31 Daily Writing Prompts for December: The Longest Night
If November was all about misty lochs and ancient legends, December takes us deeper into the dark. This month’s theme is “The Longest Night” — thirty-one prompts steeped in folklore, midwinter myths, and the eerie stillness of the solstice. Think frozen storms, cursed carolers, Krampus gifts, and midnight mirrors that don’t always tell the truth.
Why the longest night? December holds the winter solstice, when the light feels most fragile and the shadows at their boldest. Across cultures and centuries, people have gathered around fire, feast, and ritual to survive the darkness — and that energy makes for some of the most haunting prompts I’ve ever written.
From Frost Markets to Midnight Mirrors
This month, the variety is incredible. You’ll find:
◆ A storm that freezes the world in glass
◆ A frost market that trades in impossible bargains
◆ Wolves howling from beneath the snow
◆ The cursed carolers of Christmas Eve
◆ The Krampus gift no child dares to open
◆ The Twelve Visitors who come one by one before the year ends
Some prompts feel folkloric, pulled from Alpine valleys or Slavic winter festivals. Others feel like ghost stories whispered by the fire, or strange new myths that belong only to the solstice.
What You Can Expect
Every daily prompt includes:
◆ A title
◆ A high-quality image
◆ An opening line
◆ A closing line
◆ A plot idea
You can use one piece or all of them. They’re flexible — perfect for creative writing warm-ups, homework, exam practice, classroom cover, or just sparking your own stories on a dark December evening.
And yes, they’re for everyone. Whether your students lean toward gothic horror, magical realism, or character-driven drama, there’s something here to light a spark.
How It Works
Your membership gives you:
◆ A brand-new daily PDF prompt delivered to your inbox
◆ Editable teacher slides for every single prompt
◆ Full access to the entire archive of prompts
◆ Daily reminder emails so you never miss a day
Final Thoughts
December is about more than endings — it’s about what glimmers in the dark. From Yule fires to frost-born daughters, these prompts capture the strange mix of dread and wonder that comes with the longest night of the year.
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And if you'd like to try before you buy, I have a free week of prompts available on TpT. Get them here.
