#23: Winter Wonderland

By the time the holidays have passed, and the first week of January is in full swing, it's impossible to deny one fact any longer: winter is here.

Shorter days and colder temperatures often mean more time spent indoors writing. This week, we suggest you sit by a window and let the wintery world outside inspire your newest piece of short fiction.

This week's prompts

You go for a walk in fresh snow. Suddenly you realize you're not leaving any footprints.

Fantasy – 128 stories

Write a short story that takes place in a winter cabin.

Winter – 76 stories

A busy city is quieted by a big blanketing of snow. Write from the perspective of two (or more) characters who live there.

Winter – 51 stories

Write a short story about someone experiencing their first winter.

Winter – 31 stories

Write a short story about people stuck in traffic during a blizzard. There's nothing much to do but wait, and talk...

Dialogue – 67 stories

Stories

“Warmth of Freaks” by Aveyona Stewart

Submitted to Contest #23

My chill breath hitched as I ran. Burning everything even the snow underneath my feet. I looked back. 'Are they still chancing me!'. My dumb self not realizing i just ran into a local skating rink. I stop as I heard people wondering and mumble under their breath."Monster, monster, MONSTER". Said one person. Than everyone egged on too. I circled looking everywhere as people called me monster or freak."No,no I'm not a monster". I yelled tears streaming down my face. They kept cheering calling me brutal name I covered my face with my hands and ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“And None of Them Said a Word” by Daisy Bazeley

Submitted to Contest #23

The boxes piled all the way to the ceiling in some parts of the cabin. What felt like hundreds upon thousands of boxes filled with documents and forms and various other scraps of information took up most of the space in the already cramped two room cabin. The snow had been falling solidly for the past two days, the power went out three days before that and still hadn't returned. It didn't matter though. There was plenty of work to be doing that would keep her occupied through the cold, dark days. The only time she left the cabin was to colle...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Wrong Cabin or Was It The Right Cabin” by Gladys Swedak

Submitted to Contest #23

Wrong Cabin or Was It The Right Cabin The cabin was cold and looked deserted when Jillian and Ken arrived. “Sharon said there would be a fire going.” Jillian reminded Ken, as he put the key in the lock. “I know but maybe she didn’t get up here before the storm hit.” Ken looked at the gathering dark clouds. The storm had increased over the last half hour. He let Jillian in then closed and locked the door. “I’ll get a fire started. It won’t be long and we will be warm and cozy.” “Yeah, that will be nice. I am a little chilly.” Jillian tugged ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Slay Ride” by Emilie Conroy

Submitted to Contest #23

The red and white striped door proclaimed CLAUS WINTER CABIN. Jeff knew he'd come to the right place.Normally the person who answered the front door at Jeff's knock wouldn’t be smiling, but today Judy Claus beamed at him while exhaling a deep sigh of relief. “Thank you so much for coming so quickly,” she said, ushering him through the peppermint painted workshop door. “Can I take your scythe?”Instinctively, Jeff gripped the hardwood handle. “Thank you no,” he said. “I have to keep it with me at all times. You know how it is.”“Indeed I do.” ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Pinocchio” by Aisha Abdul

Submitted to Contest #23

I stood outside of my old orphanage, my suitcase packed and ready beside me. Icy needles of cold stabbed through my clothes and into my skin, adding to the growing frost I already felt inside of me. Gusts of wind whipped my wild red curls around my face, but I made no move to push them back. A rusty red truck lumbered its way up the winding gravel driveway, the tires toiling to navigate through the ice and snow. I took a step back when it finally screeched to a stop in front of me. The door swung open and a small, scrawny boy jumped out...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Grandma’s Cabin” by Omisha Skinner

Submitted to Contest #23

“Hey, are you sure about this?” Alexasked. “You don’t want me to go with you?”. Emily’s grandmother has died recently and left the cabin she lived in to her only granddaughter. The cabin didn’t look too good on the outside but it definitely looked amazing on the inside. The wood was made from Douglas fir trees and had plenty of room for at least ten people. The kitchen is very modern; there’s a brand new granite countertops, a wooden nook, and a wine shelf. Emily’s grandmother adored her house so it was quite obvious she wouldn’t just give i...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC” by Klyn Akwarandu

Submitted to Contest #23

It was Cassie’s first time in Berlin. She had reminded her husband a few days ago, of the trip he promised her at the end of the year. He was always so busy with work and most times it stole their family weekend from them. Her office was her laptop and since it was very mobile, she preferred working from home, most days she craved her husband, yet she knew he didn’t have the luxury of bringing work home with him. This weekend vacation meant a lot to Cassie and she had made up her mind to get the best out of it. W...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Warmth” by Una Kozic

Submitted to Contest #23

There was this feeling I would always get when I would look at my dog when I was younger. My dog was a schnauzer and in my eyes he was the most precious being in my life. I used to experience something quite odd at times when I would gaze at him, this kind of warmth around my heart. It was almost as if my heart clenched from the overwhelming feeling of love I felt towards him, and it was the most unique sensation as I was only ever able to feel that way with him. When I look at her, I get the same feeling of overwhelming love and gratit...

