I don't want to Christmas right now

[ThisAdamGuy]

[THIS POST HAS BEEN CONSUMED BY THE CHRISTMAS VOID]

 

[Placeholder]

> Inspire me

 

[CharlesEBrown]

You can't really rush the Christmas spirit (even though Dollar Tree has some Christmas stuff up). When it comes, it comes...

Oh, there's a VERY oblique reference to this series in chapter seventy three of Between Earth and Pyrroth (in that universe, it exists as a seasonal comic book...)

Malcolm shook his head. “It’s pretty good, really - it’s kind of an Isekai western, but not really. Guy at the comic shop recommended it, and so far he’s only been wrong once.”
“Once? You mean that silly reindeer thing he recommended?”
“Yeah. The first series was kind of cute, and my cousin Jordan loved it, but the second series was, in his words ‘too mushy,’ and a little less silly.”

(As an aside, Malcolm and his cousin are Jewish so a Christmas story ... is probably not REALLY their thing)

 

[JayMark]

 

[Tempokai]

 

[chivesgeorgiy]

You're definitely not alone! Every creator hits that wall where tradition and new commitments collide. But think about it: the Christmasekai series has already become something friends and readers look forward to each winter—it’s like putting up holiday lights or rewatching your favorite cheesy specials.

What if you keep things simple this year? Maybe brainstorm fun, bite-sized chapter ideas, or ask the community for wild prompts—everyone’s best “what if Santa had to rehire?” scenario, for example. Even a shorter adventure could be enough to keep the tradition alive, plus it might take the pressure off while XNPC rolls ahead and you’re juggling co-writing.

Personally, I always find browsing ridiculous holiday memes or soundtracks (Mariah Carey, anyone?) gets the festive gears turning, even when my schedule’s full. So: what’s one totally wacky Christmas trope you haven't used yet? Maybe a reindeer labor union… or Santa lost in the multiverse?!

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Could always have another holiday get involved - say the Easter Bunny needs some help or something...

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Could always have another holiday get involved - say the Easter Bunny needs some help or something...

Bugs Bunny did it. *^^*

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

Could always have another holiday get involved - say the Easter Bunny needs some help or something...

And the tooth fairy, and the sandman, and Jack Frost, and...hold on, this sounds familiar.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

The Legion of Super Holidays...

 

[nainaabraham]

I mentioned I Applied For A Delivery Job And Got Turned Into A Flying Reindeer?!, the Christmasekai series I put out a new book for every December, in another thread, and it made me realize: I should probably get started on this year's instalment if I want to have it ready without having to scramble to get it finished at the last minute. But the thing is...

I don't wanna.

I'm super busy trying to get XNPC ready for its big release (I think it's going to be in March) and my co-authoring gig is probably going to start up again any week now, and I really don't want to put yet another project on my plate. But I also know that if I don't, once December rolls around I'm going to be super bummed out that I didn't keep the tradition going.

So come on, guys. Inspire me. Put me in the Christmas mood.

Totally get where you’re coming from , when you’ve got multiple projects on your plate, it’s hard to switch into a festive headspace. Maybe instead of thinking of it as “a whole book,” just start sketching out a few fun Christmas ideas or scenes when you’ve got downtime. Sometimes even writing a silly short piece can spark the mood and make the bigger project feel less overwhelming.

 

[rainchip]

You can't really rush the Christmas spirit (even though Dollar Tree has some Christmas stuff up). When it comes, it comes...

Oh, there's a VERY oblique reference to this series in chapter seventy three of Between Earth and Pyrroth (in that universe, it exists as a seasonal comic book...)


(As an aside, Malcolm and his cousin are Jewish so a Christmas story ... is probably not REALLY their thing)

Dollar Tree/General having Christmas stuff on one isle and then Halloween stuff right next to it on the other isle pissed me off so much last time I went lmao. Where's the respect?? The class?? We used to STAND for something. Still bought my hot fries though.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Dollar Tree/General having Christmas stuff on one isle and then Halloween stuff right next to it on the other isle pissed me off so much last time I went lmao. Where's the respect?? The class?? We used to STAND for something. Still bought my hot fries though.

There are still some Easter Baskets in one aisle... The "Back to School" stuff disappeared last week, Thanksgiving took over that space, Halloween has half of two aisles, plus the "second candy aisle" across from the "generic" fall stuff, and Christmas has one aisle plus two endcaps... It's a holday mashup.

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

All right, all right! I'll write the stupid book! You can all stop begging now...

Chapter One​

Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry…

The young reindeer’s heart burned with flames of red and green as he soared above Laetitia’s rooftops. The setting sun bathed Val Luminara in a deep orange light, and there was an electrifying sense of expectancy in the air. His Rider was a comforting weight on his back, her hands wrapped confidently around his antlers as she guided his every movement even in the familiar skies they called home.

They came to Aurora Square. Hundreds of feet below them, the cobblestone courtyard was filled to the bursting point with elves. Dressed in colors more vivid than any rainbow back on Earth, they were almost as bright as the thousand-foot-tall Christmas tree that stood in the exact center of the square. His Rider pulled on his antlers, and he swept around the side of the tree, admiring the gem-like ornaments that hung magically suspended in the air between its branches. Each one shone with a light as bright as the sun but paradoxically as gentle on the eyes as a firefly’s butt.
You better not pout, I’m telling you why…

Celebration Hall blazed with light as well, beams of radiant colors dancing to and fro as if the Northern Lights themselves were trapped within its walls and fighting to break free. A platform large enough to hold an aircraft carrier had been set up in front of the mansion, which extended out into the square before curving sharply upwards to form a ramp that was almost as tall as the tree itself. Thousands of other reindeer stood on the platform, along with their Riders, eagerly awaiting the big moment. That was the epicenter of the cloud of anticipation that could be felt all across the city, and the young reindeer could scarcely wait to add his own to it.

In fact, why wait at all?

His Rider pushed on his antlers, trying to guide him into a gentle descent toward the platform below—and he shot downwards in a nosedive like an antlered comet instead. The wind roared in his ears, trailing its teasing fingers through his fur, and he couldn’t help but laugh in delight at the thrill of it all. This was what life was all about: flight, freedom—and more than anything else, Christmas. When he was only twenty feet above the ground, he flipped himself rightside up again just in time to slam down onto the wooden platform in a crouch, one arm extended to his side, sending a bone-shaking BOOM echoing out across the platform.

Because Justin Flinchley’s coming to town!

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

Here's a funny Christmas story: when I was a kid, it always confused me when Santa would bring me movies for Christmas. Like, toys I could understand, but you can't just "build" a movie in a workshop. You needed actors and stuff. So I decided that whenever a movie came out, Santa must have flown all the actors out to the North Pole and reshot the movie scene for scene. That way, they'd have the footage to make their own copies whenever someone asked for it for Christmas.