Your character hates the holidays, and jets out of town every year — but a historic snow storm means that this time, they can’t make their escape.

Posted in Winter on Dec 1, 2023

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✍️ 33 stories

“Flightless Wings” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #227

It was a pet hate. Bev fed it. And she watered it. She walked it around with her to give it plenty of exercise. At this time of year she even groomed it and then set it on her lap and poked and prodded it until it growled back at her and reminded her why she hated it so. There was of course a build-up of bad and ill feeling that reached a crescendo in December. Each and every year she would escape the insanity of her pet hate. She would run away and pretend it wasn’t happening, returning when it was all over. She could not escape all of ...

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“Not a Basic Hallmark Movie” by Danielle Richgels

Submitted to Contest #227

"I am sorry, sir. There is no way I can get you on a flight tonight or for the next couple days for that matter. I can rebook your flight after Christmas or give you a refund." The attendant behind the desk looks exhausted as she says these words for probably the umpteenth time since the airport stalled all flights. "It is too risky with the snowstorm, and everything else is booked." "I have gone to the Caribbean every Christmas, and there is no way you can get me on any flight." "Nope, now do you want a rebooking or a refund. Please choos...

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“Peace on Earth” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #227

Carly eagerly threw the last couple of items into her suitcase, humming merrily to herself as she scanned her packing list.“Let’s see, passport, phone, bikini, sun block, yep. All done. Horace, get out of there. I don’t need my clothes all covered in cat hair.”Horace landed on the floor with a thud as she tipped him out of her case. He stalked off, his tail twitching indignantly. Carly laughed as she zipped the case shut and headed downstairs, bumping the case behind her. She stopped in her tracks as she saw her father sitting at the kitchen...

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“Stuck” by Alexis Crawley

Submitted to Contest #227

Stuck Rebecca huffed as she watched the block of 'DELAYED' signs at every airport in all of Wisconsin on the news. This was apparently one of the worst storms the state had seen in a very long time, and none of the airports were willing to take the risk....

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“Blizzard Benevolence: A Serendipitous Encounter” by Jessica Smithgall

Submitted to Contest #227

Outside my window, there is a flurry of white specks falling across the now crystallized grass below. I’m frantically tearing through the house, tossing things toward my room, scrambling drawer to drawer and stumbling over clothes scattered on the floor all throughout. My suitcase is crammed to the max and I have to bounce on it, nearly breaking off the zipper as it strains to maintain the chaos within. My usual calm demeanor is replaced by adrenaline as I rush out beneath the looming clouds above…there is no time for caution, I have...

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“Thawing Jack Frost” by Ben K

Submitted to Contest #227

Winter. The deep freeze. Christmas Eve. Snowflakes dance down from the sky, flittering in the breeze and painting the world in brightness and cheer. Wood fires burn, casting their heat and soft glow into the homes and pubs, a measure of pleasant comfort against the darkness of the December sky. Festive songs jingle faintly from my neighbours' homes, lifting spirits to mirthful jubilation. Lights drape the houses in a sea of merry twinkling. Everything is cold. How awful. Everyone's inside, basking in their cosy homes. All except a little gir...

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“Home for Christmas” by Joseph Cillo Jr

Submitted to Contest #227

Nicholas Natali did not like surprises, and Christmas was a time of surprises—the worst kind of surprises. So, Nick despised Christmas. While most people hurried home for the holidays, Nicholas Natali did his bit for the Christ child by heading for an island named for one of His saints and spent the holiday time relaxing on the beach. In fact, he would sooner sleep in a barn with the farm animals than be home for Christmas. Unless, of course, there was some kid sleeping in the manger. Such would be the fire instead of the frying pan. And the...

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“Closed Bridges” by Aidan O'Connor

Submitted to Contest #227

Grace sped past the last flickering tree and raced for the tolls. Hardened snowflakes drummed against the glass—the windshield wipers couldn’t keep up. In the haze of snow she could not read the license plate on the car before her. Michael Bublé’s silky caroler’s voice interrupted a poor, pessimistic news anchor on the radio. After three beats, Grace slammed the off-button with a double-gloved hand. Her phone buzzed in the silence. An old picture of her mother stared at her from the screen, a picture from a time when mom still dyed h...

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“Growing Pains” by Beatrice Gomes

Submitted to Contest #227

December 24 I just celebrated my 30th birthday last month. I spent it alone at home and blew out a candle I pressed into an exorbitantly priced cupcake that I picked up in town. My town has one grimy pub and I wouldn’t go there on a random Wednesday, much less on the one day of the year that belongs to me. I couldn’t afford to go out in Boston this year, and my family is — well, they’re a guaranteed migraine. I wanted to spend my birthday without a tension headache for once. It doesn’t bother me too much, because my money’s tied up in a pl...

