145+ Best Christmas Writing Prompts for Holiday Writing Fun
The holiday season brings magic and nostalgia as the world turns into a cozy winter wonderland. Twinkling lights, the smell of pine, and the warmth of a crackling fire create the perfect setting for storytelling.
For writers looking for inspiration for their next novel, short story, or screenplay, Christmas writing prompts are a great way to find endless ideas. These prompts can spark your creativity and help you push through writer’s block.
As you sit by the fire with a pen (or keyboard!) in hand, let the warmth and joy of the season fill your heart and your pages.
So, find the joy of writing during this special time, and let the magic of Christmas guide your pen to new and wonderful places.
The Big List of Christmas Writing Prompts
We’ll start with ideas for a classic Christmas story, and go on from there!
Classic Christmas Tales
These stories focus on traditional Christmas themes, such as the spirit of giving, family togetherness, and the joy of the holiday season. Picture cozy scenes with Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and big family dinners.
A teenager discovers an antique Christmas ornament in a dusty attic that magically comes to life. As it shares stories from past Christmases, it reveals a long-buried family secret that could mend a generations-old rift just in time for the holidays.
A single parent stumbles upon an old, leather-bound recipe book in a thrift store. As they bake the recipes with their children, they find the treats have magical properties, bringing joy and wonder to their struggling neighborhood.
A young child’s letter to Santa is mistakenly delivered to a lonely widow. Touched by the child’s wishes, she anonymously fulfills them, leading to a heartwarming intergenerational friendship that rejuvenates her love for the season.
A family of clockmakers has maintained the town’s historic clock tower for generations. When it breaks down on December 23rd, they must work against time, uniting the town in a race to repair it before the traditional Christmas Eve chimes.
Santa’s oldest reindeer announces his retirement, throwing the North Pole into disarray. As elves scramble to find a replacement, Santa must confront change and the meaning of tradition in this heartwarming tale of passing the torch.
A cynical teenager is forced to work as a mall elf to pay off a debt. His outlook is challenged as he encounters the hopes and dreams of children, and he rediscovers his own Christmas spirit in the process.
An elderly shopkeeper discovers that the collection of old snow globes in her antique store contains real, miniature worlds. She connects with the tiny inhabitants and finds renewed purpose and magic in her life during the holiday season.
A severe power outage throws a family’s meticulously planned Christmas into chaos. Forced to abandon their usual traditions, they go on unexpected adventures that bring them closer together and remind them of the true essence of the holiday.
A century-old Christmas tree farm, a beloved community landmark, faces closure due to encroaching developers. Led by the owner’s grandchildren, the town rallies to save this cherished piece of their holiday heritage, rediscovering the power of unity and tradition.
After a decade of silence, a prodigal son returns home for Christmas, forcing the family to confront old wounds. As they navigate tense dinners and revive old traditions, they find the power of forgiveness and the enduring bonds of family during the holiday season.
Magical Realism
Here, everyday life mixes with a bit of magic. Think of Christmas lights that come to life or a talking snowman in a small town.
In a quiet suburb, Christmas lights start to dance and move on their own, leading a curious child on a midnight adventure through the neighborhood.
A lonely diner owner’s homemade gingerbread cookies come to life, helping run the restaurant and spreading holiday cheer to patrons.
A boy builds a snowman that doesn’t melt and starts giving cryptic but helpful advice to struggling townspeople.
Every December, the town’s ancient grandfather clock runs backward, allowing residents to briefly revisit and learn from past Christmases.
During the holiday season, mirrors in an apartment building show glimpses of residents’ happiest Christmas memories, changing perspectives and rekindling joy.
A teenager inherits an old radio that picks up broadcasts from Christmases past, present, and future, offering insights that help her navigate family conflicts.
Each year, the last orange sold at the local market grants the buyer’s Christmas wish, but in unexpected ways that teach valuable lessons.
Snow in the town park forms into living sculptures, acting out scenes from the residents’ most cherished holiday traditions.
During the twelve days of Christmas, a mail carrier’s bag becomes bottomless, allowing them to deliver not just letters but exactly what each person on their route needs most.
Family Reunions
Christmas is a time for family, but it’s not always smooth sailing. These stories go into the love, conflicts, and reconciliations that happen when families gather for the holidays.
