The Minimalist and the Collector
Describe the unconventional romance between a proclaimed minimalist and an avid collector. How do they influence each other's views on life and possessions, and what interesting compromises do they come to while moving in together?
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.
- Make the obstacle something they both believe in, not a misunderstanding.
- Put them in close quarters they can't escape.
- Tell it from the point of view of the one who falls first.
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 Contemporary Love Story prompts
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- Rivals in the KitchenDescribe a scenario where two chefs are fierce rivals in a high stakes cooking competition, but as tensions rise, so do sparks. Discover how they…
- Notes in Swapped BooksAfter accidentally receiving each other's order at a small-town coffee shop, two strangers keep the accidental exchange going by leaving notes for one…
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