It’s been pretty wet and cold where I live – and so dark in the mornings. I’m usually a morning person, with a walk around a nearby lake almost every day, even when my walking partner cancels on me at the last minute. But even I haven’t been forcing myself out of bed the last few weeks!
Here’s a few creative writing prompts to help you make the most of winter …
1. 5-Word Warm-Up
Create a poem or story that includes the following words: rain (or reign or rein), voice, nature, fence, glasses.
2. Images
Take a photo of your choice. The only requirement is that it’s taken in winter. Respond to the image in some way, whether that be a reflection in your journal, a piece of fiction, poem or other creative form.
Alternatively, respond to the following image:
3. Describing Winter
Describe winter (in prose or poetry) without using the words “winter”, “cold” or “freezing”. In other words, show the reader it is winter instead of telling them.
Incorporate into an existing story you’ve been working on, or use it to spark a new creative project.
4. Winter Solstice
Depending on where you live, the Winter Solstice is either the 21 or 22 June in the Southern Hemisphere and the 21 December in the Northern Hemisphere, and represents the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight hours.
Create a story that is set on the Winter Solstice. (You might even use some of the descriptions from the previous prompt if they fit.)
5. From Experience
Recall something that happened to you in the past that occurred during Winter. Share that story.
6. Hibernation
Imagine that, like a bear, you (or a fictional character) could hibernate for the winter. When you wake from your wintery slumber, what do you discover? What has happened in your absence? How is the world different to before your hibernation? Or are things strangely the same?
7. Likes and Dislikes
What do you enjoy about winter? What do you struggle with? What can you find to be grateful for?
Over to You
Which creative writing prompt grabbed your attention? Will you incorporate it into an existing creative piece, or create something entirely new?
