Happy New Year! Whether you're looking for January writing prompts for students or to help you begin your own daily writing practice, try these fun creative writing prompts!

January! That month full of fresh starts and in some parts of the world, bitter cold and snow. No matter what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, start this month with a writing challenge to record a few lines each day in a daily writing practice. 

January Story Starter Prompts

Use the following starters to begin your own creative winter story!

1. He thought the new year would be different until he made a wish and…

2. They always made snow angels until one day…

3. She hated the winter months until one year…

4. One stormy night, the windows rattled and someone knocked on the door…

5. Their winter holiday was cut short when…

6. When she shook the snow globe, suddenly…

7. It was the most important game of the season, and…

8. Paulie the polar bear was having a very bad day…

January Winter Writing Prompts

9. Describe a snow day—real or imagined. How would you spend your time and why?

10. Imagine your dream winter vacation. Where would you go, who would you take, and what would you see? 

11. Describe a snowball fight, practicing strong verbs to put us in the middle of the action.

12. Cold weather presents a number of interesting problems. Write about one cold weather problem you've experienced and how you've tried to solve it.

13. What is your favorite winter outfit and why? Describe your winter gear specifically (either what you have now or what you had as a child). 

14. Write about your favorite (or worst!) winter vacation memory. 

15. Describe an ideal New Year's celebration. 

January Sentence Starter Writing Prompts

Use each of the sentences below to get you started.

16. The cold winter weather always makes me want to… 

17. I often feel the power of writing when I…

18. The most winter fun I've ever experienced was when…

19. One winter I was surprised when…

20. New Year's Eve always makes me feel…

21. My favorite winter meal is…

22. Winter sports make me want to…

January Journaling Prompts

There are numerous benefits of journal writing, but it can be especially helpful in January when you're setting new goals and recording your progress. Try these journal prompts to get you started.

23. Who is an author you'd like to read more of this year? 

24. List the writing skills you'd like to improve this year.

25. What is one daily habit you are working to cultivate this week? 

26. Describe how a calm moment feels for you. How could you nurture a few more moments of calm this week? 

27. What is a writing goal you do NOT plan to meet this month? Why?

28. If you make New Year resolutions, how can you incorporate them into your busiest days?

29. What is a word you'd like to define your new year and why? 

30. If you built a vision board for this year, what pictures and words would you include and why? 

31. Imagine it's the last day of your best year ever. What has happened over the course of the year? How can you take steps toward that vision this week? 

That's 31 days of writing inspiration complete! Let's get your writing year off to a great start. 

What is your favorite thing about January? Let us know in the comments.