25 Writing Prompts To Make Your Character Feel Lonely

97 character motivations

Need a masterlist of character motivation ideas?

Here’s 97 different character motivations you can use for anything from your hero, side-characters, villain, or even to craft smaller subplots. Save this post for later!

Saving a family member from capture

Saving a sibling from disease

Saving a pet from danger

Saving the world from ruin

Saving a friend from heartbreak

Saving the town from financial ruin

Saving friends from dangerous deadly situations

Saving a love interest from dying

Saving themselves in a dangerous world

Saving a community from falling apart

Saving a child from a potentially dangerous circumstance

Saving a place or location from evil forces

Saving a ghost from limbo

Overcoming a phobia

Overcoming an addiction

Overcoming marital struggles

Moving on from loss

Finding a significant other

Finding a new family (not blood-related)

Finding true biological family

Finding out an old secret

Finding a way home

Reconnecting with long-lost friends

Getting out of a dark state of mind

Finding peace in life

Beating a disease

Beating an arch nemesis

Forming a peaceful community

Transforming a location

Bringing someone back to life

Winning a competition

Going on an adventure

Getting a dream job

Keeping a secret

Escaping a location of capture

Proving a moral point

Proving a political point

Winning a political campaign

Betray someone

Ruin someone’s life

Find a suspect or killer

Find the answer to a mystery

Discover ancient sites & secret histories

Perform a successful ritual

Summon the dead

Save a country from dictatorship

Become the most powerful in a community

Outshine a family member in business success

Prove someone wrong

Win prize money to help someone in need

Get revenge on someone who wronged them

Find the person who wronged them

Develop significant scientific progress

Gain respect from family

Get over an ex-lover

Move on from a painful death

Keep their community alive

Lead their community

Heal people in need

Preserve a species (animal, alien, plant…)

Discover new world

Get recognition for hard work

Become famous

Get rich to prove themselves to people who doubted them

Break a long tradition

Challenge the status quo of a community

Defeat a magical nemesis

Take over a location to rule

Find out truth behind old legends

Help someone get over their struggles

Prove their moral values

Prove their worth to an external party

Become a supernatural creature

Keep something from falling into the wrong hands

Protect the only person they care about

Start a revolution

Invent new technology

Invent a new weapon

Win a war

Fit in with a community

Atone for past sins

Give top-secret information to an enemy as revenge

Kill an ex-lovers current partner

Reinvent themselves

Raise a strong child

Make it to a location in a strict time period

Find faith

Find enlightenment

Find out more about the afterlife

Confess love to a friend

Solve a moral dilemma

Have a child of their own

Avoid being alone

Run away from past struggles

Reinvent themselves as a new person

Impress a colleague or boss

Avoid a fight or war breaking out

FOR THE “YOU CAN KILL ME BUT DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH THEM” DYNAMICS 

❝  i only want you.  ❞

❝  i don’t need anyone else.  i just…you.  you’re all i need.  ❞

❝  listen,  i’ve lost a lot of people in my life.  i learned how to deal with it but…you’re different.  i can’t take it if it’s you.  ❞

❝  i think about anything happening to you and i— i just.  i fucking lose it.  ❞

❝  you don’t understand.  i need you safe.  not because i don’t think you can handle yourself but because i can’t focus on anything else if there’s even the smallest possibility you’re in danger.  ❞

❝  no one is ever gonna get near you again,  you hear me?  ❞

❝  i won’t let you get hurt.  i promise.  and i don’t make empty promises.  ❞

❝  turn around.  you don’t need to see this part.  ❞

❝  just give the word and i’ll kill every one of them.  ❞

❝  you can’t get all worked up every time something happens to me.  that’s just life.  you’re not always gonna be able to protect me from it.  ❞

❝  no one else understands me.  but you do.  you always do.  ❞

❝  i don’t think i’m the best person for you,  i don’t.  but i do know i’m the one that can keep you safe  ❞

❝  hey—  look at me.  it’s over.  it’s done.  we’re okay.  ❞

❝  who the fuck made you cry i’ll fucking rip their head off.  ❞ 

❝  i know you’ve always got my back.  ❞

❝  please,  let me take care of you this time.  you’re always protecting me but it tears me up inside every time you get hurt because of it.  ❞

❝  can you make everyone else just go away?  i know they mean well but i just want to be alone—  alone with you i mean.  ❞

❝  i know when you’re here,  the real monsters can’t touch me.  ❞

❝   oh,  i am one of the monsters.  but that just means i can keep all the other monsters from ever hurting you again. ❞ 

❝  if you’re gonna keep risking your life for me than you’re also gonna let me patch you up without a single complaint.  ❞

