31 Daily Writing Prompts for December: The Longest Night

If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know I have a soft spot for stories set in winter — and this month’s collection might be my favourite yet.

December’s theme is “The Longest Night,” a 31-day journey through midwinter myths, ghostly traditions, and frozen worlds where light itself becomes a character. These prompts draw on the deep, uncanny magic of the season — from candlelit folklore and solstice rituals to snowbound cities caught between sleep and survival.

Think toymakers and masquerades, haunted carolers and cursed feasts, burning Yule logs and mirrors that don’t tell the truth. Every story burns a little brighter against the dark.

From Frost to Fire

The early days of the month are filled with storms, spirits, and frostbitten legends. We meet travellers led home by lantern light, a girl woven from frost and thorn, and a painter who steals stars from the sky. These stories are cold, sharp, and full of beauty — the kind of tales that linger like breath on glass.

Tales of Midwinter Magic

As the solstice draws near, the world turns stranger still. There’s a frozen desert that burns beneath the snow, a grand masquerade where nothing is as it seems, and a town that slips into a dream it may never wake from.

My personal favourite? The Midwinter Masque. It’s glittering, gothic, and quietly ruthless — a story of survival wrapped in silk and frost.

Shadows of the Solstice

The heart of The Longest Night lies in its folklore — the fires, the rituals, and the things we do to keep the dark at bay. From the witches of Perchtennacht to the cursed carolers who steal voices with their song, every tradition hides a secret. The warmth feels fragile here, but that’s what makes it precious.

What Follows the Feast

As Christmas fades, the tone shifts. The Krampus leaves his black-ribboned gift, the Mummers’ masks begin to move, and the wassail bowl steams with voices that were never human. The year is ending, and something old is stirring beneath the snow.

The Turning of the Year

The final nights bring omens and echoes — a candle that won’t go out, twelve visitors who arrive before dawn, and a mirror that shows more than just the year ahead. It’s the perfect close to a year of stories: eerie, hopeful, and full of quiet wonder.

What You Can Expect

Every daily prompt includes:
◆ A title
◆ A stunning, high-quality image
◆ An opening line
◆ A closing line
◆ A plot idea

You can use one element or all five — they work either way. They’re perfect for creative writing lessons, warm-ups, assessments, homework, exam practice, or just something different when your class needs it.

And yes, they’re designed for everyone. Whether your students lean toward mystery, fantasy, gothic horror, or historical fiction, The Longest Night offers something to light the imagination.

New to Daily Prompts?

Give them a try! I have a completely free week of prompts on TpT here so you can test them out with no risk. Just grab them and see how your students respond.

Spoiler: They will respond.

Final Thoughts

The Longest Night is a collection of stories caught between frost and fire — where every flicker of light feels hard-won, and every ending carries a hint of rebirth.

Whether you’re teaching, writing alongside your students, or simply in love with the strange beauty of winter storytelling, this month’s prompts are here to guide you through the dark.

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