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34 Best Christmas Short Story Ideas
Showing 34 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You were put in charge of getting your great-grandmother a gift this year by your family — but she's old enough that she's already seen, heard, and experienced everything under the sun. What do you get her?
Set your story at a busy airport during Christmas week.
Write a story about the gifts that two people buy for each other over a period of ten years, and how that shows the change in their relationship over time.
Write a story about a high-stakes decoration competition between neighbors vyying for the title of Most Festive Home in their city (and the local newspaper feature that comes with it).
Write a story from the perspective of a snowman who has just come to life. Plot twist: he's missing eyes.
You just discovered that you can teleport into one Hallmark Christmas rom-com of your choosing. Which movie do you choose, and what happens differently in the movie because of your arrival?
A reindeer is loose! What can you, a mere elf on the lowest rung of Santa's helpers, do?
Write a story about Christmas from the perspective of someone who hates Christmas.
Write a story in which a Christmas song plays an important role in the plot.
You're the director at a marketing agency. Your next project: to come up with an irresistibly catchy Christmas jingle. The only problem is that you hate Christmas.
Set your story at a disastrous gift exchange.
You participated in your office's Secret Santa, but no one will admit to buying your gift. Write a story about the search for the mysterious gifter.
Set your story entirely under mistletoe.
You're one of Santa Claus's elves, and wishes on childrens' wishlists from around the world this Christmas have gone through the roof. Literally. Now you need to somehow find a repairman to fix Santa's roof before Santa finds out.
Santa Claus had one too many pork chops during the pre-Christmas feast, and now he's stuck in the chimney — and there are footsteps approaching!
You left cookies on the table on the day before Christmas. When you wake up the next day, the cookies are gone, and in their place is a note. What does it say?
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