Love Twice in a Lifetime
Write a story about a couple who falls in love twice – once in their youth and again in their elderly years. Explore the changes in their relationship, the world around them, and themselves.
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.
- End on the first honest conversation, not the first kiss.
- Make the obstacle something they both believe in, not a misunderstanding.
- Put them in close quarters they can't escape.
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
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- 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…
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