This post is all about romantic writing prompts to inspire your creativity.
Feeling the urge to pen a passionate romance, but your muse is playing hard to get? Don’t worry, I’m here to help those creative sparks fly!
This post is packed with writing prompts for both young adult and adult contemporary romance, plus a dash of the paranormal romance to keep things intriguing.
Romance takes time to develop so these prompts are little longer than most. Dive in, tweak them as you see fit, and let your imagination soar.
ROMANTIC WRITING PROMPTS
I’M TO DIE FOR
The air pulses with the rhythm of the music, the scent of rum, coconut, and sweat hanging heavy over the undulating crowd. Neon lights swirl around you in dizzying patterns, casting an otherworldly glow over the sea of bodies.
You’ve long since kicked off your heels, your bare feet aching from hours of dancing. Your hair clings to your back, damp with sweat. The heat is suffocating, a palpable force that presses in on you from all sides.
A cool breath whispers against your neck, sending a shiver down your spine. You turn to find a pair of unnaturally green eyes locked on yours. They gleam with a hunger that makes your heart race.
The face that owns them is breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that it steals your breath. Icy fingers trace a path down your back, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
“You smell exquisite when you dance,” a low, smooth voice murmurs in your ear.
You manage a smile, unsure how to respond to the strange compliment. “I’m betting you taste exquisite,” you reply, your voice barely above a whisper. You flick your tongue over your bottom lip.
His eyes flash with excitement, like a light flickering to life behind his gaze. For a moment, you could swear you see fangs glinting in the neon light.
“Oh, I’m to die for,” he purrs, his voice as smooth as satin.
Before you can process what’s happening, he’s pressed against you, his mouth claiming yours in a searing kiss. It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. It’s like he’s consuming you, drawing the very breath from your lungs. And yet, you can’t help but press closer, losing yourself in the sensation of his lips against yours.
BOOSTORE ROMANCE
As you step into your favorite bookstore café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and new pages envelops you.
Your fingers trail over the spines of the novels, stopping on your favorite romance. Cradling it, you make your way to the counter and order your usual latte and a plump blueberry muffin.
Settling into a cozy corner table, you crack open your book, ready to escape into its world. A gentle cough breaks the spell. Your gaze drifts across the room to a man with striking features, his eyes meeting yours as he marks his place in the same book. A warm smile spreads across his face, and you can’t help but return it.
CRUSH ON THERAPIST
You’ve been chewing on your bottom lip the entire session. He’s noticed a few times but hasn’t mentioned it. Today’s the day you’re finally going to tell him what’s been on your mind. You can’t keep it in any longer. He’ll either reject you and you’ll stop seeing him, or… or he won’t. You feel dizzy with anticipation.
“You seem distracted,” he finally says, lifting his thick brow and leaning back on the couch. “Is there something else going on that I should be aware of?”
You take a deep breath and say, “Yes, there’s been something I’ve been wanting to get off my chest.” You glance at the tape recorder. “Would you mind not recording this part?”
He obliges and hits the stop button on the recorder. He looks a bit worried but stays silent, waiting for you to begin.
You fidget in your chair a little, clear your throat, then say, “Earlier you asked me if I was interested in anyone romantically. You’ve been my therapist for nearly two years, and I feel as if you know me better than I know myself. Well, I can’t think of anything more seductive than being understood. Can you?”
NEW GIRL NEXT DOOR
You’ve been grounded all summer. Trapped in this godforsaken house with your mother and her yapping Pomeranians for nearly a month. Your crime? Weed in the closet. My friends said they would call, but the calls get less and less frequent as their social calendars fill up.
The only thing keeping you from going crazy is your XBOX and the new goth girl who moved in next door. She fascinates you, this Wednesday Adams Bob Marley lovechild.
She is always dressed in head-to-toe black, with dreadlocks down to her waist, exuding confidence with every step she takes, as if she’s walking down a runway every time she leaves the house.
She leaves her window and curtains open all day long. You had no choice but to stare. You were under her spell. She’s always doing curious things in her room. Like chanting over a Wiccan altar. Like lighting Sage. Like lighting enough candles to set the whole neighborhood on fire. Today it looks like she’s folding paper.
You focus your binoculars to take a good look into her window. She’s making a paper airplane. Then she looks right at you and smiles – something she never does. Then she throws the airplane straight at you with perfect aim.
You catch the airplane and that’s when you notice writing that reads, “Open Me” in bold block letters. You open it. It says, “Hello, stalker. Wanna play?”
Yes, you think. I really do.
SUMMERTIME SADNESS
You’ve been crying all summer. Your boyfriend dumped you the day before your birthday. And the cherry on top? He dumped you via Instagram. “I’m just not in a good space,” the message said. “I want to take a break.” You stared at your iPhone in complete shock. You thought it might be some sort of joke. When you realized it wasn’t, you went into hysterics.
Your friends are all asking if you’re okay. You tell them that you’re fine, but you’re not. Your parents are starting to worry. Mom gives you a hug before leaving to get her quarterly Botox injection at the spa. At least she won’t be able to frown anymore.
