The Poetry of a Snowy Day
There’s something magical about the first real snowfall—the way the world goes quiet, every sound muffled under a soft white blanket. It’s the kind of hush that invites both adventure and reflection. Some of us head outside, mittens on, ready for a snowball fight or to roll the perfect snowman. Others, myself included, are just as likely to reach for a book and a blanket, curling up by a window to watch the flakes drift down.
But here’s a secret: these winter joys—snowball fights, building snowmen, and reading—aren’t as different as they seem. Each is its own kind of story.
Stories in the Snow
When I was a kid, the highlight of winter was always the first snowball fight of the season. There’s a playful creativity to it—ducking behind forts hastily built, plotting sneak attacks, and laughing so hard you can barely breathe. Then, after the cold seeps into your socks, you’d come inside, cheeks burning, to warm up.
That’s when the real magic began: opening a book and letting another world unfold, or scribbling a story of the day in a notebook. The exhilaration of play outside somehow spills into imagination on the page.
Building Snowmen, Building Stories
Building a snowman is another kind of creation. You start with just an idea and a handful of snow, and before long, there’s this character in your yard—sometimes wobbly, sometimes lopsided, always uniquely yours.
Isn’t that what we do when we read or write? We gather pieces—memories, words, images—and shape them into something new. Sometimes my best story ideas arrive in the quiet after a morning spent outside shoveling snow and searching for the perfect scarf.
A Few Winter Favorites
- Read: Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner (because who hasn’t wondered what snowmen get up to after dark?)
- Write: A one-page story from the perspective of a snowman—what do they see, think, or dream about?
- Try: “Snowball writing”—jot down a sentence, crumple the paper, toss it to a friend (or yourself!), then add to the story. It’s as fun as it sounds.
Weaving New Traditions
As the days grow colder, I find myself craving stories that feel like warm mugs of cocoa—gentle, inviting, sometimes a bit silly. Maybe you do too? If you’re a fellow reader, what’s your go-to winter book? Or do you keep a journal, catching little snowflake-thoughts before they melt?
I’d love to hear your favorite snowy stories or writing rituals. Drop a note in the comments, or share a book that makes you feel as cozy as a pile of scarves and blankets.
