This week, I want to continue on with my Romance theme and continue to give you a few more romance story prompts and story starters.
Use these prompts and story starters as you will, taking what you need from them. As always, set yourself a time, perhaps 10 or 15 minutes, or even 5 minutes, choose a prompt and start writing and don’t stop until the timer goes off. This will generate new ideas for you or help you get over any block you might have.
Even if you do not write romance fiction, you could use prompts to help you develop your romantic subplot in your novel, or just to add some colour to your fiction writing.
A wonderful source of sharable story ideas is the list found at Penguin Random House’s The Writer’s Academy. Today, I share most of our prompts from this source. I also include a couple of prompts from last weeks recommended romance story prompts book, 1001 Romance Story Starters by Annette Elton. I like this book as it gives story ideas rather than just a prompt, giving you just a little more to work with.
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Prompt 1 – Monday
They’ve never met outside of a dream, but they are in love. One is the Moon and one the Sun.
(James Belmont, United Kingdom, Source: The Writer’s Academy.)
Prompt 2 – Tuesday
A couple react to a tragic event – it doesn’t involve them but it alters their relationship in a significant way.
(Jennifer Moore, United Kingdom, Source: The Writer’s Academy.)
Prompt 3 – Wednesday
A couple fall in love in a place one is otherwise unhappy. Write about their search for somewhere that suits both.
(Emma Wheat, United Kingdom, Source: The Writer’s Academy.)
Prompt 4 – Thursday
‘Is your name Lisa?’ asked the waitress. ‘Yes,’ she lied.
(Kit Wheeler, United Kingdom, Source: The Writer’s Academy.)
Prompt 5 – Friday
From 1001 Romance Story Starters by Annette Elton:
Your heroine blames your hero for the death of her husband. She vows revenge. What happens?
Prompt 6 – Saturday
From 1001 Romance Story Starters by Annette Elton:
Your heroine gave her innocence to the one man she has always loved. She wakes in the morning to find he has vanished. Five years later he is back. What happened?
Prompt 7 – Sunday
And one of my own:
She left every man she’s been with before he could ever decide to leave her. What makes this new man different? Why won’t she bail now?
I hope you find some inspiration or at least a few 100 words from these romance story prompts. If you have any questions or thoughts, please do not hesitate to leave me a comment below. I will reply as soon as I can!
Happy Writing,
Erica
Want More Romance Writing Prompts to Help You Write Your Novel or Short Story? Check Out 1001 Romance Story Starters Today
Or Want Further Writing Resources and Prompts? Click Here To See My Recommended Resources
I absolutely loved your idea of suggesting romance story prompts.
I found all of them fascinating and very inspirational.
They sure make the process much easier, especially on those days when we face a drought of ideas.
The technique of picking one story starter, setting the 10-15 minute timer and writing as much as possible, is wonderful!
I use it often and I invariably get marvelous outcomes.
I think I just had an idea of what to write about today. Thanks! 🙂
Hi Eliane,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I’m glad you found this week’s writing prompts inspirational:) What did you end up writing about?
All the best with your writing, Erica
So I’ve been talking to this male lately. All his signs point to “future together” even though we only went on 1 date. But he is so strange; his actions say yes but he doesn’t ask me out again. Said we’d go out in a month again. So after reading this story, it gave me hope. The sun is opposite of the moon ;just like men and women are completely different.
Hi Linda, I’m glad you found this post helpful:) Thank you for reading!
Erica
I am a devout novel addict. I could vividly picture the story – prologue, body, epilogue – and i must say these prompts are quite intriguing. I especially love the 4th one, there will definitely be some twists and revelations in that story. Many thanks for this. I’d send this to all my writer friends.
Hi John, I’m glad you liked them:) Thanks so much for reading.
Erica
Hi Erica, thanks again for a good post and the more I read your posts, the more you make me want to have a go at writing my own story. I love the fact that you give ideas for how you can start off your story and I did like the idea of using the timer and to see how you get on.
I will definitely give this a go one of these days.
Hi Cheryl – thanks so much for your positive feedback – I’m glad these prompts are inspiring you to start writing:) You should check out Holly Lisle’s writing free writing class to get your started. Here’s my referral link: https://bit.ly/2CTVFGa
Best of luck!
Hi again, Erica! I must say, this website is such a great source for writing prompts. My favourite from this bundle is number 4. I find it very intriguing. Do you have a favourite? This would be a great site to share with my writer friends, I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you!
I really like the first prompt, but then I tend to the speculative fiction type writing prompts. I’m glad you liked them.
Thanks for reading!