to give them that warm fuzzy feeling from tip to toe; a hot chocolate hug in a book.

10. Once You Start Writing Christmas Books, Know That It’s Almost Impossible To Stop!  

Readers have a VORACIOUS appetite for Christmas books and this genre is growing by the season. It’s fine to dabble but your fans will expect an annual festive work of fiction from you (if you first went down with the joy of a Bailey’s on ice), so it’s best to have a word with your inner Grinch before you commit to typing your very first Christmassy word… 

Christmas Title Ideas  

And finally, no Christmas book is complete without the perfect title . But how do you choose one that demonstrates it’s a Christmas book in your genre, yet isn’t a title that’s been used a million times already?     Here are our top ten title tips! 

1. Look At Other Festive Books In Your Genre

Check for consistencies and see how many words they use. Thrillers tend to be 2-5 short words and really self-explanatory (ie The Christmas Killer , Alex Pine), whereas Christmas romance and romcoms can have longer, prettier, and more intricate titles (ie One More Christmas At The Castle, Trisha Ashley). 

2. Describe The Story

Unless you are writing literary fiction, it helps to have a title that makes it very clear what the book is about. So if your book is about Christmas on a desert island, then call your book something like ‘ A Desert Island Christmas .’ 

3. Use Lyrics From A Christmas Song Or Hymn  

‘ All I Want For Christmas ’ is a popular book title for romance novels, as is ‘ Silent Night’ for thrillers and horror books. So get original and have fun seeing what matches the theme of your book. For instance, you may write a book about two best friends and call it ‘ Holly And Ivy ’ or a rom-com set in the 50s called ‘ Rocking Around The Christmas Tree .’ 

4. Don’t Be Scared Of Puns  

Christmas is the cheesiest time of the year, so don’t hold back from getting corny if need be. You may name your rom-com novel about reindeer farmers in Finland, ‘ Looks Like Rain, Dear,’ or your Christmas horror ‘ Santa Claws Bites Back’ . These are all silly suggestions, I know, but you get the idea. A much classier example is Isabella May’s Christmas novel ‘ Twinkle Twinkle Little Bar.’  

5. Make It Clear That It’s Part Of A Series

If you’re writing a series of books, your cover designer will no doubt ensure that they all look the same but different – so do make sure the titles match too. Nancy Revell has done that with her Shipyard Girls books ( Shipyard Girls Under The Mistletoe, Christmas with The S hipyard Girls and A Christmas Wish For The Shipyard Girls).  

6. Use The Word ‘Christmas’ In The Title

This may sound simple, perhaps too simple, but it works. If you’re writing a modern Cinderella retelling, calling it ‘ A Cinderella Christmas’ means people who are looking for a Christmas book that’s like Cinderella, and type those words into Google or Amazon, will find your book more easily!

7. Keep It Simple  

People looking for a festive read are rarely interested in anything too complicated or highbrow. Depending on the genre, choose a title that reflects the mood of the book – but keep it simple. Instead of calling it ‘ The Haunted Mind and Festive Regrets of Peter Cumberbatch ’ you could simply call it ‘ Ghosts of Christmas Past’ . 

8. Use Words Associated With Christmas

If your book is more literary or a thriller, and you don’t want readers to think they’ll be getting a cutesy festive read, then use words associated with Christmas that are a little more serious: Snow, Winter, Snowflake, Midnight, Night, Cold etc.

9. State Where The Book Takes Place  

If you’re writing cosy Christmas romance or women’s fiction, ‘ Christmas at (insert location)’ Works really well. It may seem formulaic but there’s a reason why these books sell well. ‘ Christmas at…the cosy café…the olde bookshop…Mannering Manor…Penny Lane ’ – you get the picture.  

10. Have Fun With The Title

Sometimes people don’t even know they want to read a Christmas book until they see the title. So choose something that will make them feel nostalgic, make them smile, or make them yearn for the comfort and excitement of Christmas.

Get Cracking!

We hope you found our Christmas prompts and ideas article interested. Once you’ve played around with some fun festive ideas, made a note of our top author tips, and seen what kind of titles will get the attention of agents, editors and readers, you should be ready to get started on your Christmas cracker of a novel.  

There’s snow time like the (Christmas) present. Get writing and have fun! 

About the author

Natali is an author and was previously our Head of Community & Editorial Commissions. As N J Simmonds she's written the RONA shortlisted fantasy series The Indigo Chronicles, Manga comics, and is one half of paranormal romance author duo Caedis Knight. Her stories are magical, historical and full of complex women, page-turning twists and plenty of romance. As well as writing, she lectures on storytelling, marketing, and self-branding . Originally from London, she now lives with her family in the Netherlands and Spain. For more about Natali, see her Twitter , or Amazon author page .

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BEST CHRISTMAS WRITING PROMPTS

Join (probably?) the world's largest writing contest. Flex those creative muscles with weekly writing prompts.

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Overcoming obstacles with writers ink, write a story in which a character is stuck reliving their worst christmas ever, over and over again., write a story in which a cynical character gets amnesia on christmas eve., write a story about a family (biological or found) coming together for christmas., write a story about two people stringing up christmas lights together for the first time., write a story about a character obsessed with nutmeg..

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• In the form of Christmas wishlists over the years, write a story about a character growing up.

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"excuse me," someone says to you, tapping you on the shoulder. "are these your antlers you dropped them.", write a story set in a department store during the christmas sales., you volunteer at a homeless shelter. write a story about spending christmas day there., subscribe to our prompts newsletter.

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Write a story about a white elephant party that goes terribly go wrong., start your story with the sentence: "this is the story of how i became worse than the grinch.", write a story about a christmas dinner from the perspective of the family of mice that lives in the fireplace., you accidentally left cookies out on the table on christmas eve. the next morning, they're gone — and you're the only person in the house., write about a character who is returning home for christmas for the first time in a long time., write about light returning to a place that has been deprived of it for a long time, literally or figuratively., write a story about someone seeking a fresh start after a difficult year., write about a character reflecting on the previous year., begin or end your story with “well, that was dramatic.”, win $250 in our short story competition 🏆.

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The best writing prompts for Christmas

"All I Want For Christmas Is You"? Trite. "Jingle Bells"? Boring. Miracle on 34th Street? Overplayed. "Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town"? Pass!

Instead of turning to the same old holiday traditions, why not embrace the Christmas spirit by writing about it this year? From reindeer soaring in the sky to sleighs gliding on the snow, writing prompts are a fun way to celebrate the holiday season that can help invigorate the memories of students and get kids to come up with all sorts of creative ideas about everything holiday-flavored. And sharing the stories around a Christmas tree is one of those family activities that you just can’t beat.

If you’re looking to cut to the festive chase, here are ten top Christmas writing prompts:

• Every year around Christmas, Satan accidentally gets thousands of letters from children writing to Santa. This year, however, he gets a letter that makes him sit up and take notice.
• Start your story with one character making a vow they would never have made the year before.
• The turkey is on the floor. Stuffing is stuck to the ceiling. The tree has been toppled over. The presents have been singed. What happened to cause this chaotic Christmas scene?
• Write about a character who won’t (or can’t) shop for the holidays.
• Write about a character who’s stuck in a shopping mall.
• Write about Christmas Day from Rudolph's perspective.
• Write about light returning to a place deprived of it for a long time, literally or figuratively.
• "Excuse me," someone says to you, tapping you on the shoulder. "Are these your antlers? You dropped them."
• You are Santa Claus, and you're running late for work because you're stuck in the middle of a traffic jam caused by a Justice for Reindeer protest.

