The Author and the Critic
Imagine a scenario in which a best-selling romance writer meets their biggest critic at a book signing, only to discover an undeniable chemistry. As they get to know one another, explore how their perceptions change and love blossoms.
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 Romance prompts
- The Lighthouse Love DareCraft a tale set in a small coastal village where an old lighthouse is rumored to bring true love to those who light it together at sunset. Follow a…
- The Last Road TripDevelop a story around two childhood friends who must navigate their budding romantic feelings while embarking on a road trip across the country to…
- Lovers from Rival FamiliesPen a love story set in a historical period of your choice, where the protagonists are from rival families. Despite the societal expectations and dire…
- Runaways in the Airport LoungeWrite a story about two people who meet at an airport lounge and discover they are both running away from their own weddings. Describe their journey…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
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