The Best Reverse Harem Story Ideas and Writing Prompts of 2023

Looking for enticing reverse harem story ideas and writing prompts? You’ve come to the right place!

Read on for ideas like a group of tenants crushing on their landlady, a witch with green thumbs being courted by the nature spirits who live in her garden, and many more!

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Reverse Harem Story Ideas & Writing Prompts
- Story ideas
- Picture prompts
The Definition of Reverse Harem Story
- Criticisms
- How to write a reverse harem story
More?

Reverse Harem Story Ideas & Writing Prompts

Let’s dive in for some intriguing story ideas and writing prompts!

I hope the ideas below are original. However, undoubtedly with the popularity of this trope, something similar could have existed out there already. But the smallest details and execution matter, and make all the difference!

Please note that the genders in these prompts and story ideas are just placeholders. It is not the intention to enforce any hurtful stereotypes or offend anyone.

Story ideas

Unravel the complexities and allure of tales where one charismatic protagonist finds themselves surrounded by a group of diverse and captivating love interests in these story ideas!

The Apocalypse

Following a freaky apocalypse, the birth rate of female babies are declining. Women become scarce, but instead becoming precious commodities (which is so cliché, right?), women rise to the top of the command chain and societies are becoming matriarchal, taking up many partners and making most of the societal decisions.
The Promises

This is a more comedic take of the genre. A couple promises their daughter to more than one family’s heir in order to secure their own safety, hoping that somehow, some of those families would forget about the promise in twenty years or so, or would perish before they could collect on the promise. News flash: they don’t.
The Inheritance

(This prompt is based more or less on the traditional practices of polyandrous marriage in some cultures.) Fearing that his immense wealth would be divided into pieces when his children marry, a father specifies in his will that his children will only get their inheritance if they all marry the same woman.
The Bodyguards

When a princess finds out that her betrothed is a cruel prince, she opts to elope with her band of bodyguards.
The Landlady

Facing the threat of foreclosure, a woman has to lease out the rooms in her spacious house. Despite her dominance and imposing personality, somehow all of her tenants end up having a crush on her.
The Goddess

A supernatural story. A Goddess must choose one person out of a pool of candidates to be blessed as the next King. But this time around, the Goddess is simply too enthralled by all her suitors that she doesn’t want to choose just one.
The Queen

For a significant portion of her reign, the Queen has remained unmarried, and the people are becoming restless. However, the truth is that she shares a deep bond with all her royal advisors and cannot fathom the idea of marrying a single individual.
The Heiress

A woman finds herself to be the sole inheritor of her estranged parents’ castle, and debts. With the help of some of the castle’s loyal staffs, she manages to rise to the challenge. Over time, she feels a deep connection not only with her new responsibilities but also with the group of staffs who gradually become an integral part of her life.

Picture prompts

A picture speaks a thousand words, so here are some intriguing writing prompts and story ideas inspired by a picture. Please click on each picture to learn more about it.

1. The Mafia’s Daughter

A woman takes up the mantle of her late Mafia father and finds her leadership challenged by his trusted associates. In a bold move, she challenges each of them to individual duels, and ends up winning them and gaining their affections.

(Please click on the image for more information about it.)

2. The Witch

A recluse witch with a love for gardening gets the surprise of her life when, one day, the nature spirits in said garden make themselves known to her and profess all their love for her.

(Please click on the image for more information about it.)

The Definition of Reverse Harem Story

Now, let’s delve deeper into the genre!

A reverse harem story is a subgenre of fiction, typically in anime, manga, visual novels or otome games, in which a female protagonist is surrounded by a group of male characters who are all potential love interests.

The term “reverse harem” is a play on the term “harem,” which refers to a situation in which a male character is surrounded by a group of potential female love interests.

In reverse harem stories like Neck-Romancer, for example, the focus is on the female protagonist and her romantic relationships with the male characters. Often, the story centers on the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and her growing feelings for the different men. The reverse harem story usually includes elements of fantasy, supernatural, romance, and comedy, and may also include a mix of action, drama, and fantasy.

Criticisms

While reverse harem genre may be popular among some readers, it has also faced criticism for a number of reasons, including its reinforcement of traditional gender roles, lack of character development and complex relationships, and lack of representation of diverse and marginalized characters.

Therefore, if you aspire to write a story in the genre, try to subvert cliché tropes, make sure that the leading lady has her own agency, and be sure to include a diverse characters.

How to write a reverse harem story

Writing a reverse harem story involves creating a narrative where one female protagonist is romantically pursued by multiple male love interests. Here are some tips to help you write a reverse harem story:

1. Create a strong and relatable protagonist: Your female protagonist should be a character that readers can root for and connect with, possessing a distinct personality, goals, and motivations that drive the story forward.

2. Develop unique male love interests: Each male love interest should have a distinct personality and background that sets him apart from the others. Give them different strengths, weaknesses, and quirks to make them stand out.

3. Build romantic tension: As with any romance story, creating moments of tension and chemistry between the protagonist and her male love interests (through dialogue, actions, physical touch, etc.) is crucial.

4. Incorporate conflict: To keep the story engaging, introduce conflicts that threaten the relationship between the protagonist and her male love interests such as jealousy, external obstacles, internal struggles, etc.

5. Explore the dynamics between the characters: Create tension and conflict between the male characters as they compete for the protagonist’s affection or explore a polyamorous relationship dynamic.

6. Add other elements to the story: Many reverse harem stories incorporate other elements like fantasy, mystery, or action, which can add depth and complexity to the story and keep readers engaged.

Overall, writing a reverse harem story requires creating compelling characters and building romantic tension between them. By following these tips, you can create a story that engages readers and keeps them invested in the characters and their relationships.