If you have a student who’s interested in learning how to write stories beyond the holiday season, check out our free resources on the topic:

How to Write a Short Story (free course) — Short stories are one of the greatest writing forms, and it’s never too early to learn how to write them. In this free ten-day course, Laura Mae Isaacman, a full-time editor who’s worked with authors like Joyce Carol Oates, takes students through the whole process. From coming up with story ideas to writing the story itself, Larau will cover it all for writers of every age.

Ready to start writing? Check out Reedsy’s weekly short story contest for the chance of winning $250! You can also check out our list of writing contests or our directory of literary magazines for more opportunities to submit your story.

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Christmas Writing Prompts: 95 Fun Ideas to Get You Started

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: August 31, 2022  - Last updated: December 7, 2023

Categories Creativity , Inspiration , Writing

Christmas is a time for family, friends, and fun. It’s also a great time to get creative and write new stories! If you’re looking for some inspiration, we’ve got you covered. This blog post will provide 95 Christmas writing prompts to help get you started. Whether a beginner or an experienced writer, these prompts will help you create some amazing nonfiction and fiction writing!

95 Christmas Writing Prompts

Below you’ll find various types of Christmas writing prompts to inspire various kinds of writing.

Christmas Writing Prompts for Your Journal to Spark Your Creativity!

Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your activities this year or just want to reminisce, writing your December writing prompt (or several) in a journal is a great way to capture your memories.

Writing a Christmas journal can also help you feel connected to the vacation season, even if you’re not religious.

It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and it’s hard to remember all the little things that make Christmas so special. But writing them down will help you remember them better and reflect on how much the vacation season means to you.

Here are 33 Christmas journal prompts to help you get started:

• What do you think of when you hear the word “Christmas”?
• What’s the most important thing about Christmas?
• What’s your favorite part of Christmas?
• What do you like about Christmas Eve?
• Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts? And why?
• What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever received?
• What’s the worst Christmas present you’ve ever received?
• What bugs you every year when the Christmas season comes around again (a song that gets played too often on the radio, a movie that gets shown too often on TV, etc.)? Does that feeling change depending on whether you have a gift or not?
• What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve ever given someone for Christmas?
• Write about an experience where you realized Santa wasn’t real or where someone else knew he wasn’t real while you didn’t yet know.
• How do you like to decorate for Christmas?
• What do you like best about Christmas dinner?
• Who’s your favorite person to go shopping with during the holidays?
• What’s your favorite Christmas song? And why? What’re the lyrics about?
• What do you feel when you hear “Jingle Bells”?
• What’s your favorite memory of the holidays?
• Do you remember a funny or embarrassing gift given to someone in your family sometime during the holidays? What was it, and how did they react when they unwrapped it on Christmas Day (or the vacation they celebrated)?
• Have you ever had a white Christmas? If so, what was it like?
• How many Christmases can you remember from your childhood? What’s your favorite memory of Christmas in your childhood home?
• Do you’ve any traditions that are typical of your family or culture?
• Do you think you should spend Christmas with your family or friends?
• If you could only celebrate Christmas with 5 people, who’d they be and why?
• What would be different if there was no Christmas or Halloween (or any other vacation)?
• If everything were possible, what would be your ideal Christmas day?
• How will you celebrate this year?
• Who’s your favorite person to spend time with during the holidays? And why?
• What’s your favorite thing to cook/bake on the holidays?
• If you could spend Christmas with anyone in history, who’d it be and why?
• What’s your favorite winter activity (other than skiing or skating)?
• Do you’ve any traditions or superstitions related to Christmas?
• If you could give your best friend anything for Christmas, what would you give them?
• If you could give one gift to everyone in the world, what would it be?
• If you were Santa Claus, how would you make Christmas morning special for children worldwide?

Creative Writing Prompt Suggestions for a Christmas Story

If you don’t know what story to write, start with a simple idea and then develop it as you go.

Here are 22 Christmas creative writing prompt suggestions that can help you improve your creative writing skills and develop new ideas:

• Describe your first Christmas memory
• Write a story about trying to find the perfect gift for someone you love.
• Write about a Christmas family tradition you’d like to keep but can’t.
• Write about the funniest thing that happened to you this year.
• Write about someone who’s always late, but for some reason, you don’t mind at all if they’re late for Christmas dinner with your family this year.
• Write about how long it’s been since you’ve seen some of your closest friends or family members at Christmas (for example, if they live abroad or have moved away).
• Write about what it would be like if Father Christmas existed and came to visit you on Christmas Eve this year!
• Write a short poem describing how you feel about the holidays.
• Write about your favorite Christmas movie or book and what it means to you personally as an adult, as opposed to when you were younger.
• Describe your favorite Christmas character. And why.
• Write about a Christmas miracle (real or imagined) that happened to you or someone you know.
• Write about what happened when Santa Claus tried to deliver the presents on Christmas Eve last year… But somehow failed? Or was he successful? You decide!
• Write a list of things you’re thankful for this year, including people and important things (like your family, pets, friends, and school).
• Describe the best Christmas tree and Christmas lights you’ve ever seen
• Write about something that could replace a Christmas tree. Why would it be a good substitute? Would you decorate it? And how?
• Invent a Christmas tradition you’d like to start this year with your family or friends! What’ll it be? Who’ll do it? Why? How often will it take place? What’s planned for next year?
• Describe your favorite Christmas smell (candles, cinnamon buns).
• Write about the magic of Christmas.
• Describe a Christmas in winter
• Describe a Christmas in summer
• Write a story about a family trying to save money at Christmas
• Write about how Santa Claus (Father Christmas) gets stuck in your chimney, and you must help him.

25 Christmas Writing Prompts About History and Culture

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, filled with delicious food, family and friends, and presents. But there are also many interesting facts about Christmas, such as how it spread to different parts of the world and how it’s celebrated today.

Here are 25 Christmas writing prompts to help you learn more about the history and culture of Christmas.

• In what year was Christmas recognized as a national vacation in the United States?
• What’s the history of St. Nicholas Day, and what does it have to do with Christmas?
• Write a Christmas story about the first Christmas tree, inspired by the story of Christ’s birth in the Bible.
• Write a short story about what happened on the night of Jesus’s birth.
• What do other religions have in common with Christmas?
• Write about what it was like to celebrate Christmas in the 17th century.
• How did art reflect what was happening in the world at that time?
• What do you think Santa Claus would have looked like in ancient times?
• How has Christmas decoration and Christmas spirit changed over time?
• Compare and contrast how people celebrated Christmas in different countries and at different times.
• What do you think people will be doing at Christmas 20 years from now? In 50 years? In 100 years?
• What do you like best about caroling? And why?
• Is there anything else in the world that makes people believe in magic, like Santa Claus?
• Describe what it was like to grow up in another country or culture where Christmas isn’t celebrated today – what’s celebrated there instead and why?
• When did Santa Claus become popular in Western culture?
• What’s the story behind Santa’s red suit?
• Who decided that children should get toys for Christmas and why?
• Why isn’t Thanksgiving celebrated everywhere Christmas is celebrated?
• What’re the 5 best Christmas books in the world?
• What’re the 5 best Christmas movies in the world?
• Which artists were born on Christmas Day?
• Which politicians were born on Christmas Day?
• What’s the most famous Christmas carol in the USA, and why?
• What’s the story of the Nutcracker (Christmas time ballet)?
• Where in the world is the longest Christmas holiday, and why?