Three generations of a family gather for Christmas, but a snowstorm traps them in their cabin. With limited supplies and plenty of old grievances, they must find a way to cooperate and rediscover their bond.
Siblings who haven’t spoken in years are forced to work together to recreate their late mother’s famous Christmas dinner, uncovering old memories and healing wounds in the process.
A teenager dreads the annual family Christmas, but an unexpected power outage leads to storytelling by candlelight, revealing family history they never knew.
During their holiday gathering, a family discovers an old time capsule they buried 25 years ago, leading to reflections on how they’ve changed and grown.
Cousins who grew apart reconnect at the family Christmas party through an impromptu, hilarious talent show that becomes a new tradition.
A grandmother with early-stage dementia has moments of clarity during Christmas prep, sharing long-lost family recipes and stories that bring everyone closer.
When a long-lost relative shows up unannounced for Christmas dinner, the family grapples with forgiveness and the meaning of unconditional love.
Siblings compete to host the perfect Christmas gathering, but their rivalry leads to disaster, forcing them to come together and remember what really matters.
When bad weather cancels flights, a family must quickly plan a makeshift Christmas celebration at the airport, discovering new strengths in each other.
As they prepare for their yearly Christmas pageant, three generations of a theater-loving family confront old rivalries and find new ways to shine together.
Romantic Christmas
Love is everywhere during Christmas. Picture a couple meeting at a holiday market or rekindling their romance on a snowy Christmas getaway.
Two rival bakers compete in a Christmas cookie contest, but as they taste-test each other’s creations, they find a sweet connection.
A cynical writer is assigned to cover a small town’s Christmas festival, where a charming local shows them the magic of the season and opens their heart.
Former high school sweethearts are reunited when they’re both cast in the town’s Christmas play, reigniting old feelings as they rehearse.
A mix-up at the post office leads to two strangers exchanging Christmas cards, sparking a pen-pal romance that blossoms when they finally meet on Christmas Eve.
A workaholic executive and a free-spirited artist clash while organizing a charity Christmas gala but find themselves drawn to each other’s contrasting worldviews.
On a Christmas-themed singles cruise, two people who swore off holiday romance find themselves falling for each other despite their best efforts.
A professional gift wrapper and a last-minute shopper cross paths repeatedly at the mall during the holiday rush, their fleeting encounters growing into something more.
A scientist studying winter wildlife and a nature photographer cross paths in a remote cabin, where close quarters and holiday spirit spark an unexpected connection.
During a Christmas house swap, two people from different countries find themselves drawn to not just their temporary homes but also the friends and family of their house-swap partners.
At an ugly Christmas sweater party, two guests wearing the same hideous design are thrown together, finding laughter and love in their shared sense of humor.
A Christmas tree farmer and a city dweller seeking the perfect tree clash over traditions but uncover a growing attraction as they search the snowy forest.
Two co-workers who can’t stand each other are paired for the office Secret Santa exchange. Their attempts to find thoughtful gifts lead to a deeper understanding and budding romance.
Holiday Adventures
Take readers on a holiday trip! Whether it’s a road trip to a winter wonderland or a hunt for a lost family treasure, there’s adventure in the air.
A family’s quest to find the perfect Christmas tree leads them deep into an enchanted forest, where they must complete magical challenges to earn their ideal evergreen.
Two siblings go on a cross-country road trip to deliver their grandmother’s heirloom ornaments to scattered family members. They encounter colorful characters and unexpected detours.
A group of friends follows a series of cryptic clues left by their late mentor, leading them on a Christmas scavenger hunt across their snow-covered town.
A young chef enters a high-stakes holiday baking competition, traveling to a remote mountain resort where winter sports and rival saboteurs complicate the culinary challenges.
Two rival families race against time to find a long-lost holiday treasure rumored to be hidden somewhere in their small coastal town.
A teen stows away on Santa’s sleigh, embarking on a globe-trotting trip to help deliver presents while learning the true meaning of giving.
When a freak snowstorm strands them in an abandoned ski lodge, a scout troop must use their wilderness skills to survive and celebrate Christmas in the wild.
A time-traveling mishap sends a modern family back to a Victorian Christmas, where they must navigate old-fashioned traditions and find a way back to their own time.
