Last week, I covered the new sapphic whychoose romance sub-genre, and today, I'm sharing writing prompts to inspire anyone interested in writing this type of romance. Below you'll find prompts ranging from paranormal to historical and using everything from much-loved tropes like enemies to lovers and forced proximity to some lesser-used ones like amnesia and black cat. Try writing one of the key romance beats for each prompt—the meet-cute, the moment when the characters realize they have feelings for one another, or even an intimate scene that brings them closer together—and see where inspiration takes you.

1. Tropes: Amnesia, forced proximity

   Sub-genre: Paranormal small-town romance in a world without humans

   MC1: Witch MC1 trope: Ice queen

   MC2: Banshee MC2 trope: Golden retriever

   MC3: Shape-shifting faery

   Prompt: MCs 1 and 2 are (reluctantly, in the case of MC1), have just finished working on a death spell to help one of their townspeople ascend to the afterlife when they are interrupted by MC3, who wanders into MC1's cottage. It turns out that MC3 has amnesia and no idea who she is or where she is from. But in her bag is a book of spells written in the language of the faeries of the north, and so MC1 and MC2 set out to return MC3 to her people. Through the trials and tribulations of their journey, they all fall in love, and by the time they reach MC3's land, none are willing to part with the other. But when they learn of MC3's destiny, will they be forced to let her go?
   

2. Trope: Afraid to commit, fated mates

   Sub-genre: Historical fantasy, set in 16th century China (Ming Dynasty)

   MC1: Latin American chili pepper merchant

   MC2: Chinese tea merchant

   MC3: Tibetan horse merchant

   MC4: Women's Kingdom queen

   Prompt: After months of clandestine meetings, MC2's husband discovers her relationship with MCs 2 and 3. But rather than punish her, he uses untapped magical powers to summon whirlwinds that take her and her lovers to the Women's Kingdom, where the MCs are finally free to live and love as they please . . . as long as they complete a few tasks from the kingdom's queen first. When the trio meet the queen, they are struck with a sudden realization: she is the fourth in their group, their fated mate. But is she ready to give up a life of one-night stands and short liaisons for lasting love?
   

3. Tropes: Enemies to lovers, lesbian toaster oven, forced proximity (only one bed)

   Sub-genre: Contemporary

   MC1: Virgin

   MC2: Grumpy

   MC3: Snarky

   Prompt: MCs 1,2,3, are all competing on a dating reality show, looking for the perfect husband. They're fiercely competitive and intent on winning, but when one night forces them to share a bed away from the cameras, they realize their connection to each other is far stronger than to the man they're supposed to be wooing. Yet each has a reason to stay on the show. But as the competition heats up, it becomes harder to hide their feelings for each other from the cameras. And when their secret is revealed, will they be forced to choose between each other and the show?
   

4. Tropes: One night stand, grumpy/sunshine

   Sub-genre: Sci-Fi

   MC1: Bodyguard

   MC1 trope: Grumpy

   MC2: Palace security advisor

   MC2 trope: Alpha female

   MC3: Alien princess

   MC3: Sunshine

   Prompt: When MC1 is assigned to guard MC3 during her diplomatic visit to MC1's planet, she assumes it'll be an easy task. Until she meets the princess, and realizes she's the woman she shared a passionate one-night stand with months ago. To complicate things, since then, she and MC2 have finally acted on the forbidden attraction they've felt for months. But MC3 is happy to share, and when she discovers MCs 1 and 2 together, she suggests a no-strings arrangement for the duration of her visit. Uet nights in bed deepen the connection between the three of them, forcing MC3 to decide between the arranged marriage awaiting her on her home planet, or an uncertain future with her two lovers on a hostile planet unwilling to accept her attempts at peace-making.

   
   

   Have fun with these prompts, and if you want to see any of them fleshed out into a detailed plot outline, head over to my plot outline service!

   
   

   Until next post, happy reading and writing.