Christmas Card Writing Ideas

Christmas cards are an important part of the vacation season. Whether you’re sending a card to a friend or family member, it’s a great way to stay in touch and ensure they know you’re thinking of them.

You can write whatever you want in your Christmas card, but there are a few things that people will always appreciate. Here are 15 examples of phrases for your Christmas wishes:

• Merry Christmas! I hope you’re ready for a wonderful vacation season!
• It’s hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us! We can’t wait to see our friends and family this year.
• Happy holidays from our family to yours! We hope you have a wonderful time with your loved ones this year!
• We wish you all the best this vacation season! May your heart always be filled with love and peace!
• We wish you a wonderful vacation season! We look forward to seeing you again soon!
• We wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas full of love and happiness this year!
• Merry Christmas to you and yours! We hope your holidays this year are full of love, laughter, and joy – just like whenever we’re together!
• We wish you nothing but the best this vacation season! May your heart always be filled with love and peace!
• We also wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season on behalf of our family!
• I’m so thankful for our friendship, and I hope you know how much that means to me.
• Merry Christmas to you and your family! We hope your holidays this year are full of love, laughter, and joy – as always when we’re together!
• I hope your holiday season is full of joy, love, and happiness!
• This year has been amazing. Thank you so much for being in my life!
• Thanks again for everything this year. Have a great vacation season!
• May you get everything on your list this year!

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57 Christmas Writing Prompts

Another Christmas has come! This year we are using Christmas writing prompts to countdown the days until Christmas. Not only are our Christmas writing prompts fun, but they will also encourage your child to do a bit of writing each day. I know writing is not the same as getting chocolates each day, but it is more special, especially If your child loves writing. If your child dislikes writing, don’t worry! They will still find each writing prompt fun to read and who knows with a little encouragement they might even write a few words! You could even use these wonderful Christmas pictures for kids to inspire your child to write!

Christmas Writing Prompts Advent Calendar

If you enjoyed this advent calendar, check out our other advent calendars, such as 24 days of Christmas poems and 24 days of Christmas quotes from storybooks ! And our newest 2020 advent calendar for daily December journal prompt ideas .

List Of Christmas Writing Prompts

If you’re having technical issues with our advent calendar above, then here is a list of all the Christmas writing prompts included. We also added a couple of bonus prompts to give you more inspiration this holiday season.

• You wake up to the sweet sound of a Christmas elf singing. (You might find this cute Christmas elf name generator useful for naming your elves)
• In a rush, Santa forgot about one special present.
• Knock knock, open up! There’s a Grinch at your door.
• Santa’s given up and given his job to you for a whole year.
• Instead of coal, Santa turns you into a reindeer for being naughty.
• Oh No! My hand is melting. I’m a snowman!
• A weird and strange-shaped present was hidden in your garage.
• Hear the jingle, hear the jangle, Christmas trees dance tonight.
• A kid with a white beard, what’s happening to me?
• Anger and frustration at Santa’s workshop, as Christmas elves start quitting their jobs.
• You receive a knitted jumper for Christmas, but this is no ordinary jumper.
• Christmas lights show Santa the way, and keep the Grinch away!
• The secret ingredient to Santa cookies is shaping them like Santa or else…
• I wake up and instead of snow, I see candy canes everywhere.
• You bake a gingerbread man and it comes to life!
• The Grinch steals Santa’s sleigh. How will Santa deliver presents?
• The Christmas tree thought to itself, “I sure look pretty tonight! But what will happen to me when Christmas is over?”
• It is the year 2020, and Christmas has been banned all over the world!
• Santa’s such a cool guy! I wonder what he wants for Christmas? (See this post on how to write a letter to Santa for more inspiration,)
• The funniest thing happened last night – Santa got stuck in the chimney!
• All the Christmas elves cheered for Santa as he left, apart from one jealous little elf.
• Grandma always said this snow globe was magic, so I shook it to see…
• There once was a cow who wanted to be one of Santa’s reindeer.
• The star at the top of the tree started glowing and shaking. A big flash and we were gone…
• Plan the best Christmas dinner party ever. What food will you serve? Think about the decorations and the entertainment.
• Write a day in the life story of a Christmas elf working in Santa’s workshop, the day before Christmas.
• What was the best present you ever got for Christmas, and why?
• What is the true meaning of Christmas? Think about why people celebrate Christmas every year.
• Write your own Christmas carol (or song) about families coming together at Christmas time.
• Create your own Christmas cards for each of your friends. Remember to include a lovely message inside!
• What is the most important thing you do on Christmas day?
• What would the perfect Christmas day look like to you? Explain this day in great detail.
• Write down at least three things you love about Christmas. Now write down a list of three things you hate about Christmas.
• What is your favourite movie to watch during the Christmas holidays, and why?
• If you could buy Santa Claus one gift, what would it be and why?
• Make a list of at least ten ways that you can help someone else this Christmas holiday.
• How did your parents or grandparents celebrate Christmas when they were younger? How is it different from how you celebrate Christmas now?
• You find a magical snow globe. The first time you shake this snow globe, a Christmas elf appears. The elf grants you one wish. What would you wish for and why?
• Imagine you are an elf at Santa’s workshop. Santa has given you the special task of designing your own Christmas toy. Draw a picture of this new toy, and provide a description of it.
• Make a list of your top five favourite Christmas songs.
• One of your close friends is really sick, and they have to spend Christmas in a hospital. How can you make sure they have the best Christmas ever?
• Write a Christmas story about an ornament passed down through your family for generations.
• Write about the worst Christmas ever. This can be a fictional story or based on true events.
• Make a list of at least five DIY Christmas gifts you can make at home.
• Write a story about a robin who needs to find the perfect Christmas present for their best friend, the crow.
• You receive a Christmas present from a secret Santa. You make it your quest to find out who this person is.
• A horrible villainous character wants to make amends this Christmas. Write about their journey, and if they are successful at making amends.
• Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer gets stuck in your chimney, and Santa is nowhere to be seen. Continue this story.
• A Christmas card arrives from the future in your mailbox. It tells you to go to the mall fountain at midnight. Continue this story.
• Your next-door neighbour is alone on Christmas day. What can you do to help them?
• Make a list of at least five fun activities you can do on Christmas day.
• Make a list of your top five Christmas foods.
• Write a story about a character who is trying to plan the perfect Christmas dinner for their family, but things keep going wrong.
• Think about how Christmas is celebrated in other cultures and countries. Pick at least three different cultures, and write about Christmas day for each.
• Design your own gingerbread house. What kind of house would it be? What kind of decorations would you add?
• How can you help the less fortunate this Christmas? Make a list of at least 10 ways you can help them.
• Complete this sentence in three different ways: Christmas is all about…

For more ideas take a look at this list of Christmas story ideas . You might also want to view this Christmas book title generator for further inspiration for your festive tales.

What do you think of our Christmas writing prompts and advent calendar? Let us know in the comments below.

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Betty’s Christmas House

40 christmas story ideas & prompts.

Christmas stories are fun to read and write! They bring the magic of Christmas into stories for kids and adults. Writing a Christmas story can make the reader believe in a world of snow, elves, and flying reindeer. Writing these stories lets you use your imagination and create Christmas adventure ideas to celebrate the holiday season in a special way.

40 Christmas Story Starters and Christmas Prompts

Magical christmas adventures.

