Menu
Prompts
Contests
Stories
Blog

Menu

✕
CONNECT
Editing Design Marketing Publicity Ghostwriting Websites
BLOG
Success Stories
APPS
TOOLS
Book Promotion Sites Book Review Blogs Booktube Channel Guide Book Title Generator Character Name Generator Independent Publishers Literary Agents Literary Magazines Pen Name Generator Plot Generator Publishers Directory Short Story Ideas Writing Contests Writing Exercises Writing Scholarships
ABOUT
About Reedsy Terms Privacy

CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#178: Happy Holidays

It's that time of year again! Whether you're observing a particular holiday, or simply raising a glass to making it through another year in one piece, December is a time for reflection, celebration, and taking stock. This week's prompts are, naturally, a nod to the season — and all the fun it can bring!


As much as we love the holidays, they can also be a difficult time for many; so no matter how you're celebrating this year, we hope that these prompts can provide you with a little festive escapism. Happy holidays, writers!

This week's prompts

Write a story about a family (biological or found) coming together for Christmas.

Christmas – 44 stories

Write a story that takes place over the eight nights of Hannukah.

Holiday – 5 stories

Set your story at a work holiday party,

Holiday – 35 stories

Write about a cynical character realizing they do have something to celebrate after all.

Character – 47 stories

Write a story about an unconventional holiday tradition.

Holiday – 51 stories

Stories

“Mr Grumpy” by Lisa Wentworth

Submitted to Contest #178

Mr Grumpy “Oh, it must be THAT time of year again!! Gus said, then flicked his tail twice in the direction of his humans moving about large boxes from the loft. These boxes always smelled funny…of mice he wasn’t able to chase, and moisture he didn’t run in. The boxes come down, and the humans start moving around brightly coloured ornaments…or that’s what the call them. Shiny things Gus used to like to play with when her was younger. The balls he was so found of batting around, until one broke and hurt his paw. The yards of tinsel he like...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Home for the Holidays” by Channa Brown

Submitted to Contest #178

Nothing feels quite the same as the familiarity of an outgrown hometown, memories strewn about like land mines. I glue my eyes to asphalt as my dad drives us past my first kiss, my last high school basketball game, my mother telling me I don’t have a mental illness in the same breath that she says she’s always felt the way I do.  I know the stretch of road from my parent’s house to the airport like I know my social security number; I memorized it like a necessity. What I don’t know is when it became my parent’s house. All I know is it ...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Christmas at Grandpa's” by Danny Symington

Submitted to Contest #178

      Macie Bergman’s long black hair stuck to her face as the sweat dripped from her forehead. It was a hot summer afternoon despite the rain, and Covid regulations still disallowed the use of air-conditioning. Some shops chose to disregard this rule entirely, but not this one. Furthermore, the store was packed with people like her, doing last minute shopping on this stormy Saturday afternoon, all contributing to the sweltering heat they found themselves in.         &nbs...

4 comments 4
Read story

“Christian Haikus ” by Dylan Miner

Submitted to Contest #178

If I meet you for the first time and tell you my Dad died when I was twelve, I’m trying to rob you. Fermentation kills shit like me. Would this bottle of wine taste as good if he was still around? Who’s to say, but there’s definitely something romantic about sucking down a bottle of wine outside, meandering, whistling and taking swigs like I’m in some sad movie. I find drunken happiness can often turn a two-buck chuck into an elegant vintage. These old houses and their red and blue and yellow and green lights keep telling me so. They’re b...

3 comments 3
Read story

“Stand and Deliver” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #178

I collapse gratefully into my armchair in front of the fire. I can’t feel my feet. The missus hands me a mug of hot chocolate which I cradle in my frozen hands.“Bah, humbug to Christmas,” I say.“I think that’s already been said,” she says mildly. “The season is supposed be about peace and goodwill, not grumpiness.”“Really? When you are responsible for a delivery service, as I am, it’s your least favorite time of year. You’d be grumpy too. A small family-run business trying to compete with Amazon and the like. The warehouse is freezing cold, ...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The Crimson House Across Applewood” by Jace Evans

Submitted to Contest #178

Margaret Adams lived in the green townhouse on Applewood Lane in Clovis, California for what was her entire life. Sunlight would curiously peek through the oak trees in the young morning to wake her old heavy head that rested on the same cotton pillow her late grandmother tethered together in her youth. Her view of the distant Sierras was muddled with autumn’s oncoming fog, as November bled in the dwindling burn of an autumn bonfire from the night before. But outside her home was the new house labeled “in construction” across the street. Aft...

2 comments 2
Read story

“A Christmas Carole's Closure” by Neil Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #178

Ebenezer Scrooge sat at home in a regal chair pulled close to a lit fireplace. One year had passed since that fateful Christmas Eve. His mind was wandering as he held in his hands an envelope addressed from his former employee Bob Cratchit. Scrooge and Marley went out of business shortly after Scrooge hired an accountant to assist in repaying all who were harmed by the miser’s lending services. Although Scrooge had the funds to sustain the business, he no longer had the heart to maintain his former empire and wished to spend his time on more...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Invitation To Burn” by Ella Bleu

Submitted to Contest #178

The only Christmas that Cassie ever remembered feeling true, unbridled joy for was when she burned down her first Christmas tree. Seeing the searing orange flames that had charred the left corner of their small living room and incinerated the measly stack of presents beyond recognition was immensely satisfying. Even more satisfying, however, had been the look on her parent’s faces.  Truly, it was a sight to see. Cassie had been eight. Old enough to tie her own shoes, to make her own bed, and to cook her own meals of macaroni and count...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Clyde” by Leah Hearne

