Today, in 1823, A Visit From St. Nick was published. It is widely acknowledged that not only did this poem reintroduce St. Nick, but also fleshed out his iconic image.
The iterations and interpretations of this anapestic tetrameter seem innumerable. My favorite is the Rankin and Bass 1974 made-for-TV cartoon featuring a horologist’s family and his house mice.
There’s endless inspiration to draw from these facts. Creativity, whimsy, and imagination are the order of the day today.
Think of some of your favorite Christmas/Wintry holiday movies, songs, books, poems, etc. Now, make a list of the most obscure or seemingly irrelevant characters.
FLESH THEM OUT. Tell their stories. Give them life.
Do they have a bigger impact on the story than what is already apparent to the audience? Are they really the good guys? Are they really the baddies? How did they even make it into the story you know? What happens to them after the story you already know?
That will get the thoughts rolling. Now put that pen to paper or those fingers to the keys!
Sparks 