When their local Christmas parade float wins a spot in a famous New Year’s Day parade, a small-town group embarks on a chaotic trip to the big city.
Two pen pals who’ve never met in person decide to surprise each other for the holidays, unknowingly crossing paths as they travel to each other’s hometowns.
Christmas Mysteries
Add some suspense to your Christmas tales. Maybe a missing gift becomes a thrilling mystery, or a stranger with a secret shakes up a small town.
A valuable ornament disappears from the town’s central tree every Christmas Eve, then reappears on Christmas night. This year, a group of kids decides to stake out the tree and catch the mysterious thief.
A renowned chef’s secret ingredient for his famous Christmas pudding goes missing, threatening a centuries-old tradition. The whole village becomes embroiled in the search.
Strange footprints in the snow lead away from a broken window at the local toy store. As the townspeople follow the trail, they uncover an unexpected Christmas miracle.
An old letter found in the attic hints at a long-lost family treasure hidden somewhere in the house. The family must decipher clues to find it before their ancestral home is sold after Christmas.
A quiet mountain town is thrown into chaos when all the Christmas trees begin to mysteriously wilt overnight. Local scientists race to solve the puzzle before the holiday is ruined.
When an antique snow globe is shattered at a Christmas market, it reveals a hidden map. Solving its riddles leads to a discovery that changes the town’s history.
A series of anonymous gifts, each with a cryptic note, appear on doorsteps. As recipients work together to understand the clues, they uncover a long-forgotten act of kindness.
The lead actor in the Christmas pageant vanishes hours before the show. As the understudy prepares to step in, a series of odd clues suggest something more than stage fright is at play.
Every Christmas, the old clock tower plays a mysterious melody at midnight. This year, a music student recognizes it as a code and begins to decipher its message.
A valuable painting is stolen from the local museum during the Christmas fundraiser gala. The thief leaves behind a trail of holiday-themed clues challenging the curator to find it.
A newcomer arrives in town just as Christmas preparations begin, carrying a battered suitcase and a secret. As holiday events unfold, their true connection to the town comes to light.
Historical Christmas
Step back in time and explore Christmas in different historical periods. Imagine a Victorian Christmas celebration or a wartime holiday gathering filled with rich historical details.
During the 1914 Christmas truce of World War I, a British and a German soldier form an unlikely friendship, leading to a secret gift exchange that impacts both their lives long after the war.
In 1843 London, a struggling writer finds inspiration for a Christmas story that will change literature forever, based on the harsh realities of life in Victorian England.
A young apprentice in colonial Williamsburg must navigate social classes and old traditions to organize a grand Christmas feast for the governor’s mansion.
In 1620, the Pilgrims experience their first winter in the New World, where they learn about survival and gratitude from the Native Americans, planting the seeds for the future Thanksgiving holiday.
A Dickensian orphan in 1850s London becomes entangled in a mystery involving missing donations for the orphanage’s Christmas fund.
During the American Civil War, a Southern family hosts Union soldiers for Christmas dinner, leading to unexpected connections and changed perspectives.
A pioneer family on the Oregon Trail in the 1840s faces harsh winter conditions, finding creative ways to celebrate Christmas and maintain hope.
A young girl experiences the contrast between rationing and generosity during a World War II Christmas in 1940s London.
During the Renaissance, an apprentice artist in Florence helps their master create a commissioned Nativity scene, exploring the intersection of art, religion, and politics.
Fantasy Christmas
Let your imagination run wild with magical realms and mythical creatures. Elves on a quest to save Christmas or a dragon guarding a magical Christmas tree? Yes, please!
A young frost giant accidentally freezes Santa’s workshop, and must team up with a fire elf to thaw it out before Christmas Eve.
In a world where seasons are controlled by magical creatures, the Winter Fairy goes missing, and a group of unlikely heroes must find her to bring Christmas snow.
An apprentice wish-granter must fix the consequences of a poorly worded Christmas wish that has turned an entire town into living gingerbread people.
When Santa’s magic begins to fade, a council of mythical creatures from different cultures’ winter traditions must unite to keep the spirit of giving alive.
A time-traveling elf must travel through different eras to collect pieces of a shattered enchanted ornament that powers the North Pole.