Submitted to Contest #178

Nothing could ever top the year Etta showed up at our childhood home in a bright red Cadillac. She discovered it, allegedly, in the parking lot of the Harbinger Mall, prying the door open using nothing but a crowbar. Whoever owned it had likely popped into a department store to run a quick errand, reasoning that no one would be so cruel as to steal a car during the holiday season. “The idiot left their keys in the ignition,” she told us all after her third glass of red wine. “This wasn’t just a golden opportunity—it was fate.” Mom smiled...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Coming Home for Christmas” by Rodica D

Submitted to Contest #178

The train ride Hannah found her seats on the train easily. She chose the one on the aisle, allowing her rescue mutt to enjoy the good life and sit at the window. Spot was the happiest dog being able to look at the people milling about the busy station. Hannah rubbed his head, smiling at how excited he was. Spot was a recent addition to her household. She had saved him from the frigid New York streets the other night. After having him checked by the vet and with no one claiming him, she decided to keep him. Her parents were sure to be su...

2 comments 2
Read story

“The lost-found family ” by Ruth Finnegan

Submitted to Contest #178

The lost-found family  I am alone. Alone alone alone. Once I had a family, safe in that rocking amniotic ocean, safe, safe, safe. And then I emerged, I flourished, loved by my precious family. What more wonderful. Loved. And we came together, specially, for Christmas. That was then. But they left me. No, that’s wrong, rude hard men took them from me, took them away; raped them, killed them. Guns, storm, fire. Wedding guests bombed from the west, churches razed from the east. Burka’d them out of the way. Oh inhum...

1 comment 1
Read story

“Bringing Home Christmas” by Pat O'Brien

Submitted to Contest #178

There is a tradition in Ireland called ͞bringing home Christmas. Da used to tell us about it, how the day before Christmas his Ma and Da went to town for all the ingredients for the Christmas feast. The Christmas goose was hung from the rafters waiting to be roasted on Christmas Day. The brothers and sisters all collected greens from the woods. By sunset on Christmas Eve, there would be holly hanging along the hearth and over the doors. Then a big white candle would be set into a turnip and lit and put in the window to welcome travelers...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Family for a Day” by Martha Sanipe

Submitted to Contest #178

A fire crackled in the stone fireplace of the festive living room, the silver tree ornaments mirroring the flickering yellow flames. A picture-perfect Yule, straight out of a Hallmark movie. Except that it was September, and this was definitely not a typical living room.To my right, on a Christmas-red sofa, sat a middle-aged man and woman. The woman’s rosy cheeks gave her the appearance of having just come in out of the cold. She looked fit—a regular runner, I’d say. Her hair style was neck-length and utilitarian, and her jeans and shirt wer...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Beauty and Ashes” by Crystal Bacon

Submitted to Contest #178

The little clock in the corner announced midnight with a Christmas carol. Its plucky, staccato notes warmed my sentimental heart.  I looked up  from my book and studied the room for the hundredth time that evening. The tree cast a golden glow that mingled with the light from the fire and made everything warm. Snow fell like feathers all light and silent beyond the window where a single candle made a halo on the glass. I laid my head to the side, resting it on my shoulder and thought about how in just a few short hours Christmas mor...

2 comments 2
Read story

“Home for Christmas” by Kristina Bergen

Submitted to Contest #178

Specialist Ben Grant tapped his finger against the blue arm rest twice before opening the ticket folder once again. The gate on the ticket still matched, but he seemed to be the only one to notice that they were supposed to be boarding ten minutes ago. He sat back, sat forward again, and bounced his knee. The woman at the counter kept her eyes down. She calmly flipped a piece of paper over. She lifted the P.A. mic to her mouth, lowered it again, and flipped the paper. The red bowtie at her neck tilted slightly, an indication of humanity to ...

1 comment 1
Read story

$250

Prize money

182

Contest entries

62

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 30, 2022 EST

Won by Molly Kelash 🏆

Title: Marie Antoinette

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.

NEW VIDEO COURSE 🎉

How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months. Learn more →

Explore more writing prompt ideas:

Adults Writing Prompts ⭢

Adventure Writing Prompts ⭢

Angst Writing Prompts ⭢

Character Writing Prompts ⭢

Christmas Writing Prompts ⭢

Dark Writing Prompts ⭢

Dialogue Writing Prompts ⭢

Dramatic Writing Prompts ⭢

Dystopian Writing Prompts ⭢

Fall Writing Prompts ⭢

Fantasy Writing Prompts ⭢

Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Fluff Writing Prompts ⭢

Funny Writing Prompts ⭢

Halloween Writing Prompts ⭢

High School Writing Prompts ⭢

Historical Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Holiday Writing Prompts ⭢

Horror Writing Prompts ⭢

Kids Writing Prompts ⭢

Middle School Writing Prompts ⭢

Mystery Writing Prompts ⭢

Narrative Writing Prompts ⭢

Nonfiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Novel Writing Prompts ⭢

Poetry Writing Prompts ⭢

Romance Writing Prompts ⭢

Sad Writing Prompts ⭢

Science Fiction Writing Prompts ⭢

Short Story Writing Prompts ⭢

Spring Writing Prompts ⭢

Summer Writing Prompts ⭢

Teens Writing Prompts ⭢

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts ⭢

Thriller and Suspense Writing Prompts ⭢

Valentine's Day Writing Prompts ⭢

Vampire Writing Prompts ⭢

Winter Writing Prompts ⭢

Prompts | Big Blue Hand | 2024-11

Join our weekly contest

Get 5 new writing prompts every Friday. Write and submit a story for a chance to win $250.