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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12323
Short Stories: December 20, 2023 Issue [#12323]




 This week: Blessed Is the Season
  Edited by: Shannon Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon Author IconMail Icon and I'm your editor this week.

Purchased from stock.adobe.com

Keep reading for your chance to claim an exclusive trinket!


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B01DSJSURY
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Letter from the editor

"It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be." ~ Scrooged

Christmas is my favorite holiday: snow, Christmas carols, shops decorated in holiday glory, and children's eyes glowing with wonder and expectation. There's nothing quite like the feelings a child experiences upon waking on Christmas morning, and I remember it well.

Some of the greatest stories were written about this time of year. Today I'd like to highlight a few of what I believe to be the best opening lines from Christmas stories around the world. Perhaps something will inspire you to write a Christmas story of your own.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

“Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a doornail.”


The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

“One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.”


The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern

“The little town straggling up the hill was bright with coloured Christmas lights. But George Pratt did not see them. He was leaning over the railing of the iron bridge, staring down moodily at the black water. The current eddied and swirled like liquid glass, and occasionally a bit of ice, detached from the shore, would go gliding downstream to be swallowed up in the shadows.”


Miracle of 34th Street by Valentine Davies

“If you searched every old folks’ home in the country, you couldn’t find anyone who looked more like Santa Claus. He was the living, breathing incarnation of the old gent--white beard, pink cheeks, fat tummy and all--and his name was Kris Kringle, too.”


The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann

“Snow was falling gently on the streets, and people were hurrying home, their arms filled with gaily wrapped boxes and paper parcels from toy stores, candy shops, and bakeries. For it was Christmas Eve, and as twilight fell, the children throughout Germany waited in hushed expectation for night to arrive, and with it their gifts from the Christ Child.”


The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

“Tuck looked at the red-and-white pile on the ground at his feet and realized for the first time what it really was: a dead Santa.”


A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

“Imagine a morning in late November. A coming of winter morning more than twenty years ago. Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. A great black stove is its main feature; but there is also a big round table and a fireplace with two rocking chairs placed in front of it. Just today the fireplace commenced its seasonal roar.”


The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol

“The day of Christmas Eve ended, and the night began, cold, and clear. The stars and the crescent moon shone brightly upon the Christian world, helping all the good folks welcome the birth of our Savior. The cold grew sharper, yet the night was so quiet that one could hear the snow squeak under a traveler’s boots from half a mile away.”


The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

“Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot…
But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, did NOT!
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”


A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

“It was only November sixth but Chicago had just been hit with its second big blizzard of the season, and Mr. Oswald T. Campbell guessed he had stepped in every ice-cold ankle-deep puddle of dirty white slush it was possible to step in, trying to get to his appointment.”



Have you written a Christmas story you'd like to share with the WDC community? Every registered author who shares their ideas and/or creative endeavors relating to or inspired by this week's topic will receive an exclusive "Christmas 2023" trinket. The image used to make this month's trinket was created by yours truly. I will retire this month's limited-edition trinket in February when my next short stories newsletter goes live.



“Christmas is like candy; it slowly melts in your mouth sweetening every taste bud,
making you wish it could last forever.” ~ Richelle E. Goodrich


Thank you for reading, and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

A swirly signature I made using the Mutlu font and a drop shadow.
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Newsletter Archives Open in new Window. (E)
A listing of all my newsletters in one easy-to-find place.
#1555482 by Shannon Author IconMail Icon


Editor's Picks

I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. I occasionally feature static items by members who are no longer with us; some have passed away while others simply aren't active members. Their absence doesn't render their work any less relevant, and if it fits the week's topic I will include it.

Thank you, and have a great week!


Christmas Died at Logan Open in new Window. (13+)
An FBI agent reluctantly tracks down a jaded Santa Claus in the North Pole.
#1174662 by JW Fiction Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#787495 by Not Available.


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Jeffrey's Gift Open in new Window. (E)
With Christmas as the backdrop, Jeffrey teaches his Mom about what is important in Life
#955798 by PENsive is Meemaw x 3! Author IconMail Icon


Jillian's Gift Open in new Window. (E)
It was not the nicest wrapping job he had ever seen.
#1046156 by Rasputin Author IconMail Icon


 
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Hitchhiker Open in new Window. (ASR)
A Christmas story.
#1043664 by Leger~ Author IconMail Icon



 
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Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Ask & Answer

The following is in response to "Kindle CreativityOpen in new Window.:

*Vignette5* ~


Jeff Author IconMail Icon writes: I love Atlas Obscura! I'm a huge fan of websites with unique stories and interesting information; I'm always looking for inspiration for the next story! *Bigsmile*

*Vignette5* ~


Imogen Elliott Author IconMail Icon writes: Hey there! Just wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks for all the creative inspiration you've given me. Your contributions have been incredibly helpful in improving my writing skills. I just love this forum and the positive energy it brings. Thanks again, and lots of love to you all!

*Vignette5* ~


Elfin Dragon-finally published Author IconMail Icon writes: You know me, I'm all for checking out the contests, especially poetry, and seeing if I get inspired. But I always love it when they only give a very brief and open-ended prompt. It allows me to really stretch my wings. Just like this one where the requirement was just to write a story about what happens when Santa is unable to deliver presents.
 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2106122 by Not Available.


*Vignette5* ~


BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author IconMail Icon writes: Always something to look into.

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W.P. Gerace Author IconMail Icon writes: Greetings, Shannon. I do hope you are doing well today. Thanks so much for sharing all those resources in today's newsletter. I am going to grab them and save them. Tons of inspiration. You rock, Shannon. Thanks again, friend. :) :)

Yours Truly,
Bill G.

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dragonwoman Author IconMail Icon writes: I receive the Ripley's Believe It or Not newsletter and one called Fascinate. Both often inspired me.

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Damon Nomad Author IconMail Icon writes: Excellent newsletter and thoughtful ideas for keeping the creative engine going.

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Lilli 🧿 ☕ Author IconMail Icon writes: This newsletter has massive amounts of appeal for me - I love all the links and will be saving them! Thanks for a great newsletter!

*Vignette5* ~


Keep it creepy,fuzzy & staiNed Author IconMail Icon writes: Interesting newsletter, and I agree with vintage as it is commonly used into a horror, an old house, an old toy, usually the older the creepier is is expressed. Thanks for the newsletter. *slasher*

stained.

*Vignette5* ~

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