• A secret door in a snow globe that leads to Santa Claus’ workshop.
• A reindeer who is learning to fly.
• An elf who goes on a mission to find the perfect Christmas tree.
• A magical sleigh ride around the world in one night.
• A snowman who comes to life and becomes a best friend.
• Discovering a hidden village of gingerbread people.
• A Christmas star that grants wishes.
• A talking Christmas tree with a special message.
• Finding Santa Claus’ lost bag of presents.
• A toy soldier’s journey to become a real hero.

Christmas Mysteries

• Who is leaving secret gifts every night?
• The mystery of the disappearing cookies.
• Finding out who saved Christmas from a big snowstorm.
• The case of the missing Christmas lights.
• Solving the puzzle of the magical advent calendar.
• The secret behind Santa’s never-ending bag of gifts.
• The hunt for the hidden Christmas treasure.
• Uncovering the legend of the Christmas ghost.
• Solving the riddle of the singing Christmas tree.
• The mystery of the elf who forgot his magic.

Heartwarming Christmas Tales

• A family reuniting for Christmas after many years.
• The story of a lost puppy finding a home on Christmas Eve.
• A snowman helping a child find their Christmas spirit.
• A Christmas feast shared with unexpected guests.
• Making new friends during a Christmas snowball fight.
• A child’s first Christmas day experience.
• The joy of giving and sharing during Christmas.
• A lonely snowflake finds its perfect place on a Christmas tree.
• A family is creating new Christmas day traditions.
• The warmth of a Christmas hug.

Funny Christmas Escapades

• Santa Claus accidentally mixes up his naughty and nice list.
• Santa’s Elves are on a silly mission to find the best Christmas joke.
• A Christmas pudding that makes everyone dance at a Christmas party.
• Reindeer playing pranks on each other.
• A cat and dog’s adventure on Christmas Eve.
• The day the Christmas tree decided to explore the house.
• A snowball fight that turns into a laugh-filled adventure.
• A Christmas sweater that sings out of tune.
• A gingerbread man’s race to escape being eaten.
• The misadventures of a clumsy snow angel.

Tips for Writing Christmas Stories

Use simple language.

When writing Christmas stories, especially for children, use simple and easy-to-understand language. This helps young readers to follow the story easily and enjoy it more. You don’t need complicated words to make a story interesting. Simple language can often tell the most heartwarming stories. Remember, your aim is to convey the magic and joy of the Christmas holidays, so the clearer your story, the better it will be received.

Be Imaginative

Christmas is a time of wonder and magic, so let your imagination run wild! Think about magical snowflakes, talking animals, and adventures in the North Pole. Your story could involve a journey to Santa’s workshop or a magical Christmas tree forest. The more creative and imaginative your story, the more engaging it will be. Don’t be afraid to create something new or mix different magical elements to craft a unique Christmas tale.

Include Fun Characters

Characters are the heart of any story, and Christmas stories are no exception. Include fun and memorable characters like playful elves, talking reindeer, or even a kind-hearted snowman. Each character should have its own personality and role in the story. Think about how these characters interact with each other and how they contribute to the Christmas spirit in your story.

Spread Joy and Kindness

Christmas stories should convey messages of joy, kindness, and generosity. Your story could show characters helping others, sharing with those in need, or learning the importance of kindness. These themes resonate strongly during the Christmas season and can leave a lasting impression on your readers, encouraging them to spread joy and kindness in their own lives.

Create a Cozy Setting

The setting of your Christmas story plays a crucial role in creating the right atmosphere. Descriptions of snowy landscapes, cozy fireplaces, and festive decorations can instantly transport readers into a Christmas wonderland. Whether your story is set in a quaint village, a bustling city during Christmas, or a magical realm, vivid and detailed descriptions of the setting can enhance the overall experience of your story.

Add a Little Mystery or Challenge

Introducing a problem or challenge in your story can make it more engaging. This could be a mystery like who’s leaving secret gifts or a challenge like finding the perfect Christmas tree. These elements keep readers hooked and make them eager to find out what happens next. The resolution of these mysteries or challenges often brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, reinforcing the magic of Christmas.

Seek a Story Helper

If you’re finding it challenging to put your Christmas story ideas into words, consider getting help from professional writers . These writers are skilled in crafting stories and can help bring your vision to life. They can offer advice on structure, character development, and even help with editing and polishing your story. Getting professional assistance can be especially helpful if you’re aiming for a more polished or sophisticated final product. Remember, there’s no shame in seeking help to ensure your Christmas story is as magical and engaging as possible.

End with a Happy or Heartwarming Message

Christmas stories are known for their happy endings and heartwarming messages. Ensure your story concludes on a positive note, leaving readers with a feeling of warmth and joy. The ending could emphasize the importance of family, the joy of giving, or the magic of believing. A good Christmas story not only entertains but also inspires and uplifts the spirit of its readers.

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BRYN DONOVAN

tell your stories, love your life

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25 Christmas Writing Prompts For Holiday Inspiration

One of my readers requested this post! I was happy to do it, because winter and the holidays bring great inspiration to me. These could be used for fiction, journaling, or just about any other creative writing. And I’m keeping them G-rated in case any teachers want to use them for their students! (And if you are a teacher, check out my 50 Story Ideas for Kids , too!)

But these prompts work just as well for adults. If you’ve had a busy autumn or a tumultuous year, but you have a Christmas break, that’s a great time to get back into a writing habit again. Although these are fiction prompts, some of them could be adapted to autobiographical prompts for essays, journaling, or memoir writing as well.

• Two people who are secretly romantically interested in one another. They agree to share Christmas dinner together, just as friends, because a family holiday isn’t going to happen and all of their other friends are already busy.
• Someone doesn’t have anyone to spend Christmas with.
• A person is on a difficult quest to find or make a particular gift for someone else.
• A Christmas card arrives in the mail fifty years after it was delivered.
• The Christmas ornament is supposedly enchanted.
• Someone has just became fabulously wealthy and is picking out gifts for their family.
• Someone is transported to a Christmas in a past century.
• To impress her, he learns all of the words to her favorite Christmas carol. And he doesn’t even like carols. Or Christmas. Or singing.
• Someone embarrasses herself at a Christmas party.
• Write a scene inspired by the image of a boat decked out in Christmas lights.
• Notes and gifts from a “Secret Santa” take a strange turn.
• After the blizzard hits, they’re stuck together for a while, and they have to stay warm.
• A single person reacts to getting Christmas cards from married couples with pictures of them with their smiling children.
• Two strangers wind up participating in a holiday activity together.
• Someone has been cutting down and stealing trees from the Christmas tree farm.
• Someone resorts to desperate measures to get home for Christmas.
• Write about the worst present your character ever got.
• They’re putting up a Christmas tree at the hospital.
• Write about someone who’s determined to make amends at Christmas.
• Write a scene that incorporates the smells of Christmas.
• Someone receives a gift wrapped in newspaper and duct tape.
• At the castle, Christmas is very different from what she’s used to.
• He and his very pregnant wife can’t find a hotel room right before Christmas.
• Okay, he’s not Santa, but he did have a very good reason for breaking into the house.
• What’s a reindeer doing in this part of town?

I hope you enjoyed the list! If you want to get notifications of new writing posts (plus general positivity), be sure to subscribe below!

And if you want more writing prompts…like 450 pages’ worth…check out my book 5,000 Writing Prompts. It’s full of master plots in many genres, creative exercises, and more.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you’re having a great week!

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22 thoughts on “ 25 christmas writing prompts for holiday inspiration ”.

