The Bottle Letter Bookshop
A quiet seaside town, a mysterious, handwritten letter found in an old bottle, and an address leading to an unassuming bookstore. Write about the person who finds the letter, the journey to the bookstore, and the unexpected romance that unfolds with the person who wrote the message years ago.
Suggested length: A short story: 1,500 to 5,000 words, or flash fiction under 1,000
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Give them a deadline: the contest, the wedding, the last train.
- Let a secondary character see what's happening before either lead does.
- End on the first honest conversation, not the first kiss.
Writing romance books
Not whether they end up together, but how.
Romance puts a love story at the center and promises a happy ending: happily ever after, or at least happy for now. Readers know where it's going. The pleasure is in the obstacles, the banter and the moment the two leads finally stop fighting it.
What readers expect
- Two leads the reader roots for
- Obstacles that keep them apart
- Emotional growth, not just attraction
- A happy ending, guaranteed
A tip before you start
The happy ending isn't optional. Without it you've written a love story, and romance readers will tell you so.
More LGBTQ+ Romance prompts
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- The Rival Pop StarsVisualize a scenario where two rival pop stars are publicly pitted against each other by their fans and the media. Behind the scenes, they are…
- Rivals at the StoveWrite a story about two chefs who are fierce rivals in a high-stakes cooking competition, but as the pressure mounts, they find themselves drawn to…
- Love at the Book ClubWrite a story about an LGBTQ+ book club where two members with contrasting views about love—cynic and romantic—find themselves debating each week’s…
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