25 End of the Year Writing Prompts
It’s almost the end of the year, which means reflecting on it is all upon us.
Think back on the year – the good, the bad, and the weird.
Feeling sentimental?
Pumped for what’s next?
This is your chance to capture it all with your creativity.
Whether you’re a writing whiz or just starting out, these prompts are here to spark your creativity and get you thinking about the year that was.
We’re talking memories, challenges, wins, and everything in between.
Plus, by writing it all down, you’re not just preserving the good stuff, you’re also figuring out what kind of awesome journey you’ve been on.
End of the Year Writing Prompts
1. The Unfinished Symphony of The Year
Reflect on your experiences throughout the year. Think of the year as an unfinished symphony where each experience, event, or milestone is a note contributing to the melody. Detail those experiences that you feel were left incomplete, or those you wish to further explore. Maybe there’s a relationship you want to build on, a skill you started learning, or a goal you haven’t yet achieved.
Write a creative narrative that tells the story of your “unfinished symphony,” filled with its beautiful and jarring notes. Consider how you might compose the remaining piece in the next year.
2. Unboxing My Memories: A Year in Objects
Think about the physical objects that held the most significance for you this year. It could be a memento from a trip, a gift from a loved one, a book that changed your outlook, or even a simple everyday object that took on new meaning.
Craft a series of short stories or vignettes where each object serves as the centerpiece, revealing its story, your connection to it, and how it represents your journey through the year.
3. The Insignificant Yet Pivotal Moments
Sometimes, it’s the seemingly insignificant moments that end up shaping our lives in unexpected ways. Reflect on those small moments from your past year that had larger implications than you initially realized.
Write a reflective essay detailing these moments and how they subtly influenced your path over the year, and potentially into the future.
4. The Strangers Who Made a Difference
Every year, we cross paths with strangers who impact our lives in big and small ways. Reflect on the interactions with strangers that left a mark on you this year.
Write a series of letters to these strangers, expressing what you learned from them and how they impacted your life, even in their fleeting presence.
5. Lessons from the Year’s Best Mistakes
Consider the mistakes you made this year and what you learned from them. Oftentimes, our errors lead us to unforeseen wisdom or shifts in perspective that we otherwise wouldn’t encounter.
Craft a reflective piece exploring your top three mistakes of the year, the lessons you took away from them, and how these missteps have enriched your life or shaped your outlook.
6. My 12-Month Journey with a New Hobby
If you picked up a new hobby this year, trace your daily journey from when you started to where you are now. If you haven’t, think of an interest you have that you would like to pursue in the coming year.
Write a progression story about this hobby, detailing your initial challenges, breakthrough moments, and how this new skill or interest has enriched your year.
7. The Annual Emotional Landscape: Peaks and Valleys
Our emotional landscape is a complex terrain, filled with highs and lows. Reflect on the significant emotional experiences you’ve had this year, both the peaks of joy and the valleys of challenges.
Pen a personal essay exploring these emotional highs and lows, offering a raw and honest insight into your yearly journey.
8. Through the Rearview Mirror: A Perspective Shift
Reflect on how your views on a particular topic have changed over the past year. This could be anything from political views, to your stance on work-life balance, or even how you perceive yourself.
Write a comparative piece that explores the evolution of your perspective, focusing on the events or experiences that prompted these shifts in thinking.
9. The Unexpected Resolution of New Year
Reflect on a resolution that you never thought you would make. Perhaps it’s something that once scared you, seemed impossible, or simply wasn’t on your radar before. What led you to this unexpected decision? What challenges do you foresee in fulfilling this resolution, and how are you planning to overcome them? Imagine this as an exciting chapter of your life, full of unknown twists and turns.
Craft a personal narrative detailing the story behind your unexpected New Year’s resolution.
10. The Party that Changed Everything
Picture the wildest New Year’s Eve party that could ever happen. It could be full of fantastical elements, outrageous scenarios, or incredible celebrity appearances. Now, imagine something pivotal happened at this party that forever changed your life or the world at large. What was it?
Write a vivid short story encapsulating this memorable night.
11. Traveling Back in Time on New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve, you are given a magical artifact that can transport you back to any year in the past. Consider why you would choose that particular year and what you would do there. Would you change something about your life, witness a historical event, or meet a beloved figure from the past?
Describe your fantasy adventure in a detailed, time-travel diary entry.