❝  we keep each other safe.  it’s my turn to protect you.  ❞

❝  i killed them for you.  i know you could’ve done it yourself,  but you shouldn’t have to.  ❞

❝   i love you because i know how capable you are.  and i show that love by making sure you don’t have to be the one to always do the hard things.  ❞

❝   i’m gonna make them regret ever even thinking about laying a hand on you.  ❞

❝  tell me what you want me to do.  i’ll do it.  whatever you want.  ❞

❝  i love you just like this.  i love you when you touch me gently like no one else ever has.  and i love you when your hands are bloody and your knuckles are bruised. ❞

❝  please,  just let me protect you.  ❞

❝  are you hurt?  did they hurt you?  ❞

❝  wait,  stop you’re bleeding.  ❞

❝  did you just wince?  where are you hurt?  ❞

❝  i need you in my life.  i’m not used to that—  needing people.  but i do need you.  ❞

❝  you make me feel things i’m not used to feeling.  ❞

❝  why do you let me close when you’re always driving everyone else away?  ❞

❝   you’re mine.  and i protect what’s mine.  ❞

❝  thank you for always being here for me.  ❞

❝  you see things in me that i didn’t even know where there.  ❞

❝  that’s enough.  let’s go home.  ❞

❝  i’m okay now.  i’m safe.  you don’t have to be angry anymore.  ❞

❝  please stop—  this is scaring me. ❞

❝  you don’t have to do this for me.  ❞

❝   hey stop— stop!  look at me.  they’re dead now.  you can stop.  ❞

❝  i have to make an example outta them so no one else tries to hurt you again.  ❞

❝  killing for you is easy.  it’s right.  it feels natural.  ❞

❝  let me do this for you.  ❞

SCENARIOS

[ ONE ]  for sender to take a bullet for receiver. 

[ TWO ]  for receiver to take a bullet for sender. 

[ THREE ]  for sender to protect receiver and then carry them to safety. 

[ FOUR ]  for receiver to protect sender and then carry them to safety. 

[ FIVE ]  for sender to witness receiver get hurt which sends them into a violent rage.

[ SIX ]  for receiver to witness sender get hurt which sends them into a violent rage. 

[ SEVEN ]  for sender to be hurt trying to protect receiver which makes them bloodthirsty for revenge.

[ EIGHT ]   for receiver to be hurt trying to protect sender which makes them bloodthirsty for revenge.

[ NINE ]  for sender to have violently protected receiver,  so receiver kisses them to calm them down. 

[ TEN ]  for receiver to have violently protected sender,  so sender kisses them to calm them down. 

[ ELEVEN ]  for sender to carefully approach receiver in the aftermath,  gently touching them to try and bring them back to themselves. 

[ TWELVE ]  for receiver to carefully approach sender in the aftermath,  gently touching them to try and bring them back to themselves. 

[ THIRTEEN ]  sender was kidnapped,  receiver shows up to save them.  

[ FOURTEEN ]  receiver was kidnapped,  sender shows up to save them.  

[ FIFTEEN ]  sender executes a third party in front of receiver because that person hurt them. 

[ SIXTEEN ]  receiver executes a third party in front of sender because that person hurt them. 

[ SEVENTEEN ]  sender thinks they’re alone but receiver comes out of nowhere to rescue them from someone who intends to do harm/making them uncomfortable. 

[ EIGHTEEN ]   receiver thinks they’re alone but sender comes out of nowhere to rescue them from someone who intends to do harm/making them uncomfortable. 

[ NINETEEN ]  sender has been devastated by something.  receiver holds them until they calm down so they don’t do anything drastic. 

[ TWENTY ]  receiver has been devastated by something.  sender holds them until they calm down so they don’t do anything drastic. 

[ TWENTY-ONE ]  sender thought receiver died so they set out to get revenge.  receiver shows up in time to stand in front of them before they go too far.  

[ TWENTY-TWO ]  receiver thought sender died so they set out to get revenge.  sender shows up in time to stand in front of them before they go too far. 

[ TWENTY-THREE ]  sender is in a vengeful rage because of something that happened to receiver.  receiver gently approaches to calm them down saying this isn’t what they want. 

[ TWENTY-FOUR ]  receiver is in a vengeful rage because of something that happened to sender.  sender gently approaches to calm them down saying this isn’t what they want. 

[ TWENTY-FIVE ]  for sender to have receiver stand by somewhere safe where they can watch sender kill on their behalf. 

[ TWENTY-SIX ]  for receiver to have sender stand by somewhere safe where they can watch receiver kill on their behalf. 

