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53 Best Funny Short Story Ideas

Showing 53 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.

Doctor Seuss has grown weary of writing children's books and finds new work as a reporter covering violent crime for a newspaper. Despite his new line of work, he keeps his classic Seussian style.

Write a story that ends with a shocking plot twist.

You were staring out the bus window idly when someone sat down and said, "What a DAY!"

Write a story that ends by coming full circle.

From a dog's perspective, humans seem to be either immortal or at least live extremely long lives. Write from the perspective of a dog contemplating this.

Write a story that ends by jumping forward several years.

You woke up and all seemed normal. Little did you know that before you'd even had a chance to get out of bed, you would become the subject of a prank.

You are a professional hoax-buster.

You were mowing your lawn when someone walked by your yard and burst into tears.

A group of seniors in university have been planning a graduation prank all year. Today's finally the day.

Write a story with an open ending.

You open a door, but before you can go through, someone sneaks in front of you without saying "thank you." You've had an awful day and this is the last straw.

You're a bartender at a neighborhood pub. A regular comes in and says, "Do I have a story for you!"

Your date finds an engagement ring inside a slice of cake they ordered for dessert. You weren't planning to propose.

You are an expert spy for the British government, trained to perfection. Your only weakness is that your background music alerts enemies to your presence.

An office worker's favorite coffee mug has gone missing, and the obsessive search for the mug throughout the workplace turns into a dire and ridiculous odyssey.

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