50 Free YA Writing Prompts to Spark Your November-December Stories (+ Free PDF Download!)
by The Book Pup on November 26, 2025
Readers and writers aren't that different, we're all storytellers at heart. Whether you're participating in NaNoWriMo, looking for your next creative project, or just love playing with story ideas, I've got something special for you.
I've created 50+ completely original YA writing prompts that capture that unique November-December energy, the transition between seasons, the reflection that comes with the year ending, and that cozy-yet-melancholy vibe that makes for the best stories.
And the best part? You can download all 50 prompts as a free PDF at the end of this post!
What's Inside the Prompt Collection
I've organized more than 50 prompts across 6 different genres so you can jump straight to what inspires you:
📖 Fantasy & Magic (16 prompts)
Magical markets, seasonal powers, harvest curses, and winter prophecies. These prompts blend the everyday with the extraordinary.
Sneak peek: "A teen discovers they can bring autumn leaves back to life, but only until the first snowfall. They have one month to save their dying grandmother using this magic before winter erases their power forever."
💕 Romantasy (11 prompts)
Because what's better than romance? Romance with MAGIC. These prompts feature winter fae, love spells, soulmate curses, and magical time loops.
Sneak peek: "A winter storm traps two enemies in a remote cabin, no electricity, and a cache of old board games. They have three days until rescue, three days to confront why they really hate each other."
🏙️ Contemporary/Realistic (9 prompts)
Real-world stories with emotional depth. Family dynamics, friendship struggles, first love, identity, and those painful-beautiful moments of growing up.
Sneak peek: "A teen finds a box of unsent letters their deceased parent wrote, one for each November of their life they'd miss. Reading them through the month becomes both healing and devastating."
⚡ Action/Adventure (7 prompts)
High stakes, dangerous challenges, and protagonists who have to ACT. Heists, survival scenarios, resistance movements, and races against time.
Sneak peek: "A group of teens plans to steal back illegally seized family heirlooms from a museum before the winter gala where they'll be displayed, and sold to private collectors... forever."
🔍 Mystery/Thriller (5 prompts)
Dark secrets, unsolved cases, and dangerous truths. These prompts feature murders during first snow, cold cases, countdown mysteries, and investigations that get personal.
Sneak peek: "In a small town, someone dies every year on the first snowfall. It's been dismissed as coincidence for decades, but the teen protagonist has figured out the pattern, and this year, the snow is predicted for next week."
✨ Genre-Bending Bonus Prompts (2 prompts)
Stories that don't fit neatly into one box. These are the weird, wonderful, unique ideas that could go in any direction you take them.
How These Prompts Are Different
I didn't just write generic "what if?" scenarios. Each prompt includes:
✅ A clear protagonist - You know who the story is about
✅ Built-in conflict - The problem is right there
✅ Stakes - What happens if they fail
✅ A hook - Something that makes you want to know more
✅ Room to grow - Enough detail to start, enough space to make it yours
Ways to Use the Prompts
For Long Projects (Novels/Novellas):
- Pick one prompt and develop it into a full story
- Combine 2-3 prompts for a more complex plot
- Use it as a jumping-off point and let the story evolve naturally
For Short Stories:
- Write a complete story from one prompt (aim for under 5,000 words)
- Challenge yourself to tell the whole story in one powerful scene
- Submit to writing contests or magazines
For Writing Practice:
- Use one prompt per day for daily writing practice
- Set a 30-minute timer and free-write
- Focus on craft elements (dialogue, description, pacing)
For Fun:
- Mix and match elements from different prompts
- Change genres (make a fantasy one contemporary or vice versa)
- Write with friends and compare how you each interpreted the same prompt
November-December Writing Challenge
Want to turn this into a structured challenge? Here's a template (adjust based on your writing speed):
📝 Week 1 (Nov 1-7): Choose your prompt and brainstorm/outline
📝 Week 2 (Nov 8-14): Write your opening scene
📝 Week 3 (Nov 15-21): Develop characters and build conflict
📝 Week 4 (Nov 22-30): Write toward your climax
📝 December (1-15): Push through to the end of your first draft
A Few of My Favorite Prompts
I can't share all 50 here (that's what the PDF is for!), but here are three that I'm personally excited about:
From Fantasy:
"Between autumn and winter, there's a single day when both seasons exist at once. Those born on this day can exist in two timelines simultaneously, but this year, the timelines are diverging, and the protagonist must choose which reality to make permanent."
From Mystery:
"A teen receives an anonymous advent calendar starting November 1st. Each day reveals a clue about a crime that hasn't happened yet. The final revelation is meant for Christmas Day, and it involves someone they love."
Writing Tips for These Prompts
Don't overthink it. The first draft doesn't have to be perfect. It doesn't even have to be good. It just has to exist.
Make it yours. If a prompt sparks an idea that goes in a completely different direction, follow that instinct. The prompts are tools, not rules.
Focus on emotion. YA is all about big feelings and character growth. Even in action-packed plots, make sure we care about the people involved.
Write the story you want to read. If you're excited about your own story, readers will feel that energy.
Download Your Free Writing Prompts PDF
Ready to start writing?
👉 [Download the Free 50 YA Writing Prompts PDF Here] 👈
The PDF includes:
- All 50+ prompts organized by genre
- Tips for using the prompts effectively
- Bonus genre-bending prompts
For the Writers in Our Reading Community
If you're primarily a reader visiting this blog, you might be thinking "this isn't really for me." But here's the thing: understanding how stories are built makes you a better, more thoughtful reader.
You might surprise yourself. Maybe you have a story in you that's been waiting for the right prompt.
Final Words
November and December are perfect for storytelling, both reading stories and creating them. The world slows down a little, we turn inward, we reflect. That introspective energy is pure creative fuel.
Whether you write a complete novel, a short story, or just play with ideas in a notebook, I hope these prompts inspire something beautiful.
Now go create something amazing. ✨✍️
Happy writing, and may your November-December be filled with stories, creativity, and that perfect cozy writing atmosphere.
The Book Pup
👉 [Download the 50 YA Writing Prompts PDF Here] 👈
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