Master Prompt List

Romantic Prompts

Romance Story Starters

Romantic Questions Prompts

Romance Prompt List Part I + Part II + Part III + Part IV

Bad ones, unrequited, break-up Part I + Part II + Part III

Flirting - Successful and unsuccessful Part I + Part II

Two smart and also stupid people in love

Push and pull romantic prompts

Unrequited Love Prompts

Dramatic/Break-up Dialogue Prompts

Jealousy Prompts

Things said during sex Prompts

Flirting Prompts - Oblivious and flirty

Teasing Prompts

Romantic One-Liners

Smutty One-Liners Part I + Part II + Part III

Physical One-Liners Part I + Part II

Love Language - Showing, not telling love

Love Language - Showing you care

Romance Dialogue Prompts – Uncomfortable with affection

Love confession - screaming at each other

Love Confessions

Drunken Love Confessions

Lovers being caught Prompts

OTP Christmas Prompts

Meet cutes

Milestones in a relationship

Moving in together

Introducing partner(s) to family

Meeting the family Prompts

Proposal Prompts

Elopement Prompts

Honeymoon

First Kiss Prompts

Fluffy kiss scene

Prompts about kissing

Kisses

Accidental Kisses

Physical Reactions

Seeking out physical affection

Romantic, non-sexual intimacy prompts

Romantic Fall Date Ideas

50 Cute Date Ideas

Forbidden Romance

Love-hate relationship

Enemies to lovers (1 + 2 + 3)

Reluctant allies to friends to lovers dynamic

Lovers to enemies

Exes to lovers

Getting back together Prompts

Friends with benefits to lovers Prompts

Blind date after ONS Prompts

Co-workers - Hate to love (1 + 2)

Best friends to lovers Prompts

Childhood friends to lovers Prompts

Matchmaking Prompts

Accidental Marriage Prompts

Fake Dating/Marriage/Engagement Prompts

Fake Dating Dialogue Prompts

Fake Dating AUs

Fake Dating Prompts

Fake Relationship Break-up Prompts

OT3 Prompts

OT3 Ideas

Love Triangle Ideas

Ways to say ‘I love you’

Second chance trope

Relationship Problems

Fluffy/Family Prompts

Giving the reader butterflies with your characters

Domestic fluff prompts

Fluff Prompts

Fluffy Dialogue Prompts

Family Prompts

Found Family Prompts

Found Family Mother/Daughter Prompts

Father + Adopted Daughter Prompts

Siblings and Parents Prompts

Parental Affection Moments

Parent/Child Angst

Enemies to Siblings

Siblings Prompts

Brothers Prompts

Things Telepathic Twins Would Do

Hand-holding

Touching

Hugs

Casual Affections

Affections without touching

Touches Ask Games

Things to do at a carnival

Step-Siblings Prompts

Befriending Sibling-in-Law Prompts

Cooking/Baking Dialogue Prompts

Quiet movie night Prompts

Having fun in the rain

Hurt/Comfort Prompts

Hurt/Comfort Dialogue Prompts (Part I + Part II)

Hurt/Comfort Prompts

Showing comfort

Angsty Prompts

Angsty family/platonic dialogue

Angsty Questions Prompts

Angsty/Fighting Dialogue Prompts

Concerned/Angsty Question Prompts

Leaving Dialogue Prompts

Reunion Dialogue Reactions

Trying to make them stay Dialogue Prompts

Amnesia Prompts

Lover being hurt Prompts

Drama Starting Points

Conflicts for Couples

Friends Prompts

Platonic activities for friends

Online Friends Prompts

Group of Friends AU Prompts

Opening Sentences (Friend group in NYC)

Road Trip Ideas

Party Games Prompts

Amusement Park Activities

Surprise party gone wrong

Settings for conversations

Having fun in the rain

Bar Conversation Starters

Outside of school activities

AU Prompts

AU ideas

Royalty Prompts - Loyal companion/princess romance

Royalty Prompts - Prince/ss x Commoner - Revealing royal heritage

Royalty Prompts - Princess x Knight Prompts

Forbidden royal love prompts

Arranged matrimony for royalty

Arranged Marriage Royalty AU Events

Royal Arranged Marriage Dialogue Prompts

Fake Dating Royalty Prompts

OTP Meeting – Royalty Edition

A Queen’s Assassination Plot

Victorian AU Prompts

Historic Prompts - 1800s Ball Prompts

Parallel Universe Romance Prompts (x)

Roommates Prompts

Roommates to Lovers Prompts Part I + Part II

Roommate AUs

Boarding School Prompts

College/University AUs

Meet ugly College AU

Polar Opposite Students Prompts

Professor/TA Romance

Co-workers - Hate to love (1 + 2)

