Menu
Write your book in Reedsy Studio. Try the beloved writing app for free today.
Win up to $250 in our weekly writing contest
Submit your short story on Reedsy Prompts.
DIRECTORY
47 Best Dramatic Short Story Ideas
Showing 47 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You thought you were the last person left on Earth. Today you found out that might not be true.
You're on an island in the middle of the ocean. One day you find a bottle washed up on the shore with a piece of paper in it.
As the sun set, the desert wasteland glowed an eerie red.
"Today is the last day," you decide, staring up at the 67-story building that has owned your life for the last 10 years.
A long-standing feud erupts during a funeral or wedding.
You discover a secret family member you never knew existed.
You are home alone watching TV. A character dials a number on their phone. Your phone rings.
You're in an airport, watching people say goodbye before heading through security.
You enter a room where someone is having a phone call. They don't see you and you overhear a big secret that you clearly weren't meant to.
A plane that's been missing for years suddenly lands at a major airport.
You wake up from a coma that no one expected you to recover from.
You find a well-kept, spotless leather bound book in the middle of a vast desert.
A woman drops her wallet on the street, and it falls open. You pick it up and are about to return it to her when you notice a strange picture inside.
"The grass is always greener on the other side." You were prepared to find out.
There's an urban legend about a taxi cab that doesn't take you where you want to go, but where you need to go. One night, you step into this cab.
Find the perfect editor for your next book
Over 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.
Save your shortlist
Enter your email address to save your shortlist so that you don't lose it!
By continuing, you will also receive Reedsy's weekly publishing tips and access to our free webinars.
Check your email
We've sent over your shortlist. Thank you for using Reedsy's Short Story Ideas Directory 🙌