Thank you so much for this ! 😀

You’re so welcome, Olivia! Thank you for the great suggestion!

I’m almost finished with my holiday writing project for this year but I’m going to take this list and use it for something for next year. I think it would be great fun to incorporate three…or six of these into a story, maybe more!

Hi, Anne! Congratulations on being almost done with your holiday project. And I hope there are useful for the next one!

#4 worked for me well. I took the about a Christmas card arriving 50 years after it was sent and made a 2500 word short story that was printed in TJ Hannon second short story collection Tales With a Twist 2. An emotional tale about an American soldier stationed in Viet Nam, who never made it home. Thanks for the prompt. These things usually don’t work for me, but this one did

Tom, that’s so cool…I’m so glad it worked out for you!

These Christmas prompts are great fun, Bryn. Thanks. I’m sharing some with my writing class tomorrow. 🙂

Aww, I am flattered! Thank you!

These Christmas prompts would make a great prompt advent-calendar for a writer friend – next year …

Hi, there! Oh my gosh, a writing prompt advent calendar…that’s an amazing idea. 🙂

Thank you, I once upon a time did that for said friend … But I had to choose small prompts as I glued 24 tiny envelopes with those prompts on a sheet of cardboard. It was received with great joy!

Thanks for the holiday writing prompts, Bryn. I’ve shared your post on my blog for Write it Wednesday .

Aw, thank you, friend! Thanks for sharing!

These are so fun! You always have the best prompts.

Aww thank you. 🙂 Hey, I can’t wait to see you!

Thank you so much for these, Bryn!! They got me into the Christmas spirit (a bit), despite the fact that my 7-month old puppy died yesterday. Speaking of disheartening things, could you please make a list of writing prompts about potentially upsetting/unwanted things? I would especially be very grateful if you could throw in a few fantasy/mythology because that is my genre and I really love your creative prompts!! Merry Christmas, Alyssa

Oh Alyssa! I am so sorry about your puppy! I know how much pets mean, and that’s so sad. I wish I could give you a hug. Take really good care of yourself, okay?

That is a great idea for a list. I’ll do it! Honestly, we’ve had a few upsetting things happen to us recently, so I’ll be inspired. 😀 But yes, I’ll try to remember to include some fantasy ones. Thank you for the suggestion!

Gosh…these are great and I love your posts..A prompt that may work for someone…. Holiday Tonic For The Soul supplies us with rejuvenated love and tranquil happiness. It is by far the most embraced and fulfilling holiday we celebrate. From the birth of our Savior, to hoping for a white one we create the tonic of our own personal joy….

Merry Christmas, Bryn…

I love this this is the best thing ever even though I am only 12 I have already worten 191 pages of a book because of these writing prompts I hope I get an A

On the evening of the 23rd The extended family is gathered and the patriarch and one of the younger children disappear. It is none the things that everyone fears.

5 stars. this was so helpful. all the other websites with similar title have cheesy and childlike ideas but this page has mystery and funny and pretty story prompts that i will definitely be using. thank you so much

Hey there! I’m so glad this was helpful 🙂 Happy holidays and happy writing!

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15 Printable Christmas Writing Prompts for Kids

Today I’m thrilled to post a brand new set of 15 story starters / writing prompts just for Christmas! You can use these as writing worksheets and have your students complete their creative writing exercise right on the page. Alternatively, if your students need more room, simply give them the prompt orally or on the chalkboard and give them a time limit or paragraph limit (write 3 paragraphs). If you have children who don’t celebrate Christmas in your classroom, please check out our winter writing prompts , which will ensure the whole classroom can participate and feel included in this writing lesson.

Download  290+ pages of Christmas activities  all at once here and get our  Christmas Activity Book  for FREE!

Check out all of our writing prompts for kids while you are here!

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Founder and CEO of Woo! Jr. Kids Activities, Wendy loves creating crafts, activities and printables that help teachers educate and give parents creative ways to spend time with their children.

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26 Christmas Writing Prompts for Kids (free printable)

Posted on Last updated: December 1, 2021

It’s Christmas time, one of my favorite holidays! Get creative this Christmas season with fun Christmas themed writing prompts. Use these holiday writing prompts for daily journal writing or as fun ideas for creative writing. Kids of all ages can use these prompts and story starters. Younger children can dictate their stories and older children can write them on their own.

December writing prompts are a great way to reflect a little bit, brainstorm creative writing ideas, and get into the Christmas spirit during the month of December.

It is also ok to use these prompt ideas after Winter break. The Christmas memories are still fresh and kids can reflect on their fun holiday.

Christmas Journal Prompts

These journal prompts work well for a daily question or reflection for kids. It gets them thinking and allows them the opportunity to put their thoughts and ideas onto paper.

Allowing the chance to share their answers is important! Not necessarily to evaluate the actual writing, but to share and build relationships with each other. This is worth the time and builds a strong learning community.

• Is your Christmas tree a real tree or fake tree? Describe it. Does it have white lights or colored lights? What do you have on the top of the tree?
• What Christmas present is on your Christmas wish list? Why?
• How would you take down the abominable snowman?
• What is your favorite present you’ve ever received.
• Tell us about one of your favorite Christmas traditions.
• What is your favorite Christmas movie? Why?
• Which family member is on the nice list this year? Why?
• What is the first thing you do on Christmas morning? What happens after that?
• How do you think Santa Claus doesn’t get tired during the holiday season?
• What is your favorite Christmas book? Why?
• Design the front of a Christmas card. What would the inside say?
• What is your favorite Christmas carol to sing? What is your favorite line from it? Why?
• Describe your best Christmas memory?
• What kind of gift do you think the whole world needs right now?
• Tell us about your favorite thing about Christmas Eve?
• What three types of candy would you need to make the perfect Gingerbread house for you?
• Which family traditions do you look forward to the most?
• What do people mean when they refer to holiday spirit?

Creating Writing Prompts

These prompts spark creative writing. If you are working with younger children it is ok for them to dictate their story to you as you write it for them. That puts the focus on the ideas, details, and the creative story instead of the mechanics of writing. Don’t get me wrong, being creative and getting the ideas on paper and using proper sentence structure and spelling are BOTH important!

• You have just met two of Santa’s elves. They have a big problem. What is it and how will you help them?
• What does Christmas cheer mean to you?
• Describe what the entrance to the North Pole looks like. What does it sound like? Smell like?
• Out of all of the possible Christmas gifts, I had no idea what to say when my mom gave me…..
• To make this the perfect Christmas Day, all I needed was a little bit of magic. 

Christmas Writing Activities

You will have such a fun time with this group Christmas writing activity. With a group of people, start a Christmas story. Each person writes one or two sentences at a time and then passes it to the next person. Here are a few story starters that you can use for the perfect start to your short story.

• It was a silent night, until I heard…..
• We started with family time on the frozen lake ice skating together. We thought we heard jingle bells, but what we actually heard was….
• It’s was New Year’s Eve. We were counting down to midnight. 5, 4, 3, 2, and then……

Fun Ways to Use the Journal Prompt Ideas

• Pick and choose your favorites and assign each one on a certain day.
• Make a paper chain that counts down to Christmas. On each piece of the chain, write the creative writing prompts. Write about that’s days piece of the chain.
• Write each prompt on a piece of paper. Fold them up and put them in the jar. Each day, have a different student pick out the journal prompt for that day.
• Make a 12 Days of Christmas Writing Challenge. Pick your favorite twelve ideas. Write them on a numbered list. Each day, have a student roll two dice. Whatever number they roll is what the class writes about that day.