12. An Unforeseen Visitor on New Year’s Eve
It’s New Year’s Eve and there’s a knock at your door. You open it to find an unexpected visitor. This could be someone from your past, a famous personality, a mythical creature, or even an alien! What happens next?
Write a dialogue-driven story detailing your encounter with this unforeseen visitor.
13. Reinventing Yourself: A New Year Transformation
The new year often symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. Imagine you have decided to completely reinvent yourself in the coming year. Who do you want to become? What changes would you implement? And what challenges would you anticipate in this transformation?
Write a reflective essay on your journey to a new you.
14. The Mysterious New Year’s Eve Countdown
On the stroke of midnight, as the New Year begins, something mysterious and magical happens. Maybe time stops for a moment, or maybe you gain a unique ability, or a cryptic message appears. What is this enigma and how does it affect your life moving forward?
Create a suspenseful short story based on this magical occurrence.
15. A Year in Review: Moments of Triumph and Lessons Learned
Reflect on the past year – the good, the bad, and the ugly. What were your triumphs and what were your failures? What valuable lessons did you learn that will inform your decisions in the coming year?
Write a heartfelt letter to your past self, filled with insights and encouragement.
16. Farewell Letter to the Last Year
Imagine the passing year as a person with whom you’ve shared joys, sorrows, and lessons. As you part ways, what would you like to tell them? Would you express gratitude, regret, or maybe give a piece of your mind?
Write a heartfelt farewell letter to the outgoing year.
17. The Secret Language of New Year Resolutions
Imagine that your New Year resolutions are not simply goals or wishes, but cryptic clues to a grand mystery or adventure that unfolds over the year. Each resolution is a step, a hint, or a task that you must accomplish. What does each resolution represent and how does it guide you?
Develop an adventurous short story unfolding the mystery hidden in your resolutions.
18. A Portal to Future: Midnight Moment
On New Year’s Eve, at the exact moment the clock strikes midnight, a portal to your future opens for just one minute. You can ask one question or see one thing – what would it be? How does this glimpse of the future affect your present and your plans for the coming year?
Write a reflective narrative on this unique time-traveling experience.
19. A New Year’s Eve in Parallel Universe
Imagine spending the New Year’s Eve in a parallel universe where everything is slightly (or vastly) different. Maybe it’s a universe where time runs backward, or dinosaurs coexist with humans, or where the world is entirely underwater. How would you celebrate the New Year there?
Compose a creative narrative depicting your extraordinary New Year’s Eve in a parallel universe.
20. The New Year’s Eve Heist
On New Year’s Eve, while everyone else is celebrating, you’re executing a thrilling heist. Maybe you’re stealing back a precious heirloom, or saving an exotic creature, or attempting to prevent a catastrophic event. What challenges do you encounter and how do you overcome them?
Write a suspense-filled short story detailing your daring New Year’s Eve heist.
21. Meeting Your Future Self on New Year’s Day
As the first day of the new year unfolds, you bump into a stranger who turns out to be you from the future. They are here to share something important with you. What is their message? And how does it impact your present life?
Create a thought-provoking narrative based on your interaction with your future self.
22. The Mysterious New Year’s Resolution List
You find a New Year’s resolution list on the ground. The list isn’t yours, but the resolutions mentioned are surprisingly relevant to your life. How does this list influence your decisions for the coming year, and do you try to find the person who wrote it?
Write a detailed narrative exploring the mystery and impact of the found resolution list.
23. My Ideal New Year’s Day Celebration
If you could design your perfect New Year’s Day from start to finish, without any limitations of time, space, or resources, what would it look like? Would it be an intimate day full of relaxation, an extravagant celebration, or a day of philanthropy?
Write a descriptive essay outlining your ideal New Year’s Day celebration.
24. A Strange New Year Tradition
Imagine a bizarre New Year’s tradition that is followed religiously in your town or family. Maybe it’s a peculiar dance, a unique dish, a strange countdown ritual, or a daring dare. How did this tradition come to be, and what does it mean to you?
Craft a humorous narrative around this strange tradition and its significance.
25. New Year, New Rules: Reimagining the World
As the new year begins, you are given the power to establish three new rules that everyone in the world must follow. These could be related to kindness, environment conservation, social interaction, technology usage, or anything else. What are your rules and why?
Write a persuasive essay justifying your chosen rules and predicting their impact.
