Jazz Love in Montmartre
Imagine a tale set in 1920s Paris, where an aspiring American writer falls in love with a French jazz singer. Detail their passionate and tumultuous relationship against the backdrop of the vibrant and evolving jazz scene of Montmartre.
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.
- Let a secondary character see what's happening before either lead does.
- End on the first honest conversation, not the first kiss.
- Make the obstacle something they both believe in, not a misunderstanding.
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 Historical Romance prompts
- The Invitation to the BallWrite a story set in Victorian England, where a young woman from a modest background receives a mysterious invitation to attend a grand ball at a…
- A Nurse and a Confederate SoldierSet during the American Civil War, explore the forbidden romance between a Confederate soldier and a Union nurse. Describe how they meet in secret and…
- The Samurai and the Farmer’s DaughterIn late 18th-century Japan, during the Edo period, write about a forbidden love affair between a renowned samurai and a peasant's daughter. Explore…
- The Pianist of ViennaIn the elegant ballrooms of 19th-century Vienna, a talented young pianist catches the eye of an enigmatic aristocrat. As their passion for music draws…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
Chapterly gives a draft somewhere to grow: chapters, daily word goals, and readers when you're ready.
Plans from $9.99 a month. Cancel any time. Your words are always yours.