Letters on the Train
A story about two people who start off as handwritten pen pals in their teenage years and lose touch over time. Years later, they meet unexpectedly on a train, each on their way to crucial crossroads in their lives. Neither initially recognizes the other, but certain familiar phrases rekindle old memories.
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.
- Show the moment one of them almost walks away.
- Give them a deadline: the contest, the wedding, the last train.
- Let a secondary character see what's happening before either lead does.
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.
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- The Inn by the CoastOn a whim, a young book editor decides to take a solo vacation to a remote coastal town. At the quaint inn where they stay, they meet a local who is…
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