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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.

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Page 12

A pessimist becomes an optimist.

Fiction

You wake up to the sound of a voice. Nervous, you look around the room until your eyes land on your pet. You swear you just heard it sleep-talking.

Funny

A group of high school students go on an educational field trip to a graveyard to learn about the history of the area. But when a storm starts up and they get trapped, they have to figure out how to survive the night.

Halloween

You are part of a huge team of accountants that manages the karma of people on earth.

Dramatic

Because of a freak science experiment, you just had a body swap — with the principal of your high school! What do you do with your newfound role?

High School

You just made a new friend who lives in France… but wait. You don't know French.

Children's Book

Write a story using only dialogue that illustrates what a normal day at your school looks like.

High School

The voice in your head is your only friend. The AI implant is your only ally. And she's just started to become sentient...

Science Fiction

Write a story about a character who must confront their past.

Middle School

You are the Grinch who hates Halloween, and your mission this year is to replace every single Ferroro Rocher with brussel sprouts.

Halloween

Write a story about the local PETA branch starting a campaign supporting black cats on Halloween day.

Halloween

You find your grandparent's old chessboard in the attic. Absentmindedly, you move a piece. The next day, an opposing piece has been moved.

Fantasy

If a fire broke out in your home, what are the first three things that you would grab? Why?

Narrative

539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

A pessimist becomes an optimist.

You wake up to the sound of a voice. Nervous, you look around the room until your eyes land on your pet. You swear you just heard it sleep-talking.

A group of high school students go on an educational field trip to a graveyard to learn about the history of the area. But when a storm starts up and they get trapped, they have to figure out how to survive the night.

You are part of a huge team of accountants that manages the karma of people on earth.

Because of a freak science experiment, you just had a body swap — with the principal of your high school! What do you do with your newfound role?

You just made a new friend who lives in France… but wait. You don't know French.

Write a story using only dialogue that illustrates what a normal day at your school looks like.

The voice in your head is your only friend. The AI implant is your only ally. And she's just started to become sentient...

Write a story about a character who must confront their past.

You are the Grinch who hates Halloween, and your mission this year is to replace every single Ferroro Rocher with brussel sprouts.

Write a story about the local PETA branch starting a campaign supporting black cats on Halloween day.

You find your grandparent's old chessboard in the attic. Absentmindedly, you move a piece. The next day, an opposing piece has been moved.

If a fire broke out in your home, what are the first three things that you would grab? Why?

Sweet Sixteenth? More like Salty Sixteenth!

One person's trash is another's treasure.

Write about your goals at ages 5, 10, 15, and 20.

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