Rivals at the Stove
Write a story about two chefs who are fierce rivals in a high-stakes cooking competition, but as the pressure mounts, they find themselves drawn to each other more than to the prize.
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 LGBTQ+ Romance prompts
- Love at the Book ClubWrite a story about an LGBTQ+ book club where two members with contrasting views about love—cynic and romantic—find themselves debating each week’s…
- The Wedding Party StrangersTwo strangers who keep showing up at the same wedding parties finally discover they have been set up by mutual friends. Explore their journey from…
- The Reunion After TransitionAn older transgender man, who lost his first love to prejudice decades ago, returns to his hometown for a high school reunion. There, he meets his…
- Snapshots From the Pride ParadeDescribe the journey of a couple who meet at a pride parade, bond over their shared love of vintage photography, and decide to travel the world…
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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