Every Christmas, short story writers strive to find new ways to make a comment in fiction on an ageless story – the birth of Christ. The following original writing prompts may give writers a new focus for a story that concentrates on the serious religious origin of Christmas.
Writing Prompt 1 - The Nativity Scene
Joseph looked down into the crib at a child he knew he had not fathered, a child he took responsibility for on trust. A scrap of humanity. He put his hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Are you so sure, Mary, that this boy is destined for greatness?”
Writing Prompt 2 - The Christmas Shepherds
Chanan sat near a small fire on the hillside, hugging his knees. The sheep were settled; the other shepherds were dozing. He was, his father often said, a no-account eleven-year-old, too clumsy to attract a master or to work in the family’s silversmith shop. But he could mind sheep; he could certainly mind sheep. He stared now as the strange glow in the sky silvered the backs of the sheep.
Writing Prompt 3 - The Three Wise Men
Melchior had a dream – a very ugly dream where blood ran in the streets and babies severed heads were held aloft. It was to do with the child they had visited, the child they had fallen down and worshipped. Melchior had no doubt, as he and the other magi offered their precious gifts, that this small child was the promised king of the Jews. Herod had sent them, but they did not have to do Herod’s bidding. They would not report the child’s whereabouts to this cunning tyrant; they would go home another way.
Writing Prompt 4 - The Innkeeper of Bethlehem
Adlai the Innkeeper was puzzled. He stared out into the cold night at the stables of his poor establishment. More visitors – travellers from afar on camels. But they didn’t come seeking rooms; they headed straight for the stable where he had housed those people. The woman had given birth on the straw and he had taken her a bowl of broth. The child was unremarkable, for all the mother’s fussing. But people seemed to somehow know they were there. They came in a steady stream to see the child. If he had known they were important, he would have charged them more.
These four traditional perspectives on the Christmas story should provide an opportunity for writers to develop a short story that emphasises the true meaning of Christmas rather than a funny Christmas story. The author is pleased to relinquish copyright and offer these brief passages for public use.
