Masks at the Writers' Retreat
An author attending a mysterious, masked writer’s retreat discovers that their critique partner, hidden by anonymity, is their secret Internet writing rival. Pen words that capture their intense debates over literature by day and their equally passionate reconciliations by night.
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.
- Write the first meeting so it goes badly, in a way they'll laugh about later.
- Show the moment one of them almost walks away.
- Give them a deadline: the contest, the wedding, the last train.
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 Erotic Romance prompts
- The Poker Game of SecretsImagine a high-stakes poker game in a luxurious, yet secretive club, where the main characters gamble not just with money, but with secrets from their…
- The Chef and the TrainerWrite a story set in an exclusive, luxurious spa resort where a renowned chef and a celebrity personal trainer are both taking a sabbatical. Their…
- The Masquerade CEOImagine a high-powered CEO who attends a mysterious, upscale masquerade ball on a whim, only to encounter a stranger who captivates their every sense.…
- The Writer's Secret LettersDescribe the passionate relationship between a famous writer and their biggest fan who meets unexpectedly during a book signing event. Their romance…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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