Steps After Heartbreak
Imagine a romance that blossoms during a community dance class. Both individuals signed up to try something new after experiencing tough breakups. Detail their initial awkward encounters, growing friendship, and eventual realization of feelings for each other.
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.
- Tell it from the point of view of the one who falls first.
- 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.
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 Romance prompts
- The Date on Her WristImagine a world where everyone has the date they will meet their soulmate tattooed on their wrist from birth. Write a love story about a character…
- Romance at the Dog ParkDevelop a story about a budding romance at a dog park, where two pet owners start chatting because their dogs seem to like each other. Intertwine…
- The Rival Stars' DuetDevelop a narrative around two rival pop stars who are forced to record a duet together. Their initial disdain for each other's music and…
- Love Across the ScreenCreate a tale based on a couple dealing with long-distance relationship challenges. They keep their love alive through creative online dates, shared…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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