Plot Twist Story Prompts: Head Over Heels

Plot twist story prompts aren't meant for the beginning or the end of stories. Rather, they're for forcing big and small turns in the anticipated trajectory of a story. This is to make it more interesting for the readers and writers alike.

Each week, I'll provide a new prompt to help twist your story. Find last week's prompt, Let Go, here.

For today's prompt, have a character fall in love. Since love is an abstract emotion, I'll leave it to you to decide what "love" means. But it could be a regular occurrence as with a Romeo character. Or it might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing with a character who previously scoffed at the idea of love and lovers.

(6 Lessons for Writers From Bridgerton: The Duke and I, by Julia Quinn.)

Of course, as Huey Lewis pointed out in the 80s, the power of love is a curious thing. When it comes to storytelling, the introduction of love can make a tough character suddenly docile in ways that can be annoying for other characters and funny for the reader. Love also propels characters to great and terrible things; it's not all sunshine and roses all the time.

Some characters fall in love at first sight. Other characters are nudged along by rumors and love letters. Still other characters might be on the receiving end of a love potion or spell. The result may be weddings and celebration, or it may send kingdoms (or neighborhoods) to war.

However they get there, try letting one (or more) of your characters fall in love and see where it takes your story.

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