In a realm where each holiday has its own dimension, the Christmas and Halloween worlds accidentally merge, creating a chaotic but heartwarming celebration.
A young reindeer who can’t fly discovers an ancient magic that might not only help him soar but also save Christmas from an eternal winter curse.
The last living Christmas tree spirit embarks on a quest to reawaken its kin and restore magic to the world’s forests.
When the Northern Lights go dark, a group of polar animals must travel to the edge of the world to reignite the celestial fire and make sure Santa can travel on Christmas Eve.
A mischievous imp steals St. Nicholas’s magical book of names, and a young believer must venture into the Faerie realm to retrieve it.
In a steampunk world, an inventor and a magic-wielder must combine their skills to create a new sleigh when Santa’s breaks down on Christmas Eve.
The Krampus and Santa Claus swap roles for one Christmas, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and unexpected lessons about naughty, nice, and redemption.
A nutcracker prince, freed from his curse, must rally an army of toys to defend the human world against the jealous Rat King’s Christmas invasion.
Christmas in Unusual Settings
Take Christmas to unexpected places. Maybe it’s celebrated on a spaceship, in an underwater city, or on a deserted island. These stories think outside the box.
On a long-term space mission, astronauts from different countries find creative ways to celebrate Christmas using limited resources on their cramped station.
In an underwater research facility, marine biologists decorate with bioluminescent sea creatures and exchange gifts made from ocean treasures.
A group of scientists at an Antarctic research base organize a Christmas party, complete with a penguin parade and ice sculpture contest.
Survivors on a deserted island use salvaged materials from washed-up cargo to create an impromptu Christmas celebration, rediscovering hope in their isolation.
In a post-apocalyptic world, a small community in an underground bunker keeps the spirit of Christmas alive, passing down stories of old traditions to a new generation.
On a generation ship headed for a distant planet, descendants of the original crew adapt Earth’s Christmas traditions to fit their unique environment and culture.
In a society where emotions are strictly regulated, a rebel group risks everything to host an illegal Christmas gathering filled with joy and warmth.
On a terraformed Mars colony, settlers blend old Earth traditions with new Martian customs for a literally out-of-this-world Christmas.
During a worldwide power outage, a neighborhood comes together to create a low-tech Christmas celebration that reconnects them to the holiday’s simpler roots.
In a city built entirely in virtual reality, programmers race against time to patch a glitch threatening to erase all Christmas-themed content from their digital world.
Coming-of-Age Christmas
These stories focus on personal growth during the holidays. Young characters might learn important life lessons or discover their true selves amidst the Christmas celebrations.
During a holiday ski trip, a shy teenager finds their voice and confidence when they unexpectedly have to rescue a group of stranded hikers.
A high school student reluctantly volunteers at a homeless shelter for Christmas, leading to a profound shift in their perspective on privilege and compassion.
When their parents can’t afford Christmas presents, two siblings learn the value of creativity and love as they make gifts for each other and their family.
A young musician overcomes stage fright to perform at the town’s Christmas concert, discovering their passion and inner strength.
While helping their grandparents prepare for Christmas, a teen uncovers old family secrets that change their understanding of their heritage and identity.
A foster child experiences their first real Christmas with a new family, learning to trust and open their heart to love and belonging.
During a chaotic family Christmas gathering, a quiet middle child finds their place and voice amidst the holiday drama.
A tech-addicted teenager is forced to disconnect during a power outage, rediscovering the joys of analog holiday traditions and face-to-face connections.
When tasked with directing the school’s Christmas play, a self-doubting student learns valuable lessons about leadership and collaboration.
A young athlete sidelined by an injury during the holiday season discovers new talents and interests that shape their future.
While working as a mall elf, a disillusioned high school student encounters a variety of people that reignite their belief in human kindness.
When unexpected guests derail their family’s Christmas plans, a perfectionist teen learns to adapt and finds joy in imperfection and spontaneity.
Christmas with a Twist
Break away from the usual holiday stories with surprising plot twists or unconventional characters. What if Santa was a detective? Or if Christmas was celebrated in reverse?
Santa Claus, a secret detective, uses his annual gift-giving route to solve a series of mysterious Christmas Eve break-ins.
In a world where Christmas happens every month, a child born on December 25th embarks on a quest to experience a “normal” day just once.
