Three Favours for a Forest Spirit
On your daily walk through the woods, a mythical creature saves you from a near-fatal accident. In gratitude, you agree to grant them three favours, only to discover that with each deed, the creature becomes more human. Uncovering their true identity, you are faced with the reality of falling in love with someone who may not belong in your world.
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.
- Put them in close quarters they can't escape.
- 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.
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 Paranormal Romance prompts
- The Locket in the WoodsIn a quiet town bordered by forgotten woods, your protagonist discovers an ancient locket that allows them to see the unseen - ghosts, spirits, and…
- Love Letters in the WallsAfter moving into an old Victorian house, you discover a series of love letters hidden within the walls, dating back over a century. As you begin to…
- The Flirtatious Séance SpiritYou're a psychic who specializes in communicating with the dearly departed. One evening, while conducting a séance for a client, you unexpectedly…
- The Masquerade CurseAt the town's annual masquerade ball, a masked stranger enchants you with tales of the supernatural. As midnight approaches, they reveal they are…
Fifteen minutes in? Keep going.
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