Are you a romance writer not sure how to get down with your next writing project? Or maybe you're looking for a quick fling with a timer and some prompts to get the blood flowing. Check out the curated prompt list below, and I’m sure you’ll find one that’s just your type.

“Three Things” Writing Prompts

Allow these three seemingly unattached items to have a wee tryst in your head and see what kind of story you can pull from them.

1. A bouquet of wildflowers - denim overalls - a paint palette
2. Scattered rose petals - an hourglass - a pinstripe tie 
3. The smell of cookies - a muddy footprint - a lace doily
4. A pink scrunchie - the first snowfall of the season - an orange cat 
5. A starry night sky - a ball of yarn - an orange bowtie
6. A pen without ink - an overdue library book - a chocolate bar
7. A venus flytrap - a cobblestone road - a chess board
8. A dripping candle - scuffed leather boots - an odd looking hat
9. A gnarled tree - a deck of tarot cards - a bowl of nuts
10. A letter without a name - an intricate stone carving - a lace curtain

“Start With This Sentence” Writing Prompts

The idea is simple. You must begin with this sentence, and no changes allowed. (Or, if you’re feeling naughty, change it all you want. Who’s gonna know?)

1. The room was covered in discarded outfit ideas. 
2. One of these days, Charlotte would find her true love, but today wasn’t that day. 
3. The clouds threatened rain, but he promised her a picnic, and a picnic she would have. 
4. Above the table she was put together, while the tablecloth hid her anxious foot bobbing and meticulous nail picking. 
5. From across the crowded dance floor I spot her: bright pink dress, large blonde hair and the clumsiest moves I’ve ever seen.
6. Next to the sink sat a pair of sharp scissors and scattered clumps of brown hair; her own shocked face stared back at her in the mirror.  
7. Her mom always said, “Two’s company and three’s a crowd,” but that was about humans, not cats, right?
8. The library was busier than usual, and my favourite spot was taken. 
9. The warm sun and cool breeze played tricks on my skin as I laid in the park on my lunch break. 
10. Nothing like taking your shoes off after a long day's work. 

Scene Writing Prompts

Simply a scene to drop your characters into. Is this where they meet-cute? Is it where they break up? Perhaps it’s not the love interests who appear in this scene, but your main character and their support system or an ugly surprise visit from the past.

1. It’s a sunny day at a park in the heart of summer. Beds of flowers bloom at the edge of a looping trail. People throw frisbees, sit on blankets with picnic baskets and read on park benches.
2. Two young adults bike down a suburban road past people raking leaves and washing cars. The bright autumn foliage glows in the afternoon sun. 
3. Four women sit in their pajamas in a stylish living room. On the coffee table are various snacks, an open bottle of red wine, an open bottle of white, and some sort of raunchy prompt board game.
4. Beside an outdoor basketball court a group of people stare, wondering if they still want to play after the spring storm left these puddles behind. A woman steps forward, grabs the ball and eggs the rest of them on; they quickly decide that a little water won’t stop their weekly pick up game.
5. It’s chilly and the clouds are threatening rain. Someone sits on the side of an abandoned road, their car's hazards are blinking, and their head is in their hands.   
6. An awkward family dinner begins. The clinking of cutlery and quiet, “Can you pass me the…” requests are exchanged. Eventually one of the adult-children speaks up to break the silence.
7. A couple is canoodling on a couch when car lights pass over them through the window. They rush to separate and turn the TV on as two more people enter the house. The roommates tease the couple and continue to the kitchen to put groceries away.
8. A woman gets down on one knee in front of her date on a starlit apartment balcony. Finished plates of food and half drank wine glasses sit on a small glass topped table beside them.
9. An older man sits on a park bench with a bag of rice feeding the birds. A woman walks past and smiles at him. He touches the brim of his hat and smiles awkwardly back. 
10. A college classroom filled with engaged students listening to an Anthropology lecture. At the back of the room two young women are whispering and giggling looking at a student a few rows in front of them.

Dialogue Writing Prompts

Whispering sweet nothings, flirting and gossip are all great integrations to a romance story. Below you’ll find quirky dialogue options to get you started.