2 comments 2

Read story

“TO SKI OR NOT TO SKI, THAT IS THE QUESTION?” by DAVID A JONES

Submitted to Contest #23

Date Line: The depths of winter, very early one morning. Location: A log cabin somewhere in the snow covered Alps. The Occupant: A winter holidaymaker. “WHAT a lovely day it is, darling. I’m so glad we’ve come here for our holiday. It is a perfect day for skiing. The sun is out, the sky is blue, the snow is deep and, dare I say it, crisp and even. “Now, come along, sleepy head, I’ve already made you a lovely breakfast to set you up for the day. Carrot juice, yoghurt, muesli, some delicious cold meats, chees...

0 comments 0

Read story

“White Cabin” by Levke Schaarschmidt

Submitted to Contest #23

Richard Johnson was a man who always loved to go up to his cabin for a couple of days. Weeks before his trip he would imagine how wonderful it will be to drive through the dark forest with his car filled with all sorts of expensive food and wine.With joy he would write his grocery list beforehand and visit his favorite store selling fine Italian delicacies. Also he mustn't forget his woolen blanket. The one his mother made for him. He had always invited his dear mother to come with him to visit his cabin but as far as he remembers she'd neve...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Cabin in the winter ” by Samantha Garcia

Submitted to Contest #23

Wow! This is beautiful," I gushed, staring at the cabin as I got out of the car"Dustin, how much did this cost?" Adelina asked, going to the trunk"I really don't know. My parents brought this or they were given this," Dustin said, going to Adelina"Well, we should say thank you to your parents since they're letting four 20 year olds live in their cabin," Kyle announced, exiting the car, stretching "We can call them after we get situated. Now, lend us a hand and you too, Kimberly," I walked to the back and grabbed the luggage and placing ...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Our Cabin” by Dianne Bramble

Submitted to Contest #23

This was her first Christmas without him. This used to be her favourite time of year and by now the cabin would have been covered in decorations - inside and out. Amanda and her husband had owned this cabin for 50 years, almost as many years as they’d been married.Every Christmas for 50 years they had come here. At first they were newly weds with a bright future. They would build snow forts and throw snowballs at each other. They would build snowmen and decorate them with carrot noses. Then, while they watched from inside, the deer would com...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Are You With Me?” by Marelle Jeffrey

Submitted to Contest #23

The trip to the winter cabin was a long-standing tradition in her family, going back too many generations to keep count. She loved it all the same. Until now.What once was a trip full of laughter, warmth and love was now cold, bitter and lonely. She used to find joy in going there every winter with her husband of five years... but that joy was long gone now and she trudged up the weathered, creaky porch steps by herself and approached the door, unlocking it and giving a mighty shove to force the stiff wood open.She stepped inside slowly...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Winter Getaway” by Skyler Theng

Submitted to Contest #23

It's cold, first thing that I wake. And it's hard to get out of bed. The warmth of it pulls me back in more, even after convincing myself of getting up. I slowly start to pull myself up and let my feet hang out. The cold air hits my feet as soon as they’re out of the blankets and I’m tempted to put them back in, but I force myself to jump out of bed. My feet hit the ground and below it, is a thin rug, thin enough that I can feel the coldness of the ground through it. Immediately it feels like my feet are numb, but I get used to it eventually...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Cabin Retreat” by Cheryl Fulton

Submitted to Contest #23

A Cabin Retreat &nbs...

4 comments 4

Read story

Load more stories

$50

Prize money

353

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 10, 2020 EST

Won by Angeliki P 🏆

Title: Pied Piper

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!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

#23: Winter Wonderland

This week's prompts

You go for a walk in fresh snow. Suddenly you realize you're not leaving any footprints.

Write a short story that takes place in a winter cabin.

A busy city is quieted by a big blanketing of snow. Write from the perspective of two (or more) characters who live there.

Write a short story about someone experiencing their first winter.

Write a short story about people stuck in traffic during a blizzard. There's nothing much to do but wait, and talk...