Colleague AUs

Matchmaking at Work Prompts

Secret Dating at Work Prompts

Neighbor AUs (1 + 2)

Fan x Celebrity Prompts

Gossip Girl/Rich AUs

Coffee Shop AUs

Flower Shop AUs

Bodyguard AUs

Firefighter/Police AUs

Pirate Prompts

Spy Prompts

Soulmates AUs

Lifeguard AUs

Band AU Prompts

Supernatural/Mystery/Thriller/Crime Prompts

Inconvenient things a ghost could do

Human x Ghost Prompts

Human/Ghost Dialogue Prompts

Mermaid Prompts

Guardian Angel Prompts

Summoning a God Prompts

Werewolf Prompts Part I + Part II

Human x Werewolf Prompts

Thriller/Mystery Prompts

Murder Mystery Prompts

Mystery Plot Prompts

Partners in Crime – Meeting again

Heist Prompts

Fantasy/Sci-Fi (1) – Magical Creatures (Part I + II)

Fantasy/Sci-Fi (2) – Magic

Fantasy/Sci-Fi (3) – Time Travel

Fantasy/Sci-Fi (4) – End of the World

Fantasy/Sci-Fi (5) – Superheroes (and Villains)

Fantasy/Sci-Fi (6) – Mystery/Supernatural

Fantasy/Sci-Fi (7) – Others (Pirates, Warriors, Royalty, …)

Time Travel Dialogue Prompts

Causes for the apocalypse

Holiday/Seasonal Prompts

Halloween Throwbacks

Things to do on Halloween

Spooktober 2020 Prompts

Spooktober 2021 Prompts

Christmas AU (1 + 2)

1. Advent Special Prompts

2. Advent Special Prompts

3. Advent Special Prompts

4. Advent Special Prompts

New Year’s Eve Prompts

Valentine’s Day Prompts

Summer Vibes

Fall Vibes

Fall AUs

Birthday AUs

Birthday Prompts

Monthly Prompts

January Prompts 🎉

February Prompts 🌹

March Prompts 🍀

April Prompts 🐞

May Prompts 🌺

June Prompts 🌼

July Prompts  🌴

August Prompts 🍋

September Prompts 🌻

October Prompts 🎃

November Prompts 🍂

December Prompts 🌟

Ranked Prompt Lists

Best Prompts of 2020!

Top 20 Most Popular Prompts (1 + 2)

Top 20 Submissions (1 + 2)

Various Prompt Lists

Contemporary/Realistic Prompts (1 + 2)

Ways to die at home

Random Questions Prompts

Favourite Tropes

Prompts about cats

Dialogue Responses

5 + 1 Fic Prompts

‘Write about’ Prompts

‘Imagine your OTP’ Prompts

Drabble Prompts Masterlist

All The Fic Titles

All The Prompts List

Writing Games

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Random dialogue prompts.

" Hey , look at me ... You're okay. It's going to be alright. "

" Can't you trust me just this once ?"

" I -It hurts... Everything hurts- ."

" Oh yeah ? Why don't you come here and say it to my face "

" You have five seconds to run before I slit your throat "

" Don't test me, love . Patience isn't my biggest strength "

" Hurt her again and I'm gonna harvest your balls !"

" Say it one more time. I dare you "

"Aww... That touched my stone cold heart "

"Baby , I love you ...but if you fart one more time - "

" I'm sexy and I hate it ...~"

" I can't breathe. I can't -"

" Am I crazy if I say I can't get enough of you ?"

" We shouldn't do this here . Someone might see ..."

" I want to love every part of you . Just let me love you .. "

" look me in the eyes and say it " " Don't Tell me you don't feel the same "

" Aww... You're so good to me. "

" Shut up and get out of my sight ! "

" Did you even love me ?"

" Why do you care now ?! You never did before !"

" I can't love you..."

" I despise you ! . I despise you with every fiber of my being! "

" Wow . For once you actually said something sensible "

" I can't stop thinking about that kiss "

" Wow...! So that's how a plant looks like. It's so ... green."

" Did I even matter to you huh ?"

" You're not allowed to kiss me "

" leave me alone . I'm not talking to you anymore"

" I bet he banged you senseless right ?"

" oh my gosh. Did I say that aloud ?"

The 'married' couple that is just friends

"You're coming over? bring me coffee I ran out,"

"ah, my friend looks like he's about to kill you, you best leave,"

"I'm going to have to beat people off with a stick aren't I?"

"Man, thanks, I haven't been able to get to the dishes, you're a life saver,"

"do you have my sad hoody? I need my sad hoody,"

"Can you come over? I need your cooking,"

"We have plans! why do we have plans?"