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“HOPE'S BLIZZARD” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #227

The holidays are here. My least favorite time of the year. I hate everything that is this time of the year. I hate the music. I hate the decorations. I hate it all. The smiling cheering faces of the kids and adults makes me want to gag. Don't even say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays because I won't say it back. Don't bother giving me a present. I won't give one back. I hate leaving my apartment and walking the streets seeing Christmas all around me. People think I'm a scrooge but I'm not. I just don't like the holidays. I have my reaso...

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“Snowed In - A love story” by Maria Putnam

Submitted to Contest #227

Snowed In- A love story. Fauni, whose parents were old-fashioned, always made a big deal out of the yearly holidays. Fauni enjoyed being with his family for the holiday; however, he never understood the big deal and wondered why everyone was stressed at this time of year. Fauni, even when he was younger, never really liked the holidays, as his parents would make the biggest fuss over the littlest things. The idea of Santa Claus never made sense to him at all. When he was younger, he would sit and wonder how a big man could fly around the wor...

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“Stuck Home For the Holidays” by Alexandria Sammataro

Submitted to Contest #227

Matthew aroused from his sleep and took a deep breath. His eyes widened and he shot up as the smell of snow filled his nose. “Oh no, oh no, oh no, I thought I could beat it!” he exclaimed, rushing over to his window. Snow was falling outside, heavier than usual. Matthew rubbed his eyes to assure he wasn’t dreaming. He always made sure to leave the small town where he lived before it snowed because he HATED the holidays. He’d rather spend his time warm and tan down in Florida than frantically buying presents for his family in the cold, having...

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“Need the Cold” by Jennifer Pletcher Borg

Submitted to Contest #227

The air was so icy Laylah could’ve sworn that icicles were sticking out of her skin like needles. The weatherman had reported a huge blizzard coming in by the weekend and people were hunkering down in their homes already. But her friend was flying out tonight and needed a ride to the airport so she soldiered through the quick walk from her car to the tall apartment building in the stinging cold. Being the only one of her friend group with a large car that could handle extreme weather often made her a taxi cab. Fortunately, her friends alwa...

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“home for the holidays” by Madison E

Submitted to Contest #227

An iciness that nestles into your bones, a frigidity that sets your teeth chattering, a briskness that alights your eyes and the blood vessels dilating in your cheeks. The cold, an old friend, a sworn enemy; a reminder of better times, a bringer of the worse that came, and the reason that Hannah whisks herself away to the sweltering heat and the open, welcoming arms of her curiously accepting ex-boyfriend every year for an unabashed celebration of pointedly forgetting the past, whatever that may entail. Being your own boss has its advantag...

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“Angels in the snow ” by Elizabeth Ohler

Submitted to Contest #227

Angels In The Snow I look out beyond the window to see piles of snow. It coats the once grassy ground with its thick white powder. I look over at my car and flush with fear. It’s been swallowed by the crystal pure snow. I frantically run outside still in my pajama bottoms desperate to see if I can get it out. To my luck, I can't. I'm sunk knee deep in snow that freezes my bones. I scurry back into the house and flick on the news. I watch intently as I hear the words I dread most spill out of the weather man's mouth. They swim...

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Your character hates the holidays, and jets out of town every year — but a historic snow storm means that this time, they can’t make their escape.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 33 stories

“Flightless Wings” by Jed Cope

“Not a Basic Hallmark Movie” by Danielle Richgels

“Peace on Earth” by Bettina Karpathian

“Stuck” by Alexis Crawley

“Blizzard Benevolence: A Serendipitous Encounter” by Jessica Smithgall

“Thawing Jack Frost” by Ben K

“Home for Christmas” by Joseph Cillo Jr

“Closed Bridges” by Aidan O'Connor

“Growing Pains” by Beatrice Gomes

“HOPE'S BLIZZARD” by Melinda Madrigal

“Snowed In - A love story” by Maria Putnam

“Stuck Home For the Holidays” by Alexandria Sammataro

“Need the Cold” by Jennifer Pletcher Borg

“home for the holidays” by Madison E

“Angels in the snow ” by Elizabeth Ohler

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone looking out the window and seeing the first snowfall of the season.

Start your story with a description of the cold, using lots of sensory detail.

Write a story where someone shares a cup of hot chocolate with a friend.

Write about a character emerging from hibernation, whether literally or metaphorically.

Contest #227

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

300

Contest entries

130

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: