Writing Prompts for Winter

Winter can be a magical time of year, with snowy landscapes and cozy indoor activities. For writers, it can also be a great opportunity to get creative and explore new ideas. In this blog post, we'll explore some winter-themed writing prompts to get your imagination flowing.

Journal & Non-Fiction

1. What is winter like where you are from?

2. What is your first memory of snow?

3. What is your favourite winter activity?

4. Winter’s energy is that of going within, of hibernation and rest. How do you ‘hibernate’ in the winter months? How do you refuel for what is to come?

5. Write a love letter to winter.

Fiction

1. Imagine a family snowed in during a blizzard. What challenges would they face, and how would they overcome them? Would they spend their time playing games, telling stories, or simply trying to stay warm?

2. The world awakens one day to a perpetual winter. Describe a character’s reaction and how they adapt to their new and icy world.

3. “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”

   Use this quote from Robert Frost as your first line and keep writing from it, telling a story over a few paragraphs.

4. The Ice God: tell a myth about the god of ice. What are his powers and purpose? What happens when he is angry and what happens when he is pleased with us mortals?

5. What if winter was a person? What are they like, how do they dress? What kind of things do they say?

Winter writing prompts can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing during the colder months. Whether you're reflecting on your favourite winter activities, imagining life as a snowflake, or crafting a winter narrative, there are plenty of ways to explore this season through writing. So grab a warm drink, find a cozy spot, and let your imagination take flight. Happy writing!

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Interested in more writing prompts? Check out 10 journal prompts for beginners below!

Or if you want to find winter-y inspiration in a book, some of my favourite books set in winter or cold worlds are:

• Spinning Silver - a talented young woman finds herself at the mercy of an icy world and it’s strange, cold people. Inspired by the tales of Rumplestiltskin.

• The Bear and the Nightingale Trilogy - incorporating myth and folklore in a cold forest in 1300’s Russia.

• Midnight in Everwood - a gothic fantasy retelling of The Nutcracker, with it’s world of sugar and snow.