"you're like my child, call me daddy.... nevermind, that sounds wrong,"

"we're going to your parent's for Mom's birthday tomorrow?"

"I left you lunch,"

"who's apartment are we in?"

"I have a key, it's not breaking an entering,"

"I don't care if it's 2am, I'm lonely, come watch a movie,"

"you remembered my snacks right?"

"Did you just get slapped? oh man, I need to high-five them, where are they?"

"Nooo let me sleep,"

"do you remember where I put my purse?"

"Buy me food, I'm broke,"

"Of course, you're my ATM, who else is going to give me money and not expect it back?"

"I forgot my wallet, hey! I need your bank card,"

"This is why I love you,"

" I can't believe you're making me do yoga,"

"What are we married?"

"yeah sure take it,"

"we're out of brain cells,"

"no milk? aw man she hates black coffee,"

"Is it safe yet? I brought Icecream?"

"I got us tickets to the concert, you owe me,"

"if you're going to cry I'm going to punch someone,"

"Hey, hey, It's okay, I'm here,"

"we won!? man, I'm good at this,"

"he did it,"

"excuse me? I was innocent, you corrupted me,"

"you fixed my sink! thanks!"

"I gave a dude your number, he wouldn't stop bothering me, give em' hell,"

"What's for dinner?"

"you have plans that don't involve me? since when?"

"Happy Birthday hoe,"

"isn't this illegal?"

"who's body are we hiding?"

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—Prompt List <3

angst

"It would be better if you stayed away from me."

"Do you really want me? Or is this your way of getting back at my father?"

"You have given me enough memories to last a lifetime."

"If I ask you to kiss me in front of all these people, will you do it?"

"I am here to tell you that I cannot meet you anymore."

“you always push people away. i just thought you’d never do it to me”

“i know i have a heart because i can feel it breaking”

“i hate the way that i don’t hate you.”

“i didn’t realise i was such an inconvenience.”

“how many times am i supposed to forgive you?”

“all my friends told me you’d break my heart.”

“how could you let them say that about me?”

“i’d take our relationship back in a heartbeat.”

“i don’t see the same person i loved when i look at you anymore.”

“promise me you’ll still be here when i wake up.”

“you look happier”

“you still live in the silences between my thoughts.”

“i am in love with a moment we never had.”

“you didn’t just break promises, you broke me.”

"Don't go on that date." "Why?" "You know why." "Say it."

fluff

“if you cry, i’ll cry ─ and that won’t be fun for anyone.”

“my lipgloss is all over your lips.”

“that’s the first time i’ve ever seen you smile.”

“you cancelled plans for me?”

“quick, kiss me!”

“that’s the sixth time you’ve complimented me today.”

“how mad would you be if i kissed you?”

“it’s hard to sit here and be close to you and not kiss you.”

“ i never planned to have you on my mind this often”

“ i never want to stop making memories with you”

“a sky full of stars, and i’d still watch you.”

“my heart is so full of you i can hardly call it my own.”

“ i think i might be in some kind of love with you.”

“your lips look cold, want me to warm them up for you? “

"don't lie, your dimple usually shows when you're actually smiling. what's wrong?"

"i heard what you said...no one's ever talked about me that way before.."

“here’s a spare key so you don’t have to keep coming in through the window.”

“Oh my god you never told me you could cook”

“I know it’s 2 in the morning but do you want to...” 

"Can I wear your sweater? It smells like you, I can't promise to give it back though."

smut

“shh. there’s people in the other room.”

"I need you to be quiet for me, okay?"

“say you want me, and i’m yours.”

“my boyfriend/girlfriend would kill us.”

“there’s so many things i wanna do to you.”

“i didn’t like the way they were looking at you.”

“ i shouldn’t allow myself to get this close to you.”

“i’m going to ruin you.”

“want me to model these for you?”

“no ones here. we can be as loud as we want.”

“do you think of me when you touch yourself?”

“if you called just to get off on my voice, i’m hanging up.”

"what's the matter, love? you get nervous when i look at you like this?"

"what pretty noises you're making for me… am i making you feel good?"

Car sex in the rain

“against the window? are you insane?”

“leave the heels on.”

"I swear I'm gonna fuck the next person that walks through that door."

"Oh princess, I thought we learn from the last time you decided to make me jealous."

"I thought we agreed to share her?"

6 Tricks to Layer on Stakes

Every great story has stakes–things that are at risk throughout the plot. It might be that the protagonist’s life is at risk, or perhaps a romantic relationship, or maybe the opportunity to go on a long-awaited trip. Years ago, I had a hard time understanding stakes, and I think it was in part because they were often defined vaguely. Everything clicked when I realized that they are really potential consequences, which is how I prefer to define them now.

Stakes are significant events that could happen, and they include a sense of cause and effect. Typically, you can fit stakes into an “if … then … ” statement (even if it’s not literally written as one in the text):

“If I don’t defeat [the antagonist], then he’ll hurt my family.”“If you become a vampire, then the only thing you’ll love is blood.”“If we don’t fight back, then he’ll take all our land, our homes, our lives we built.” “If we don’t keep moving, then dehydration will kill us.”

Great stakes are closely related to tension, suspense, and hooks. All three get the audience to look forward and anticipate what could happen, usually by getting the audience to hope or fear a potential consequence. The audience then has to keep reading to discover the actual outcome.

All easier said than done. For many writers, stakes can be difficult to get on the page specifically because they require the writer to brainstorm possible, future outcomes–some of which may not actually happen.

For example, say your characters are stranded in a desert. They decide if they don’t keep moving, they could die of dehydration. But perhaps, in reality, it turns out if they had stayed put, they would have been rescued. Stakes aren’t always about what actually happens. Remember, they are about risk.

In a page-turner of a story, you’ll want to brainstorm and put in much more stakes, or potential consequences, in the text than what actually happens. For some of us, it’s hard to brainstorm enough of those, so here are some tricks.

1. Look at both positive and negative potential consequences.

When it comes to stakes, we often focus on the negative … because that is what is at risk.

“If [the protagonist] doesn’t defeat [the antagonist], [the antagonist] will take over the world.”

But putting positive outcomes on the page can sometimes be just as effective.

“If Samantha can nail this audition, then she can finally star in a movie.”

In this example, a positive potential consequence is what is at risk. Sure, we could change it to a negative–if she doesn’t nail the audition, she can’t star in a movie.

But the exercise of looking at both positive and negative potential consequences can help you brainstorm new ones. After all, if we were only looking at the negative, we may not have come up with “starring in a movie.”

2. Add to the cause-and-effect trajectory

Once you have one stake on the page, you can often add more to it, by taking the cause-and-effect trajectory out further. Suzanne Collins does this well in the opening of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

If the protagonist can’t eat cabbage soup, then he can’t get his stomach to stop growling (consequence #1), which means people will realize he’s poor, not rich (consequence #2), which means his reputation will be ruined (consequence #3), which means he’ll lose his opportunity to be a mentor through his school program (consequence #4), which means he’ll unlikely be able to meet the credentials needed for college (consequence #5), which means his family won’t be taken care of (consequence #6), which means his cousin might have to succumb to prostitution (consequence #7).

Whew, that’s a lot that hinges on making cabbage soup. Suddenly finding out whether or not the cabbage soup is going to work feels way more important!

You don’t have to take it out that far, but hopefully you get the idea.

3. Consider broad potential consequences

Another helpful approach is to look at how a potential consequence can have broader ramifications.

This works even with personal matters.

“If Jasper doesn’t return Emily’s love with a proposal, her descendants may be doomed to live in poverty.”

Here, something personal, love, has been broadened to include a family line–all of Emily’s children.

“If George doesn’t get to water, he could die of dehydration, which means his evil uncle could take the throne.”

In this example, the protagonist’s possible death affects a whole kingdom.

4. Consider personal potential consequences

A reverse of the previous is to look at ways to make potential outcomes more personal.

“If I don’t defeat the antagonist, he’ll take over the world–my mom, dad, Frankie, my entire hometown won’t survive.”

Here we move from a broad problem to a personal risk.

5. Pull in other cause-and-effect trajectories

In most stories, there are multiple cause-and-effect trajectories at work–this is what makes up the plot. There might be a primary plot, a secondary plot, tertiary plot, etc. There might be cause-and-effect trajectories that only last for several chapters or less.

One way to brainstorm more stakes, is to try to connect the current situation to an indirect stake.

For example, say in one plotline, the protagonist is concerned about training her dog. In another plotline, she’s concerned about getting her love interest to take notice of her. They may seem pretty unrelated, but you can look for ways to make them connect. If she can’t get her dog trained, then Fido might decide to try to chase after the love interest’s car–earning her the wrong kind of attention.

6. Look at perceived threats

Sometimes a perceived risk can also work well. Meaning, the character thinks something is at risk, when it actually isn’t. Multiple times in the Harry Potter series, Harry is at risk of being killed or expelled, but since we know there are more books in the series, we can surmise that he won’t be … at least not until near the end, probably.

Or perhaps you are writing about a child who thinks if she lies to her teacher, she’ll go to jail. This is obviously not true, but to her, it’s a possibility.

