Matched by Curiosity
Imagine a world where people are matched by their most dominant emotion. Write a romance about a couple matched by their "curiosity" and the adventures it leads them through.
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.
- Give them a deadline: the contest, the wedding, the last train.
- Let a secondary character see what's happening before either lead does.
- End on the first honest conversation, not the first kiss.
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
- Notes Between the PagesPen a tale about a librarian who finds love notes hidden inside various books. Intrigued by the mysterious writer, the librarian sets out on a quest…
- Rivals on the PlaylistWrite a story about two rival coffee shop owners on the same street who anonymously bond over a shared online music playlist, not realizing who the…
- Love in the Pastry FinalsWrite a story where two competitors in a world-class pastry competition fall in love amidst the chaos of ovens and sugar sculptures. They must hide…
- Love in Cooking ClassDescribe a romance that blossoms during a series of cooking classes. The classes are run by a renowned, but harsh chef who unknowingly plays…
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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