Hallmark Christmas Story #2: Sweater Weather

Hallmark Christmas Movie Prompt: The one where a girl brings home a fake boyfriend + the one where a workaholic lets loose and finds love

A lead designer at Chicago’s top sweater company, Samantha has been put in charge of “reinventing the Christmas sweater.” While she stresses over stale designs, her mother calls and begs her to come home to Wyoming for the holidays (hopefully with a man). Samantha bribes her new coworker Cole into being her boyfriend for Christmas.

After the initial awkwardness of pretending to be a couple, they join the family on a snowmobile outing. Samantha and Cole race off-road and run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. They manage to discover an empty cabin (fortunately stocked in whiskey) right before sunset. They stay up all night drinking and talking, finding inspiration for the sweater line, and falling for each other.

Her family rescues them in the morning. Sam and Cole kiss in the snow.

Flash-forward to a year later, they’re married, and their reinvented Christmas sweaters are a hit!

[Story: 150]

This is part of a self-imposed Christmas writing challenge where I compose 6 cheesy, 150-word holiday stories inspired by Hallmark… because we got rid of cable this year and I need holiday cheer.

Hallmark Christmas Story #1: Jingle Bell Rock!

Hallmark Christmas Movie Prompt: The one named after a Christmas song + The one about a childhood crush blossoming into true love over Christmas

Jerry is a hot rock star who is still in love with Mindy, his 9th grade lab partner. While sifting through his fan mail, he finds a letter from a teenage fanclub, pleading him to perform at their school. He needed a change of pace, so he arranges to play at their Christmas dance. His manager, Adam, is thrilled because this could boost record sales.

When he meets his teen fans, Jerry finds out that Mindy is their science teacher! The two reconnect. She’s skeptical at first, but falls for him when she sees how good he is with the kids. Everything’s going well, until she overhears greedy Adam on the phone. She gives Jerry the cold shoulder. Mindy’s friend tells Jerry why. Jerry fires Adam. During Jerry’s performance at the Christmas dance, Mindy sees that he’s both sexy and sweet. They kiss outside the school cafeteria as it snows.  

[Story in 150]

This is part of a self-imposed Christmas writing challenge where I compose 6 cheesy, 150-word holiday stories inspired by Hallmark… because we got rid of cable this year and I need holiday cheer. 

Holiday Writing Game: "Original" Hallmark Christmas Stories

I started watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies in 2011, my first year of teaching and my first year of living alone. I’ve always loved Christmas, but it’s hard seeing lights and decorations outside and coming home well past nightfall to an empty apartment. Cheesy Hallmark movies made me so happy and cheerful that I decorated my mantle and put up a tiny Target tree.

At this point, I know the basic plots and I like guessing which one will show up in each movie and how true love and holiday cheer will win. This year, however, we got rid of cable. I can’t see the latest Hallmark originals. So I’m going to make my own, especially since I failed at NaNoWriMo (1 completed story + 3 partially written…). I listed, then randomly paired, the 12 Hallmark Christmas storylines I see most often. I’ll try to write them in 150.

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My Hallmark Christmas Stories:

1. Jingle Bell Rock! (12/5/15)
2. Sweater Weather (12/20/15)
3. Mall Santa (12/21/15)
4. Winter Wonderland Wedding (12/22/15)
5. Merry Texmas! (12/23/15)
6. A Recipe for Love (12/24/15)