She tells you there’s an envelope with cash for the pool guy downstairs. You are to give it to him when he comes around. When you hear the doorbell ring, you peel your sad self from your bed and go answer the door. The boy before you looks like a tattooed, more muscular version of James Dean – ripped jeans and a plain, faded black T-shirt.
Your mouth goes dry. You avert your eyes, show him to the pool, and go to the kitchen for a snack. Your phone buzzes. An Instagram notification. Your ex is on the beach with someone who is the complete opposite of you in every way. She’s wearing the same sparkly blue bikini you were going to wear on your birthday. You stare at the photo and then burst into tears. You cry so long that your eyes are raw and burning. There’s a tap on your shoulder.
“Why are you crying, rich girl?”
You stop crying and frown up at him – this gorgeous, sweaty pool boy who smells like chlorine and aftershave.
You grab the envelope from the kitchen counter and take a look at it. There’s a note on it written in red ink, in mom’s immaculate handwriting. It says, “He will have car trouble. Ask if you can give him a ride home. You’re welcome.” There’s a winky face beside the words.
You blink twice. Then, you look up into the most beautiful honey-colored eyes you’ve ever seen.
SOLO VACATION
Sick of playing the waiting game until everyone’s schedules align, you’ve decided to take matters into your own hands and embark on a solo vacation.
You’ve jotted down a plethora of dream destinations on slips of paper, mixed them up in a large Tupperware bowl, and closed your eyes. A shake of the bowl later, and your fate is sealed: Paris, France. Before you know it, you’re booking a flight and counting down the days until your escape.
As your plane touches down in the City of Love, excitement courses through your veins like champagne. You grab your luggage and make a beeline for your hotel, only to realize with a sinking feeling that you’ve grabbed the wrong bag. Instead of your clothes and toiletries, you’re staring at a stack of sketchbooks.
Curiosity gets the better of you, and you begin to flip through the pages. The artwork is phenomenal – sketch after sketch of people from all walks of life, each one captured with a depth and emotion that takes your breath away. There are old and young, beautiful and plain, each face telling a story that makes you wonder.
And then, you see yourself. Asleep on the plane, mouth open in a snore. The caption, scrawled in French, reads, “How can someone so beautiful snore like a bear?” A flush rises to your cheeks as you realize the talented artist must have been your seat-mate.
RAINY DAY
A woman in a bright yellow raincoat is jogging in the pouring rain along the train tracks near the park. You think it’s strange, and since you have nothing better to do, you sit in your car and watch her. She’s running like a woman possessed, sloshing through puddles the size of kiddy pools, arms pumping as if there’s some invisible finish line to cross. She’s completely soaked.
Getting bored with the ebb and flow of the windshield wipers, you decide to get out and talk to her.
You ask her, “Do you always run in the pouring rain, or are you just having a bad day?”
She frowns, looks you square in the eye, and says, “I was fired. It was a terrible day.” Then she smiles the most brilliant smile. You notice an adorable set of dimples. She then says, “But if the day includes a face as handsome as yours, I guess it can’t be that bad.”
LIQUID COURAGE
Today, your divorce was finalized. You never knew it was possible to feel happy, sad, scared, and exhilarated all at once. Overwhelmed by this whirlwind of emotions, you found yourself at a bar, sipping on one too many cocktails. Suddenly, an intriguing idea struck you. You would write an anonymous love letter to the handsome new neighbor next door.
With a playful grin, you began to write:
Dear Mr. Sexy Guy Next Door,
I don’t know your name, but I’m well-acquainted with your amazing physique and warm smile. As a self-proclaimed social pariah, the thought of asking you this in person makes me blush. So, here goes nothing…
Are you single? If so, would you be interested in getting to know a fun-loving, thirty-something year old woman recently back on the market? When I’m not writing embarrassing letters, I adore cooking, curling up with a good book, sipping craft cocktails, and snuggling with my mischievous cat, Binx. Full disclosure – he drools when he’s happy.
If you’re intrigued, leave your mailbox open on Sunday. If not, no hard feelings – a warm welcome to the neighborhood.
P.S. Those new red jogging shorts? Absolutely working for you.
Sincerely, Your cute (and hopefully not creepy) admirer next door. 😉
COFFEE SHOP CRUSH
As you step into your beloved coffee shop, the aroma of freshly ground beans envelops you. You approach the counter, ordering your usual Chai latte with an extra dollop of whipped cream. But as you reach for your wallet, the barista flashes a warm smile.
“It’s on the house,” he says, “customer appreciation day.”
Your heart lifts as you thank him, feeling a little brighter. Stepping out into the crisp air, you raise the cup to your lips, savoring the first sip… and that’s when you see it.
Scrawled on the side of the white cup in bold black letters:
“Seeing you smile is the best part of my day. Free lattes for life if you let me take you out tonight.”
I hope you have enjoyed these romantic writing prompts scenes. Let me know in the comments what you think or if these inspired you.
For more writing prompts check out my Mystery/Thriller Writing Prompts post here.
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