Twist A Christmas Classic

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

I love black and white movies especially Christmas movies. It takes imagination to fill in colors. A sense of richness is found in these movies. It's somewhat like reading a book and your mind picks what it wants to see.

I kicked off the holiday season watching Barbara Stanwyck in the classic movie, Christmas in Connecticut. Barbara plays, 'Smart Housekeeping' magazine columnist, Elizabeth Lane. Her column describes wonderful meals she cooks for her non-existent family on her fantasy Connecticut farm. In reality, she is not a housewife; she is a single working woman pounding out a living as a magazine writer in her New York no frills apartment. The fun begins.

Other favorite black and white Christmas classics movies are; The Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, It's A Wonderful Life, The Bishop's Wife, Come To The Stable, The Shop Around The Corner, It Happened on Fifth Avenue and Remember The Night. 

Do you want to write a Christmas classic? During this holiday season watch one or more of these classics. Write a new "what if" twist and create your own Christmas classic. 

Did you know the movie You’ve Got Mail was based on the Christmas movie classic, The Shop Around The Corner?

What's your favorite Christmas classic movie? 

Can you develop it into a new Christmas classic story?  

If you write it this season it can be in print by next Christmas.