Download and Print the FREE Christmas Writing Prompts

Enjoy these free Christmas writing prompts as you count down the days until the holiday break.

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16+ Christmas Writing Prompts & Activities for Kids to Add a Jolly Twist to Your Writing Centers

Written by Natalie

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the perfect time season to break out your best Christmas writing prompts and activities! With the impending winter season and list of holidays to celebrate in December, there are plenty of topics for your students to write about, but maybe you need a few specific ideas to break that writer’s block?

The teacher team at Teach Starter has compiled some ready-to-use Christmas writing prompts and writing activities for your students to enjoy and expand their writing skills. Keep reading for Christmas writing prompts, personification writing ideas, how-to descriptive writing prompts, would you rather ideas and more Christmas writing activities for kids.

Christmas Writing Activities for Kids

Write a letter to community members.

Giving to others is the spirit of the season, so why not give the gift of a kind word with a writing activity that spreads holiday cheer?

Have your students use a writing template to write a kind letter to a veteran or someone who lives in your local nursing home? Many people in the community may not have close family members to spend time with or hear from, and a student-written letter can bring warm holiday cheer. Not only does this give students an opportunity to practice their letter writing, but it also serves as a lesson in thinking of others.

Write About the Change in Seasons

It may be Christmas time, but that’s not the only big day on the calendar. The first day of winter is smack dab in the middle of December, and it offers up perfect writing prompts!

For example, you can have your students write about how the weather changes from fall to winter in your area. What happens to the trees? How different is the temperature? Supplement this activity with a sketch of the changes they notice.

Write a Letter to the Grinch

Everyone thinks to write a letter to Santa, but what about the green furry creature we call the Grinch? California second-grade teacher Anna Demeritt shared that she had her students write letters to the Grinch explaining why they loved Christmas and why the Grinch’s heart should change about the time of year. 

Each letter was accompanied by a Grinch drawing. Compile all the letters together into a cute bulletin board display!

Photo courtesy of California second-grade teacher Anna Demeritt

Write a Letter to Santa … And Get One Back!

We know, we know, it’s not the most creative Christmas writing activity. Then again, this oldie is still a goodie! Writing a letter to Santa is even more fun when you can get a letter back from the big guy (with a little help from the elves at the United States Post Office, of course).

Here’s how it works:

• Write a personalized response to your students’ letters and sign it from Santa.
• Insert both letters into an envelope and address it to your classroom — so Santa knows where to send his replies.
• Send off to the USPS.
• Wait for your special letter to your class to come back with an official North Pole postmark!

To find out how to get letters back to your students, visit the United States Post Office .

Give Santa a Vacation

Everyone deserves some rest and relaxation, including Santa! Fourth and fifth-grade teacher Mrs. J of Canada had her students design a vacation for Santa, describing where he should go and what he should do while he’s there.

This student had a creative response saying Santa should go to the moon and float, play hide and seek, play video games, do some math and yoga!

Photo courtesy of fourth and fifth-grade teacher Mrs. J of Alberta, Canada

Create North Pole Postcards

If you’re teaching older students who have moved beyond the “letter to Santa” stage, why not have your class write postcards from the North Pole, incorporating some of the things they have learned in science class about the Earth’s northernmost point, such as climate, animal life and landscape.

These postcards also make a quick and easy alternative to Christmas cards.

Roll to Create a Holiday Story

Put a Christmas twist on writing center activities before winter break with this hands-on Roll to Create a Holiday Story writing activity that uses a die and a chart to provide students with story elements they then put into their narrative writing.

How to use this resource:

• Students roll a die and identify the corresponding story element on the chart.
• Each story element is recorded at the bottom of the sheet.
• Once students have “rolled” the characters, setting, and problem for their story, they can begin to write their narrative.

Write About Learning Something New

Encourage your students to think about what they know about winter and holiday celebrations around the world. Have they ever experienced the holiday season in a different country? Is there a holiday, tradition or celebration they’d like to know more about? Some of your students’ responses may just inspire a new lesson in the classroom this winter!

Practice Writing Thank You Cards

‘Tis the season to practice gratitude, and with the holidays upon us, many of your students will be giving and receiving gifts. You can’t make anyone send thank you notes (sigh), but you can practice letter writing in the classroom by writing thank you notes to school staff members to brighten their holidays.

Encourage your students to say thank you to the custodian who keeps the classroom in tip-top shape, the cafeteria staff who keep them in cartons of milk, or perhaps to the teacher’s aide who helps out in your classroom.

Not only is this a good way to practice their letter-writing skills, but it’s a good social-emotional lesson on gratitude too.

Select Random Holiday Words and Write About Them

We’re kind of partial to our free spin wheel  widget for the classroom . It has soooo many possibilities in the classroom. One creative writing idea for Christmas? Add a few holiday words, spin the wheel, and ue it as a Christmas writing prompt!

You can direct students to write as much as they can in five minutes about the holiday word. You can also make this activity more inclusive by using winter words like these in place of the Christmas words.

Write a Holiday How To

This expository writing activity puts a holiday twist on “how to” writing as your students practice writing instructions on decorating the holiday tree.

Here are some of our teacher team’s favorite “how to” Christmas writing prompts:

• How do you build a snowman?
• How do you decorate a Christmas tree ?
• How do you bake gingerbread cookies?
• How do you build a snow fort?
• How do you create a snow angel?
• How do you decorate a gingerbread house ?
• How do you take care of Santa’s reindeer?

Use Would You Rather Questions as Writing Prompts

Would you rather questions make excellent writing prompts! Provide students with challenging Christmas would you rather questions , and require them to use facts to back up their persuasive paragraph.

Use Holiday Finger Puppets

How cute are these holiday finger puppets ? Using puppets in the classroom is great for language-building and can be used to reinforce the concepts of prepositions in your centers for younger learners. For example, a child can move their puppet “under” the table, and their classmates have to use the right words (the gingerbread is “under”).

These puppets include a/an:

• Christmas Tree
• Santa Claus
• Gingerbread Man

• Encourage students to choose a few of the finger puppets and write a script for a puppet show they can perform for the class.
• Have students choose their favorite 2–3 finger puppets and write a story using them as characters.
• Have students complete a character description for their favorite puppet.

Use a Christmas Scene

Why not use this winter Christmas image   and task cards set to spark some great imaginative writing? The Santa-themed image comes with more than a dozen different prompts to help kids practice their inferencing skills. But you can take it a step further!

Here are some writing prompts that you can use:

• Have your students practice writing dialogue by writing a conversation Santa and the elf might be having.
• Have your students practice their descriptive language by writing sentences about the scene.
• Have your students write a narrative text explaining who is in the sleigh outside the window if Santa is inside.
• Have your students write about the events leading up to the scene in the picture.

Utilize Your Elf on the Shelf

Many teachers are using the Elf On a Shelf in the classroom these days. Why not use this to your advantage and get the cheeky elf to write a message on the whiteboard that requires the children to write a letter back?

For more hints and tips, check out these cool  Elf on the Shelf Ideas for the Classroom .

Make Holiday Cards

Making holiday cards is a writing activity and a craft activity all in one, and these glittery tree cards are always a hit with students.