When perceived threats are written well, it can often feel as if they are real, even when the audience knows they aren’t. This can be effective to layer on (and is better than nothing), but needs to be mixed up with the others, as its often not as powerful.

With these six approaches, you should be armed to brainstorm more, significant stakes. To learn more about stakes, you can read my other article on them here: How to Write Stakes in Storytelling.

Sweet ways for your otp to show affection.

Reading to them to help the other sleep.

Singing a lullaby / humming a soft tune / counting sheep (or whatever) to the other to sleep .

Cuddling and sleeping in on lazy days .

Staying up with the other who has insomnia ,even though they're tired / feel sleepy.

Back hugs and kissing their neck/ crook of their neck/ shoulder/ cheek .

Nuzzling their tummy .

Stolen kisses . Where they're soft / tender.

Slow kisses.

Kissing top of their head.

Nuzzling their neck.

Kissing their cheeks.

Teasing them . ( eg .Leaning in close for a kiss and kissing their cheeks . Or something)

Inside jokes.

Caressing their hair while they sleep.

Cooking / buying them their favorite meal or snack when they are sad .

Drying/ combing / braiding their hair.

Being goofy just to make them laugh cuz they're down / sad.

Tight hugs and cuddling , enjoying their quiet moments.

Sharing / engaging in each other's hobbies.

Watching them sleep.

Saying / whispering " I love you " at random moments .

Holding their hand and kissing their hand.

Interlocking / interlacing fingers.

Looking into their eyes and getting lost in them .

Sending them a romantic text / message / poem . ( Cliche for some people but still touching nonetheless.)

Kissing their nose .

Kissing their chin .

Caressing / petting their hair, while they cuddle or hug.

Lots of random hugging.

Pulling them into a hug.

Random compliments .

Giving her his clothes to wear.

Buying them stuff they always wanted / like .

Ruffling their hair / bangs .

Smiling at each other like love struck idiots.

Sharing their music playlist with them.

Giggles and laughing while being goofy.

Giggling while showering them with kisses.

All night movie marathon together.

Playing video games together.

Dancing and singing along to their favorite song they both love.

Washing their hair for them.

Being fandom fanatics chatting about their favorite shared fandom .

Kissing or tracing their face.

Caressing their face while they kiss.

Kissing or tracing their tattoo. ( Not common but yeah... I find it sweet * ahem *)

Massaging them when they are tired. ( Probably shoulders or feet )

Kissing their eyelid.

Playing with their fingers .

Kissing their fingers .

Pressing their lips to theirs.

Soft , light caresses .

medic x always getting sick married couple au

feel free to use btw love u guys if ur reading this i’m so grateful for the support (i’m putting this here bc no one reads my regular posts) anyways i’m so grateful take care and plz enjoy my prompts :)

one character calling the other like “… babe.” and they’re like “if you’re sick….. i swear—“

character a doing their best to hide their coughs and sneezes/make them as quiet as possible but character b takes one look at them and says “you’re sick😐.”

“taking care of you is a full time job for me.” “…… i love u.” “love you, too.”

OKOK LISTEN… the medic is the one who doesn’t really show emotion and the sick one is a bubbly one who never shuts up but the medic doesn’t play when it comes to them

^ “where were you???? i’ve been looking for you everywhere!” and the other one is like covered in sticks and mud just like “hehe i fell down a hill” and the medic is plotting how to murder a hill

“i’m glad i married a medic.”

“i cant believe you pretended to be sick so i would come home early.”

then a response of “i can’t believe it worked.”

the medic is at work and their colleague just gives them this look and they just KNOW their spouse is in the lobby with a broken arm or something

the medic character bundling the other up with a million layers before they even step foot outside

and the other one is just like “babe it’s 24 degrees”

someone telling them “you need to go to the hospital” and they’re like “no, i need to see my spouse”

character b walks in, takes one look at the uneaten medicine and turns off the tv. character a is like “do you MIND??” and b is like “do YOU mind taking medicine?”

“i think i have a fever.” and a sigh like “i’ll get the meds.”

“i’m glad you’re a super handsome pretty beautiful amazing doctor. what would i do when i get sick if i didn’t have you?” “you’d be rubbing ointment on your forehead thinking it would lower your fever, probably.” “…. low but true.”

One-Liners - Dialogue Prompts

Romantic Part 1 and Part II

“I could listen to you all day.”

“Have I already told you how cute you look?”

“One kiss is just never enough.”

“Not to sound cheesy, but your smile really lights up the room.”

“I cannot find the words to describe how I feel about you.”

“Being happy, fortunately coincides with making you happy.”