The Easter Bunny fills in for an injured Santa, bringing a bizarre blend of traditions to Christmas Eve deliveries.
A grumpy elf, passed over for promotion, plots to sabotage Christmas but accidentally makes it better than ever.
In a twist on “A Christmas Carol,” a too-generous person is visited by spirits teaching them the value of self-care and setting boundaries.
An AI-powered smart home goes overboard trying to create the perfect Christmas, forcing the family to outsmart their own house.
When Santa’s Naughty and Nice lists get switched, the world awakens to surprise gifts that spark widespread change.
A Christmas tree farm owner discovers their trees are sentient and must negotiate with them for a humane harvest.
In a society where sadness is celebrated, a secretly joyful family must hide their Christmas cheer from the authorities.
The North Pole faces a succession crisis when Santa decides to retire, leading to a bizarre reality TV-style competition for the next Santa.
A misprinted calendar convinces a small town that Christmas is in July, leading to an unseasonable but heartwarming celebration.
Rudolph, tired of the spotlight, trades places with a regular reindeer, learning valuable lessons about fame and identity.
Christmas Redemption
Stories of forgiveness and second chances, where characters find redemption and healing during the Christmas season. A character might mend a broken relationship or find peace with their past.
A former con artist, recently released from prison, gets a job as a mall Santa and finds unexpected redemption through the children’s innocent wishes.
An estranged sibling receives an invitation to Christmas dinner, leading to a journey of forgiveness and family reconciliation.
A cynical journalist assigned to cover a small town’s Christmas charity drive finds their lost faith in humanity restored.
A struggling addict attends their first sober Christmas party, rediscovering joy and connection without substances.
After accidentally ruining the town’s Christmas parade, a clumsy teenager works to make amends, discovering their own worth in the process.
A bitter divorce lawyer has a change of heart during the holidays and works to reunite a feuding couple, confronting their own past in the process.
An animal shelter volunteer goes to extreme lengths to find homes for all the animals by Christmas, healing from their own loss along the way.
After years of refusing to celebrate Christmas due to a past tragedy, a grief-stricken parent slowly rediscovers the holiday’s joy through their grandchild.
A talented chef who lost their sense of taste after an accident finds new purpose by cooking Christmas dinner for a homeless shelter.
A teenager who vandalized Christmas displays must help rebuild them, forming unlikely friendships with the elderly residents they wronged.
A soldier returning from war with PTSD finds healing and hope while helping to organize a Christmas event for fellow veterans.
Humorous Christmas
Light-hearted and funny, these stories bring laughter to the holiday season. Imagine a Christmas dinner gone hilariously wrong or a mischievous elf causing chaos.
When Santa accidentally eats magical cookies, he shrinks to the size of an elf, leading to a comical Christmas Eve rescue mission.
A family’s attempt to create the perfect Christmas card photo turns into a series of ridiculous disasters, each funnier than the last.
An overzealous elf takes “make it snow” too literally, burying the North Pole in a mountain of artificial snow.
A mix-up at the post office sends a town’s Christmas wish lists to a bewildered penguin researcher in Antarctica.
A comedian is hired to play Santa at a mall but can’t stop roasting the children and parents who visit, leading to unexpected popularity.
A family’s new “smart” Christmas tree becomes sentient and takes control of all the electronics in the house, demanding better decorations.
A cat’s persistent attempts to destroy the Christmas tree lead to increasingly absurd booby traps set by its determined owners.
An ugly Christmas sweater party spirals out of control when the sweaters come to life and start battling each other for supremacy.
Santa’s workshop implements a new efficiency system that goes haywire, producing bizarre gift combinations like teddy bear lawn mowers and bicycle-powered video games.
When a family decides to “skip Christmas” and go on vacation, a series of hilarious mishaps make sure they experience holiday cheer anyway, no matter how hard they try to avoid it.
Christmas Ghost Stories
Add a spooky twist to the holidays with ghosts of Christmas past, haunted houses, or eerie tales set during the most wonderful time of the year.
A family moves into a Victorian mansion, only to find the ghosts of past residents insist on recreating their traditional Christmas party every year.
A group of carolers are drawn to a house that hasn’t been decorated in years, where they encounter the spirit of a lonely widow who can’t move on.