1. “Just because I don’t like roses, doesn’t mean you can’t get me flowers.” 
2. “You really put your foot in your mouth this time.” 
3. “Don’t call me that. I hate pet names.” 
4. “What do you think that cloud looks like?” 
5. “So,” he trailed off before continuing, “My mom is in town, and I'd like you to meet her.” 
6. “I like salads with walnuts, and getting smoothies from Jane’s, and I am into yoga, but have a whole heckin’ brain.” 
7. “You got a date for the gala yet?” 
8. “Have you ever been mountain climbing?” 
9. “May I have this duel?” he says as hands me a foam sword.  
10.  “Here hun, this tea will make you feel better.”

Setting Writing Prompts

Some part of your story (or all of it) will take place in this time at this location. We’ve also provided a little extra inspiration with an optional relationship trope to round out the prompt and add a little obvious romance.

1. A bustling city with an active music culture. Contemporary. Optional trope: coming of age.
2. A rocky beach with a slow transition from shallow to deep water. Historical, mid 20th century. Optional trope: instalove.
3. A cozy coffee shop decorated with local art and hanging plants. Contemporary. Optional trope: widow(er.) 
4. A small office with only ten desks and offices. Contemporary. Optional trope: Oblivious to love.
5. A public house serving only drinks, bread and weird soups of the day. Historical, 16th century. Optional trope: forced proximity
6. A massive garden, well maintained, with a large variety of flowers and other decorative foliage. Historical, late 19th century. Optional trope: dark secret.
7. A drive-in movie with only a few cars. Historical, 1950s. Optional trope: beauty and the beast.
8. The side of a busy city street which houses mainly office buildings with a few convenience stores and chain coffee shops. Contemporary. Optional trope: grumpy-sunshine.
9. A sheep farm which processes, dyes and sells the wool themselves. Contemporary. Optional trope: the bet/dare.
10.  A cemetery with grand statues and tombs. Historical, early 19th century. Optional trope: opposite side of the tracks.

Problem Writing Prompts

What’s a romance without a little friction between people? A reminder that not every problem has to affect the main relationship directly, so get creative with where this tension ends up.

1. A garbled phone message with no phone number to call back.
2. A sentimental item has been broken. 
3. A toxic blast from the past (ex, old friend, family member that hasn't been around) is influencing the MC. 
4. Up the creek without a paddle, literally. 
5. A minor illness (allergies, a cold, acne breakout, stress hives) must be hidden to remain desirable/ capable. 
6. A commendable career (working with children, animals, charity etc) is getting in the way. 
7. The MC must choose between two important people. (One could be the love interest or both could be family, friends, coworkers etc) 
8. The MC managed to put on two different shoes. Rushing out the door and into the car they don't notice, but once they are walking around the office they notice they are different heights. 
9. The weather forecast lied; as it regularly does. 
10. A couple decides to try a new hobby to spice up their social life. One of them loves it, the other? Not so much. 

Character Writing Prompts 

Who are they? Some interesting characters to plop into your story. Will they be your main characters, someone from the MC’s past, a new love interest, just a friend? The options truly are endless so get creative. Maybe pick a few and put them in the same story!

1. A man who loves frogs. He works a menial job but spends many of his weekends in frog habitats playing citizen scientist for local species. Despite his nerdy tendencies on the weekend, he fits in well at the office. A perfect mask you might say.
2. A woman who loves board games. She works at a small board game cafe and is the favourite game expert on staff. 
3. A young person who wears clothes from 3 decades ago with the confidence to pull it off. They’re in college with a part time job at a thrift shop.
4. A middle aged woman who works at a nursery. She doesn’t have any children of her own and doesn’t want any. She has eclectic hobbies including outdoor sports, playing the cello and oil painting. 
5. A middle aged man with two children from a previous marriage. He works at an apple orchard and regularly works at farmer's markets to sell their wares (apples, hard and soft cider, apple butter, etc.)
6. A middle aged person who spends a lot of time volunteering. They aren’t picky; they’ll volunteer at soup kitchens, animal shelters, hospitals, community gardens… They like to help and they enjoy the company of others.
7. A middle aged woman who’s going back to school to change careers. She’s been working as an administrator and wants to build on those skills to open a creative business.
8. An older woman who’s recently retired from a corporate job. She’s struggling to slow down and enjoy her new freedom. She’s picked up a lot of hobbies but not stuck with any of them, yet.
9. An older man who refuses to leave his job. He genuinely enjoys the job and mentoring the younger folks. He fears the loneliness that will come from leaving it. 
10. Someone who loves to and is great at singing but refuses to let other people hear it. They work as the night custodian of an elementary school.

