Writing a Christmas Story—One Chapter at a Time

I’ve always been a writer who thrives in solitude. My process involves long hours, quiet rooms, and the singular, often daunting, task of making my voice the only one on the page. Collaboration? That felt like navigating a ship with twenty different captains.

Until now.

My brilliant friend, whose Instagram handle is @tiphreads (she’s the mastermind behind this), approached me with an idea that was simply too fun to pass up: Let’s write a Christmas story, but make it a grand, community effort. The original goal was ambitious—a writer for every day of Advent—but the core concept remains: a collective, free-to-read holiday tale, built chapter by chapter by a rotating cast of authors.

I joined the Discord channel she created, and I can officially report that we are now five authors strong!

Leaving the Echo Chamber

Joining this project has been an immediate, exhilarating shock to my creative system. This is my first collaborative writing project. Every novel, every short story, every article has been a singular vision. Mine. Now, I’m in a chat room, watching ideas spark and merge with lightning speed. It's less like writing and more like improvisational jazz. It'll take some getting used to.

The thrill comes from the unpredictability. When you write alone, you know the destination. Here, the destination is being built while we travel. Will there be challenges? Absolutely. Five (at least) unique writing styles, five distinct visions, five authors with varying schedules—it’s a logistical and creative puzzle.

But that’s precisely why I’m excited. Challenges force ingenuity.

The Solution: Embracing the Cacophony of Voices

One of the first hurdles we discussed was the inevitable clash of voice and style. How do you keep a single narrative coherent when one chapter sounds like Hemingway and the next sounds like Dr. Seuss?

Our current solution is one I’m incredibly excited to explore: The Multiple-Perspective Event.

Instead of a single, flowing narrative, we are leaning into the idea of a group of characters experiencing the same central Christmas event, but each chapter is dedicated to the experience of a different character within that group.

Think of it as a series of interconnected short stories, all taking place at the same party, or during the same snowstorm, or while working on the same unexpected Christmas crisis.

• One chapter might be the cynical perspective of Character A, told with gritty, sparse prose.
• The next might be the wide-eyed wonder of Character B, told with lyrical, detailed descriptions.
• The third could be the frantic internal monologue of Character C, focused entirely on action and dialogue.

This structure doesn't just tolerate different writing styles; it requires them. The differing voices won't be a bug; they will be the feature. Each author can lean into their natural style, knowing that they are authentically channeling their assigned character's unique way of viewing the world. It turns a potential weakness into the very foundation of the story’s charm and complexity.

The True Spirit of the Season

This experiment, this beautiful risk, feels like the true spirit of the holidays—it's about community, sharing resources, and creating something warm and magical together.

We're still welcoming more voices to the table to write a chapter and help shape the story’s direction. If you’re a writer looking for a low-stakes, high-fun collaborative experience, reach out! The more diverse our five (and growing!) perspectives, the richer this Christmas story will be.

I can’t wait to share the final result, but for now, the journey of collaboration is the best story of all. Stay tuned for updates!