Cozy. It used to be a word most closely associated with two things: autumn, and cozy mysteries. But now, it's taken over the romance world, with hundreds of books using the word to describe what readers can expect to find between their pages.

Cozy romance is, like a lot of romance novels coming out right now, about vibes. Think found family, tight-knit communities, maybe even some tasty food, either cooked by the characters themselves, or served at a cute little cafe or bakery.

And, above all, low angst. Cozy romance doesn't rip your heart out in the third act, only to put it back together with the happily ever after. In fact, many cozy romances don't even have a third-act break-up. Instead, their third acts have a hiccup or two, and maybe even a little external conflict, but there's no heartbreak, and if tears are shed, it's catharsis, rather than sadness, causing them.

Cozy romance also gives you characters who, while carrying emotional wounds and struggling with internal conflicts like all good romance characters, either begin the book or during the book become surrounded by people, including the love interest, who are as supportive as the best bra. And often, one character is struggling, while the other is what is sometimes called flawless (no, not the Beyonce version of the word). We're talking about a character who has their stuff figured out, and all they want now is for the person/people they love to be happy. And they're invested in doing everything they can to make that happen.

Two of the best examples of cozy romance novels are The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, the TikTok famous book by Laurie Gilmore, and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. And today's romance writing prompts are channeling those book's vibes, with story concepts designed to ease you into stories with a golden filter. The kind perfect for a Saturday afternoon in September, when you want to spend a few hours spinning a tale while sipping some spiced tea.

1. Chrissy inherits her grandmother's old inn and falls in love with the beautiful redheaded contractor hired to revamp it in preparation for opening night, which just so happens to be on Halloween.
   

2. Muhammed is on a photography assignment to capture autumn leaves all around the UK, but when autumn rainstorms send him running for shelter in a small Welsh town, he finds comfort and solace in the green-eyed proprietor at the local pub.
   

3. Newly single and in need of work, Niamh takes a job at a nearby apple picking farm, and falls in love with the food truck owner who sells apple cider donuts just outside the farm's gates.
   

4. Zen is driving back to Toronto to celebrate a miserable Thanksgiving with his family, but when he gets stranded by a sudden snowstorm, he meets a kind, cinnamon roll lumberjack who welcomes him into his home and shows him love, acceptance, and the best butter tarts he's ever tasted.
   

5. Naxin is gathering ingredients for her bakery's famous pan de muerto when she bumps into her ex, and through preparing for Dia de Los Muertos, they heal their past wounds and find a new beginning together.

Next week, I'll be back with more spooky season writing prompts, and this time, the theme is: ghost stories!

Until then, happy reading and writing!