Holiday breaks have a way of opening up little pockets of quiet—those rare, gentle moments where creativity feels easier to reach. It’s the perfect time to jot down a short story, try out a new writing prompt, or simply reflect on what you’re grateful for. Every year, I look forward to these still moments, when my mind slows and my imagination stretches. Maybe one day I’ll gather all of my short stories into a single book, but for now, I’m grateful for the chance to do both: to pause and appreciate, and to let my creativity wander freely.
If you’re hoping to use this Thanksgiving break to strengthen your storytelling or spark new ideas, here are some engaging writing prompts to help you get started.
Thanksgiving-Themed Writing Prompts to Spark Your Imagination
1. The Chair That’s Always Empty
Write about a family who intentionally leaves one chair empty every Thanksgiving. This year, something—or someone—unexpected fills it.
2. The Recipe With a Secret
A treasured family recipe has been passed down for generations, but this year, the cook discovers a hidden note tucked inside the old recipe card.
3. A Stranger at the Door
Just as dinner is being served, someone knocks on the door claiming to be a long-lost relative with an urgent story to share.
4. Thanksgiving in Another World
Reimagine Thanksgiving in a fantasy realm, futuristic society, or alien planet. What does gratitude look like there? What traditions replace the familiar ones?
5. The Pie That Changed Everything
A baker accidentally creates a pie with magical or mysterious properties—and the dinner table is never the same.
6. When the Host Doesn’t Show Up
The table is set, the guests have arrived, but the host is strangely missing. Write what unfolds next.
7. A Time-Traveling Holiday
During Thanksgiving dinner, your character is suddenly transported to a Thanksgiving from another era. Why are they there, and what must they learn?
8. The Annual Argument
Every Thanksgiving, the same argument breaks out. This year, it ends in a way no one expected—and it shifts family dynamics forever.
9. Gratitude Letters
Your protagonist finds a box filled with decades of unsent Thanksgiving letters of gratitude. What do the letters reveal, and what impact do they have?
10. The Thanksgiving That Almost Didn’t Happen
A crisis threatens to cancel Thanksgiving. Write about how the characters adapt or create a new version of the holiday.
11. A Solo Thanksgiving
A character spends Thanksgiving alone for the first time—by choice or circumstance. What emotions and discoveries emerge?
12. Thanksgiving at Midnight
A family decides to celebrate Thanksgiving at midnight instead of the usual afternoon. How does this change the mood, events, or conversations?
13. The Wishbone Prophecy
Breaking the wishbone doesn’t just grant a wish—it reveals a prophecy. This year, the message takes everyone by surprise.
14. The Unexpected Guest of Honor
Someone long talked about—but never seen—finally arrives for Thanksgiving dinner. How do the guests react?
15. The Thanksgiving Heist
As the family gathers, someone attempts to steal something important: a family heirloom, secret recipe, or private letter. Tell the story from the thief’s point of view.
Start writing!
Whether you use this holiday to reflect with gratitude or to craft entire worlds on the page, Thanksgiving offers a perfect moment to slow down and let your creativity surface. Pick a prompt, open a fresh document or clean notebook page, and allow yourself to write without pressure. You never know—one of these holiday stories might be the seed of something much bigger down the road.
Leave a comment