Tropes with a Twist Writing Prompts

While everyone loves a good trope, especially with as much variety as the romance genre has, we tried to take these popular story lines and mix them up a bit for you!

1. Aloof couple - Or so everyone thinks. The truth is they tried dating, it didn't work and they went back to being friends. It’s just nobody else's business.
2. Office romance - but make it not an office. And try to avoid the other ones you've seen time and again. Consider construction sites, landscaping, cleaning service, museum guides…
3. Holiday romance - but you can’t use christmas or valentines day. I suggest getting weird with it, anything from National Donut Day to Easter.
4. Second chance love - A widow who can’t trust love finds her next perfect match, and it really isn’t who they expect. Consider surprises as simple as unmatching hobbies all the way to a sexual awakening. Ask yourself if it’s someone they've known all along or someone new.
5. Fish out of water - but not a new town or new job. Think about something more internal or on a personal level. Consider the person being new to loss, injury, recovery, illness, wellness or lifestyle.
6. Secret admirer - write it from both perspectives. Is the admired oblivious? Reluctant? In waiting?
7. Amnesia - they had been together before, and it was a disaster. The amnesiac, forgetting this, is trying to woo the love interest again despite being told it didn't work last time.
8. Blind date mix up - your protagonist meets their blind date no problem, it goes well but on their way home they experience a meet-cute and now they must choose.
9. Open marriage - it doesn't “fix” the marriage, but it also doesn’t drive them apart. You can take the polyamory route, the coparenting and living route, the “one person remains single because they have all they need, but the other has more needs” route. So many options but ultimately they stay together, learn something about themselves and each other and are happy (together) ever after.
10.  The knight in shining armor - but he is never the love interest, and he’s okay with that. He both saves her from the bad relationship and supports her in finding a new one. You could even consider having her try to rebound with him, and he just wants to be friends.

The Romance Special: Date Idea Writing Prompts

Since we’re talking love here, the perfect “Romance Special” is an unorthodox date idea! Some are more first date worthy, while others are definitely best further into a relationship. A date is a great place to add some tension in your story.

1. An indoor picnic because it’s winter and the couple wants to pretend it's summer. 
2. A bizarre museum trip. (consider the Gopher Hole Museum, the Neon Boneyard Museum or make up your own bizarrely specific museum!)
3. A “hole in the wall” tour of the town. (two great ways to set this up: have one character be new to town and the other show their favourite spots OR a character does a lot of research to set this up, maybe to prove the city isn't boring, maybe just for fun.) 
4. Go to a flea market or thrift store with the intention of choosing wacky outfits for each other. Then go out for dinner in those outfits. 
5. A paint and sip. You can have them do this at an event or let them be more intimate with a youtube tutorial video at home. 
6. Couch co-op video games and nostalgic snacks. This is an opportunity to explore competitive and/or cooperative interactions between your love interests.
7. A road trip (or bus trip) but let the dice or a coin decide where they end up. An interesting opportunity to actually let RNG help you in your endeavours or play God and choose the outcomes.
8. An intimate puzzle or lego building date. 
9. Head to IKEA (or some other furniture and homegoods store) and pretend to decorate your new home. (This is a great way to test the commitment and compatibility waters between your love interests.) 
10. Spend time people-watching and making up stories about the people they see. Cafes, parks and airports are great options. 

Just a Few Extra Writing Prompts

These might have fit elsewhere, or maybe they’re a completely different style, but we like a nice round list of 100, so here’s the final ten.

1. A graffitied brick wall - a bowler hat - blue gingham
2. A bowling alley that’s holding a 90’s night.
3. An angry outburst at a farmer’s market.
4. YA sweet romance at a summer camp for mathletes.
5. A grey wolf - a watercolour landscape - stage lights
6. A slow burn workplace romance.
7. Slip in a suspenseful subplot.
8. Tell the story through letters, emails and/or text messages. Consider multiple recipients, not just the lovebirds.
9. A floral tea cup - a rose bush - a brightly coloured mushroom
10. A date-finding game show actually works.

Thanks for taking a peek and I hope these were able to get your creative juices flowing. Keep your eyes peeled for more genre prompt lists to come!

– This post was written by Jerrica Black