Letters in the Bookstore
Write a story about a character who inherits an old bookstore and discovers a series of love letters hidden in various books throughout the store. As the character reads through these letters, they become determined to find out who wrote them and to whom they were meant, leading to new connections and an unexpected romance.
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
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- A Day in Each Other’s ShoesCraft a tale about a couple who decides to switch lives for a day. The switch leads to surprising discoveries about themselves and each other…
- The Garden RivalsWrite about two people who meet while volunteering at a community garden. Their initial dislike for each other blossoms into a playful rivalry…
- First Dates Across CitiesWrite about a couple who starts a challenge to celebrate their anniversary: re-creating their first date in as many different cities as possible over…
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