“Call me when you get home, so I know you’re safe.”

“Tonight was just perfect.”

“However many years we have left, I want to spend them all with you.”

“I have the feeling that you’re trying not to kiss me and I give you permission to just do it.”

“You remembered my favourite food.”

“Sometimes, being with you feels like a dream that I don’t ever want to wake up from.”

“Being half-asleep is a very good look on you.”

“You can always talk to me, I will always be here for you.”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“I have never felt this safe with anyone before.”

“My heart feels like it’s dancing when I look at you.”

“I really want to spoil you today.”

“How about we just stay here and cuddle?”

“I’m so excited to give you a hug.”

“You never have to fear that you’re losing me.”

“I want to capture your smile, so I can always look at it.”

“Thank you for choosing me.”

“I wish we could stay in bed all day.”

“You’re my favourite person.”

“Hugging you makes everything better.”

“Tell me something I can do for you today.”

“I’m very lucky that you put up with me.”

“What would make you the happiest right now?”

“I just want to hold you close.”

Smutty Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

“I dreamed of your legs wrapped around my waist.”

“Don’t act innocent when we both know where your mouth was two minutes ago.”

“We should probably leave, before we start a scandal.”

“Stop looking at me like that or my knees will not hold me any longer.”

“I think you lost your underwear somewhere.”

“My tongue still remembers the way you taste.”

“Is there some space left in that bathtub?”

“The way your eyes get darker when you get aroused, is making me lose my mind.”

“I want to count every one of your freckles with my lips.”

“Jealousy seems to be a great motivator for you.”

“Oh no, there is only one bed, what will we do now?”

“I could make you feel better.”

“Get back down here, we’re not done yet.”

“Later you will definitely need to tell me where you learned this.”

“I know I should care about the reason why you’re naked in my bed, but I will just enjoy it for a moment.”

“You’re a lot more flexible than I thought.”

“I want to please you.”

“Tell me what you would want to do, if you were here right now.”

“Your shirt got a little dirty, how about we take it off?”

“I want to give you a hickey, so everyone can see how I feel about you.”

“Oh, I love that sound you make.”

“Do you want to take it off or should I do it for you?”

“I never imagined you to be so sensitive, but I love it.”

“Maybe you could use that mouth for more than just talking nonsense.”

“If we weren’t in public right now…”

“Your hand feels much better than my own.”

“As soon as we’re both sober, we can do every dirty little thing you ever dreamed of.”

“Come on, you have to work for it.”

“I’ll take it that you like what you see.”

“Your moans will wake everyone up and I’m oddly fine with that.”

“Your eyes are already saying yes, now I just need your mouth to tell me the same.”

“I can never seem to get enough of you.”

“How about we continue this somewhere more private?”

“Oh, can you feel this?”

“We won’t be missed for a couple hours, we should take advantage of that.”

“I went to the gym, so I will be able to hold you up even longer.”

“How about we get really dirty before we shower, so that it’s actually worth the effort?”

“Reality is even better than my dreams.”

“I told you, you would eventually start begging.”

“You always know so well what I like.”

“Oh, you’re such a tease!”

“I’m not necessarily hungry for food right now.”

“You’re so tense, do you want me to make you more relaxed?”

“Hmm, is that a threat or a promise?”

“Who would have thought that this is something that you’re into?”

Physical - Part 1 and Part 2

“Your hands are always so soft.”

“I would love to run my hand through your hair.”

“Come on, let’s take a nice bath together.”

“I think your legs were made to be wrapped around my waist.”

“You know, I prefer you naked, but that dress also looks breathtaking on you.”

“Do what I say or I will mercilessly tickle you.”

“I’m in love with your voice.”

“Did you know that your eyes change colours when you look at me?”

“I’m obsessed with the way your hand fits in mine.”

“You smell amazing.”

“I don’t think I have ever felt safer than in your arms.”

“Tough day? Do you want me to give you a massage?”

“Let me wash your hair for you.”

“The taste of your lips is like a drug.”

“You have a million freckles and I want to count them all.”

“Your lips are just too damn kissable.”

“That colour looks perfect on your skin.”

“Sometimes when we hug, I don’t ever want to let go.”

“Don’t roll your eyes at me.”

“Should I comb your hair for you?”

“Your body fits perfectly with mine while dancing.”

“Come on, take my hand.”

“Those legs of yours look like they go on forever.”

“Your hands are so cold, let me warm them up.”

“Did you know that you have a million freckles on your shoulders?”

“That look in your eyes means nothing good.”

“Is that a blush I see?”

“Can I braid your hair?”

“Ah, your feet are ice-cold!”

“I can hardly wait to put a ring on that finger.”

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