In our final blog post of the year, we invite you to give yourself the gift of time and imagination after the holiday rush. Here are six quick, low-pressure writing prompts inspired by the traditions and customs of Christmases past during Twixmas – the period between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. At this time of year, real life feels suspended, insulated by an absence of our normal routines and instead filled with food, lights and people.
We offer these writing prompts to you for a moment of calm and creativity. The aim of the prompts is gentle creation, a chance for you to press pause and flex your creative muscles without pressure.
Settle down with a mince pie or another festive treat and your favourite notebook or your computer. Spend no more than 10 minutes on each writing prompt.
26 December (Boxing Day) – A time to give
There are a few theories as to the origins of the curiously named ‘Boxing Day.’ One theory is that the term emerged from the ‘boxing’ of alms (money) in donation boxes in churches. Another theory, from the 19th century, involved the giving of Christmas boxes from the master to servants and tradespeople as another means of charitable giving.
Writing prompt 1: Using the theme of community, write a short scene with the spirit of kindness at its centre.
27 December – The third day of Christmas
In medieval Europe, traditionally the Twelve Days of Christmas began on 25 December and involved the celebration of various saints. Today we might also think of the popular Christmas song of the same name. Music is evocative at all times of the year, but Christmas music is firmly rooted in many a family’s traditions. How many of us enjoy the ritual of the same playlist every Christmas Day?
Writing prompt 2: Take a lyric from one of your character’s favourite Christmas songs or carols. It might be a line of song or a phrase, or even a few chords of the tune. For those writing about the earlier days in history, this prompt might send you down a research rabbit hole! Write on what the song inspires in you.
28 December – Food for thought
Leaving out cookies and milk for Santa is a popular and fun custom that has its origins in America. The homely tradition was popular in the Great Depression as a gesture of kindness. These days we might leave a mince pie and a carrot for Rudolph.
Food is an integral part of the holidays. What we eat not only roots us in a time and place but can also tell us much about a character’s lifestyle. For example, a king in medieval England would have feasted on very different food to one of the villagers in his fiefdom.
Writing prompt 3: Choose a food memory from one of your character’s Christmases past and write on the feelings it evokes in them. You might wish to think about the texture, scent and visual appeal of the food to bring it to life on the page, particularly if the food isn’t well known to modern reading audiences.
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29 December – The return of the light
In Roman times, midwinter traditions centred around light with the festival of Saturnalia celebrated from 17 to 23 December. This tradition involved folk gathering for feasting and merriment around fires and blazing hearths, ultimately reminding them that the light would return.
Writing prompt 4: Write a few words on where your character finds solace and comfort. What lights your character up? What or to whom do they cling for comfort? You can be as light or as deep as you wish with this prompt.
30 December – Deck the halls
Given that Christmas falls during winter, it’s understandable that many of the festive traditions and customs centred around the indoors. Today’s prompt is inspired by the tradition of getting outside for an after-dinner Christmas Day or Boxing Day walk. A time to blow the cobwebs away with family and friends.
Writing prompt 5: Describe a setting or landscape in your work in progress. Use all the senses to vividly evoke a sense of place. If you can, visit the location you’re writing about, in person or via the wonders of the internet by making use of images, paintings, video, maps.
31 December – Reflection and resolutions
On the 31 December there was a custom to open every door and window in the home just before midnight, to let out the ‘burden’ of the old year.
Writing prompt 6: Sit by an open window for this prompt. Wrap up in your cosiest clothes. Perhaps light a candle or make your favourite hot drink. Choose a character you’d like to focus on. Write down four things they want to let go of from this year and four things they hope for in the new year to come. Try to think beyond the first things that come to mind.
We hope our writing prompts have allowed you to honour the writing year that has almost passed as well as encourage you to look towards the new writing year ahead. Whatever your commitments at this time of year, you now have six pieces of writing to evidence your creative practice. Some of the pieces may spark a new story idea or allow you the space to just play with words and create without a goal.
All that’s left to say, dear writer, is that we wish you a peaceful and joyous yuletide and all best wishes for a creative 2026!
Karen Bryony Rose is a guest contributor to The History Quill. An English Literature and History graduate and qualified archivist, Karen has always been fascinated by the past. She balances her time as an information professional, writer, editor and freelance journalist. She’s currently editing her first historical novel and uses her love of walking to daydream and plot. See more of her work at www.karenbryonyrose.co.uk
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