Romance fiction is always craved, whether for an easy read or to delve into fantasies that just aren’t possible. There are millions of romance fans out there, always looking for something new to read. Excite and intrigue your readers with these romance writing prompts.
Writing prompts are great for submitting to writing competitions and magazines, of which many ask for cosy romances. Romance short fiction is also massively popular, with short stories, novelettes, novellas, and anthologies published by prolific writers.
Explore something new with the writing prompts I’ve compiled below.
Any acknowledgement or credit for using any of my writing prompts is always appreciated, whether it’s linking to my website from yours or a social media shoutout.
Enjoy!
22 romance writing prompts
You can take just one prompt or combine any of the following for one story! Every prompt is entirely up to your interpretation.
You’ll find prompts for characters, words, settings, tropes, plotlines, and something sensory below.
Characters: A chef. A nymph. A character with an embarrassing secret.
Words: Violet. Oasis. Gardening. Striptease. Buttercream. Protective.
Settings: A garden party. A local museum. A cat café.
Tropes: The Matchmaker. Secret Admirer. Double In-Law Marriage.
Plotlines:
- Falling in love during the length of a pregnancy.
- A date that takes place in a zoo.
- The journey to a 50th wedding anniversary.
- 3 barriers to a relationship: a jealous friend, a narrow-minded relative, and a stressful engagement party.
- Pet lovers who bond over a love for their pets; but the pets don’t get along.
- Swept up in fantasies, a character gets into debt over impressing their partner.
Sensory: Velvet.
Romance character ideas
If you’re looking for more inspiration, try out these romance character ideas.
- A journalist meets their next crush while conducting interviews about a local business.
- A livestreamer who finds love in a co-op game.
- Two characters who meet when they start attending a painting class at the local nature reserve.
- An astronomer stumbles on the perfect date spot and needs to find someone to share it with.
- A regular customer of a market stall selling candles needs the perfect gift for a new partner.
- After joining a polycule, a character realises that they all have one major thing in common: they’re all obsessed with Sherlock Holmes.
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