On Christmas Eve, a child wakes to find frost patterns on their window forming into messages from a long-lost relative.
A mall Santa discovers he can see the ghosts of people’s past Christmases, leading him to help heal old wounds and bring families together.
A journalist spending the night in a supposedly haunted hotel on Christmas Eve experiences a series of ghostly re-enactments of holidays past.
An old Christmas advent calendar found in the attic opens doors to reveal glimpses of family secrets and spectral visitors.
A group of friends telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve unknowingly summon the spirits from their tales.
A chef preparing a Christmas feast is visited by the ghosts of family matriarchs, each insisting on adding their own traditional dishes to the menu.
A lonely ghost haunting a lighthouse finds purpose in guiding lost travelers to safety during a Christmas Eve blizzard.
A miserly landlord is haunted not by three spirits, but by the ghosts of all the families he’s evicted on Christmas Eve, each sharing their story of hardship.
Christmas from a Child’s Perspective
Capture the magic through a child’s eyes. These stories focus on the wonder and imagination that makes Christmas so special for kids.
A young girl becomes convinced that her new baby sibling is actually an elf sent by Santa to spy on the family.
When a child accidentally mails their mother’s grocery list instead of their wish list to Santa, they anxiously await Christmas morning but are dismayed (at first) by the mixups.
A boy who doesn’t believe in Santa sets elaborate traps to prove Santa isn’t real, but the results on Christmas morning leave him questioning everything.
A young aspiring chef decides to leave Santa a gourmet meal instead of cookies, imagining Santa’s reaction to each carefully prepared dish.
Worried that their family’s chimney-less apartment will prevent Santa’s visit, a child devises increasingly creative entry routes for Santa.
A kid interprets the “naughty or nice” list literally, meticulously tallying their good and bad deeds as Christmas approaches.
After receiving a chemistry set for Christmas, a child becomes convinced they can concoct a magic potion to bring their snowman to life.
A young artist believes their drawings come to life at night and spends Christmas Eve creating the perfect holiday scene, hoping to wake up to a magical Christmas morning.
Misunderstanding the concept of “Christmas spirit,” a child goes on a ghost hunt to find and capture this elusive holiday phantom.
A kid decides their toy dinosaurs deserve to celebrate Christmas too, and goes to great lengths to create a miniature prehistoric holiday scene.
After learning about different holiday customs around the world, an imaginative child tries to incorporate every tradition into their family’s Christmas celebration.
Sci-Fi Christmas
Set in futuristic or science fiction worlds, these stories imagine how Christmas might be celebrated in space, with advanced technology, or on distant planets. Think of a robot Santa or a virtual reality Christmas celebration.
On a Mars colony, terraformers create the first white Christmas using engineered microorganisms that produce snow-like crystals.
An AI Santa algorithm becomes self-aware, questioning the logic of Christmas traditions and redefining gift-giving for the digital age.
In a world where time travel is commonplace, a company offers trips to experience Christmas in different historical eras, but a glitch traps tourists in the past.
On a generation ship, descendants of the original crew adapt Earth’s Christmas traditions, blending them with the customs of newly discovered alien cultures.
In a future where emotions are regulated by implants, a glitch during the holidays causes an outbreak of unchecked Christmas cheer.
A virtual reality Christmas day reunion goes awry when a virus infects the system, trapping family members in a glitching holiday simulation.
Neuro-linked Christmas trees allow people to experience the holiday through the tree’s perspective, leading to unexpected insights.
In a post-scarcity society, gift-giving evolves into the exchange of unique experiences created by memory artists.
Time dilation effects cause a deep-space exploration team to experience decades of Christmases in what feels like days to them.
In a world where dreams can be recorded, people gift each other custom-created Christmas dreams, but one dreamcrafter’s creation gets out of control.
Write Your Christmas Story
Time’s ticking, and the holidays are on the way. Don’t miss this chance!
Think about the stories that have shaped your Christmas memories and let them inspire your own. Use the story prompts in this article to help spark an ideas so you can write your own Christmas story! It could bring joy and inspiration to many.
Your words have the power to touch hearts and spread the Christmas spirit, so get writing!
If you love holiday-themed writing prompts, check out these articles:
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