What do you think of when you think of a first date? Maybe two people meeting nervously in a restaurant or coffee shop, maybe going to a movie. However, people meet and fall in love in all sorts of situations, ideal and otherwise. This week’s prompt is to think of one of those less-than-ideal situations.

Story Prompt: April 20, 2026

Write a story about a first date in a war zone

My first impulse is to write this as a dark comedy, but it can be any tone you want. War zone can also mean anything from an area prone to attacks (like a city in a country at war) to the literal front lines of a battlefield. Up to you.

If you write a story for this prompt, send me a link to your story on your own site, either in the comments or at info@greenwalledtreehouse.com. You can also submit your story here for a chance to have it published on the site next week.

Happy writing!