• Green glittery paper
• Colored construction paper or cardstock
• Pipe cleaners
• Thin ribbon
• Glue or adhesive tape

Instructions

• To make the strips for the tree, cut out strips so that the height of the strip is half of the width, getting larger as you go (our card uses 1-in x 0.5-in,  2-in x 1-in, 3-in x 1.5-in, 3.5-in x 2-in, and 4-in x 2-in)
• Fold each strip so the top outer corners meet in the middle at the bottom.
• Starting at the top, glue each tree triangle to your card so that the folds are facing up, slightly overlapping each piece as you go.
• Top your tree with the yellow star, and paste your brown paper tree trunk at the bottom.
• Twist together the pipe cleaners and cut them in half. Attach one strip to the top of the card and one to the bottom.

Voila! You have a beautiful, shiny holiday card ready for students to fill out with a written message.

More Christmas Writing Prompts for Kids

Do you need a few more ideas to keep the holiday festivities flowing in your writing classes? Get those little elves thinking creatively with some of these Christmas writing prompt ideas:

• Write from the point of view of one of Santa’s elves. What does your day look like? Which toys did you make?
• Write a persuasive letter to Santa describing why you’d be a great elf at the North Pole building toys.
• Write a poem about the Christmas season. Describe the smells, the decorations, the feelings…
• Write some ways you can be generous during the holiday season. In your school? In your community?
• Is it better to give presents or receive them?
• Describe what Christmas morning looks like at your house.
• Describe your ideal Christmas dinner. What are you eating and who would you invite?
• What do you think about stores displaying Christmas items so early? Is it too early? Do you like it?
• Write about a day in the life of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
• Write from the perspective of Mrs. Claus. What’s it like being the wife of one of the most famous men on earth?
• Which reindeer from Santa’s team would you want to be and why?
• It’s your turn to be the chef! What would you like to cook for Christmas dinner this year?
• Do you think Christmas should be more than once a year? Why or why not?
• If you could invent a new Christmas tradition, what would it be?
• If you could live inside a gingerbread house, which candies would make up your dwelling?
• Which character from The Nutcracker would you like to play and why?
• How would you spend your time if you were snowed inside for a whole day?
• Oh no! Santa is stuck in your chimney! Write a plan of action to help him get out.
• If you could visit any country at Christmas time , where would you go and why?
• What is a special Christmas tradition you do with your family?
• What does the spirit of Christmas mean to you?
• What is your favorite Christmas movie and why?
• What do you think Santa Claus wants for Christmas? Write a list of items you think he’d appreciate.
• What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? How about the best give you’ve ever given someone?

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10 Perfect Writing Prompts For Christmas

It does not matter if you love or loathe the Christmas holidays. Either way, they present wonderful opportunities for writers. We’ve included 10 perfect prompts for Christmas to kick-start your writing.

Think about it. There is so much to use as fodder for a book, including family angst, holiday traditions, and religious rituals. The heightened emotions of the season are perfect for exploring emotions like happiness , anger , loss, love , and jealousy.

Eavesdropping is recommended. And it is a feast for the senses . Writing about the food and the seasons is a gift for storytellers.

Here are 10 Christmas-themed prompts to get you started:

• Write a story about an outsider who spends Christmas with your family. Describe it through their eyes.
• Write about an annoying Christmas tradition that your family will not abandon. Why is it so important to them?
• Describe a Christmas ritual from the viewpoint of a child. Examples: wrapping gifts, carving the turkey, decorating the tree.
• Write about a character who is spending their first Christmas without a spouse or lover.
• Write about your favourite Christmas foods.
• Write about spending Christmas in a different hemisphere. Imagine how different your rituals would be if you celebrated in summer or winter. Think about the colours , smells , tastes , and sounds .
• Write about Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
• Write about Christmas Eve from the viewpoint of a pet.
• Write about a character who is carefully following a family recipe for a Christmas dish.
• Write a letter to Father Christmas.

Happy Holidays and Happy Writing!

Create a writing habit with: Hooked On Writing: 31 Days To A Writing Habit

If you enjoyed this article ,  you will love:

• Cornelia Funke’s Top 10 Tips For Writing Ghost Stories
• Practical Hacks For Planning Your Blogging Calendar
• 17 Ways To Think Like A Writer Every Day

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100 Christmas romance writing prompts

December 20, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

100 Christmas romance writing prompts await in this list, full of festive story ideas to spark tender moments and holiday love stories. The holidays offer the perfect backdrop for a little romance, whether readers are snuggling by the fire with their significant other or hoping to find love under the mistletoe this Christmas.

These story prompts range from reunited childhood sweethearts to unlikely run-ins between humbug strangers. There are ideas about friends scheming to set up singles, pretend couples forced to pose as lovers, and endless mistletoe mix-ups. The prompts provide heartwarming Hallmark movie-style inspiration alongside quirky holiday meet-cutes.

Let this list of 100 Christmas romance writing prompts help spark sweet story ideas about holiday crushes, Christmas wish list romance, and finding that special someone during the most wonderful time of the year. These festive prompts are ideal for writers looking to develop short stories, poems, or even greeting card verses celebrating true love and the magic of the Christmas season.

Use these 100 prompts as a creativity boost to spread extra holiday romance and good cheer through your writing this Christmas!

Here are 100 Christmas romance writing prompts:

• Two neighbors who have never met keep receiving each other’s mail/packages due to a mix-up. They meet while trying to return the items.
• Someone shows up on their ex’s doorstep on Christmas Eve hoping to rekindle their relationship.
• Two people get stuck in an airport overnight on Christmas Eve due to a blizzard.
• Someone returns home for Christmas to find their high school crush has moved back too.
• Two co-workers get snowed in at the office Christmas party and spend the night talking.
• Someone buys their single friend/family member a dating site profile as a Christmas gift.
• Childhood best friends realize they have feelings for one another when they reunite for the holidays.
• Two people keep running into each other in unlikely places while Christmas shopping.
• Someone finds their ex’s old love letters while decorating for Christmas and contacts them.
• Two people with holiday birthdays meet at a Christmas Eve party for singles.
• Someone falls in love with a mall Santa without realizing who they are.
• A single parent meets their child’s teacher under the mistletoe at a Christmas pageant.
• A bakery manager keeps receiving Secret Santa gifts from a mystery admirer.
• Someone is challenged to do 25 acts of kindness before Christmas and ends up helping a stranger find love.
• A person returns home to celebrate their parent’s last Christmas together and runs into an old flame.
• A person keeps finding thoughtful handmade gifts on their doorstep from an anonymous giver.
• Two widowed neighbors find comfort in each other during their first Christmas alone.
• Someone plots an intricate scavenger hunt Christmas proposal for their partner around town.
• A boss and employee admit their feelings for one another at the annual Christmas party.
• Two people play opposite love interests in a community Christmas play and romance blooms.
• Long-distance pen pals meet for the first time when one surprises the other by coming for Christmas.
• Two people fall for each other while serving meals at a soup kitchen on Christmas Day.
• Someone returns to their hometown to save the annual Christmas parade and reunites with an old crush.
• Two teachers chaperoning the Christmas school dance share a romantic dance.
• A blackout during a blizzard leads a person to take shelter with their crush next door.
• Someone proposes by hiding the ring inside an advent calendar for their partner.
• An elf entertainer at Santa’s workshop downtown sweeps a visitor off their feet.
• Two people find themselves having to share a room in a crowded inn on Christmas Eve.
• Someone tries to win their crush’s heart by finding and returning their cherished childhood teddy bear lost years ago.
• A workaholic learns the meaning of Christmas when forced to care for an abandoned dog over the holidays.
• Someone falls for the festive shopkeeper next door but struggles to learn their identity due to a Santa disguise.
• Two grumpy neighbors get into a funny feud trying to outdo each other decorating for Christmas.
• Friends scheme to set up two wallflowers at their struggling Christmas tree farm.
• The Nutcracker character comes to life when a ballerina stays late rehearsing before Christmas Eve.
• An old flame calls after seeing someone’s Christmas card and wants to meet up again.
• Two strangers get caught under the mistletoe at a holiday party.
• A frazzled mall Santa starts getting real advice letters from kids and one strikes a chord.
• Someone buys candy canes attached to mistletoe to meet strangers to kiss for charity at Christmas.
• A xylophone player on the streets catches the attention of a passerby who drops money in their case.
• A woman gets proposed to through a Christmas treasure hunt scavenger organized by her partner.
• Two neighbors bond while building massive snow creations after a big winter storm.
• Someone has a one-night stand while wearing a sexy elf costume on Christmas Eve who turns out to be their dream partner.
• A woman gets into the Christmas spirit when she meets a man at a wrapping station in a mall gift-wrapping for charity presents.
• Someone falls for a mall Santa without realizing that it’s their friend in disguise.
• Two people get handcuffed together while fighting over the last item on the shelf – only to realize they were meant to be.
• Childhood friends admit they have feelings for one another under a weather delay at an airport on Christmas Eve.
• Two introverted writers meet virtually over critiquing each other’s holiday romance novellas – only to surprise one another when they meet in real life.
• A person falls for the singing Christmas gram messenger at their office party.
• A woman entertains kids at her sister’s preschool Christmas show only to fall for a single dad in the audience.
• Two strangers are the stars in a small town’s living nativity scene.
• Someone propose by hiding clues related to their relationship history all over town ending under the Christmas tree.
• Neighbors fall for each other while one of them teaches the other how to make the perfect gingerbread house.
• Two people admit their attraction for one another while volunteering for the local coat drive.
• A woman falls for a man collecting donations outside a grocery store for families in need.
• Someone unexpectedly falls for Santa during a holiday train ride.
• Two grumpy singletons get invited to the same holiday-obssessed friend’s Christmas bash & find common ground.
• Childhood sweethearts reunite after losing touch post-high school when they discover they bought gifts for orphaned children in each other’s name for Christmas.
• Two strangers who can’t stop laughing together are mistaken for a couple under enchanted mistletoe at a holiday party.
• Someone falls for their best friend’s sibling at their family holiday gathering.
• Two people find love notes written by former owners while remodeling an old house together just before Christmas.
• Two strangers seem to keep finding themselves seated next to each other at various Christmas dinners.
• Someone falls for their handsome neighbor while watching them inflate an elaborate light display from their window.
• Two childhood best friends stranded at the airport get more comfortable with each other than ever before while trying to get home for Christmas day.
• A new guy in town needs help learning the local holiday traditions and falls for the woman who teaches them over hot cocoa.
• Someone is dared by their friends to kiss a stranger under the mistletoe which leads to putting names & numbers to familiar strangers at a holiday market.
• After years of just missing connections an anonymous Christmas secret admirer reveals themselves.
• A woman falls for the hot new Santa character during her Christmas date at the zoo’s holiday lights festival.
• Childhood pen pals reunite after 25 years and meet in person for the first time on Christmas Eve.
• Two strangers get caught under the mistletoe at an ugly Christmas sweater party.
• Two neighbors and Christmas enthusiasts start up some friendly rivalry about who can decorate their house best, but it turns into flirting & romance.
• Two people find themselves having to wear embarrassing holiday costumes while caroling together as a punishment but end up falling for each other.
• Two strangers run into each other under mistletoe several times in one day and decide it must be fate.
• An assistant helps take holiday family portraits for extra cash when sparks fly with a particular handsome stranger in a reindeer sweater.
• Two people find love notes a relative has saved written between former owners while decorating an inherited antique desk for Christmas together.
• Someone falls in love with the singing telegram performer sent by their friends as a joke during the holidays but romance blooms.
• Two people end up on an epic quest to replace a family ornament broken while decorating and fall for each other along the way.
• Two people fall for each other while standing in an endless Christmas tree lot line on Christmas Eve.
• A woman searching for her stolen wallet falls for the handsome stranger who finds and returns it on Christmas morning.
• Stuck working late on Christmas Eve, two coworkers watch the snowfall out the office window while admitting feelings for one another and sharing a gentle first kiss.
• Battling crowded stores while Christmas shopping leads two strangers to strike up a romance.
• Two holiday humbugs find common ground in their dislike of the commercialism of Christmas finding comfort in their budding relationship.
• An old rival oy shows up in town before Christmas turning an old feud into a romance.
• Two strangers get caught under mistletoe while waiting in line for a Christmas tree lighting celebration downtown.
• A mall Santa starts taking an interest in someone in the crowd who comes to see him every day during the season.
• Two people admit mutual crushes while serving together at a Christmas soup kitchen for the needy.
• Someone falls for the cute stranger with the memorable laugh while Christmas shopping at the mall.
• A person proposes by embedding an engagement ring into their partner’s favorite Christmas cookies baking project.
• A woman begins receiving thoughtful small gifts from a shy secret Christmas admirer.
• Two people fall in love while battling the holiday crowds at the airport trying to get home for Christmas.
• Bonding over shared childhood holiday disasters brings two strangers together under the mistletoe at a Christmas market.
• A person returns home to celebrate Christmas to find their high school crush has moved back too leading to romance.
• Getting caught under the mistletoe at an office party leads two long-time co-workers to realize mutual hidden romantic feelings.
• Two introverts fall for each other while hiding in the coat room as wallflowers at a huge Christmas gathering.
• Finding they are the only singles at their family holiday dinner leads two strangers seated together to hit it off instantly.
• Two grumpy neighbors find holiday romance during a massive snowstorm while working together to dig out elderly residents on their street.
• A woman proposing to her partner slips the ring onto a ribbon tied in a bow ornament atop the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.
• Stranded overnight during a Christmas blizzard at the same sold-out bed and breakfast leads two strangers to bond by the fire.
• A single dad falling in love leads to romance over hot cocoa and coincidental Christmas light walk-by viewings.
• Childhood next door neighbors find romance after not seeing each other for 20 Christmas seasons.
• Two humbug strangers hiding from holiday festivities together end up kissing under mistletoe not realizing their shared dislike of Christmas may turn into a budding holiday romance.

These 100 Christmas romance writing prompts hopefully provide some festive inspiration to spark tender love stories! Use them to write holiday-themed poems, greeting card verses, or even full novellas infused with a little extra romance and cheer.

The creativity doesn’t need to stop here either. Keep these prompts handy as a daily inspiration source to spread more Christmas joy through your writing all season long. They make great scene starters when you need a creative boost.

For all writers, may your pages overflow with Christmas charm and vivid romantic moments. When you craft that perfect holiday love story or poem with the help of these prompts, share your festive creations! Tag your work online with #ChristmasWritingPrompts so fellow writers can read your winter writing wonders too.

May these prompts assist writers in spreading magical holiday tales full of love, laughter and merry tidings through the Christmas season and always! Signing off now with dreams of sugar plum fairies dancing through fresh snowfall and even more story ideas coming to life…Happy Holidays to all, and happy writing! If you enjoyed these prompts, leave us a comment, and we have many more on our site you may enjoy. 

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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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