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
539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
"When i grow up, I want to..."
A romance told through a series of texts.
Adapt your favorite fairy tale to take place in your home town.
Write a children's book about diversity.
You just made a new friend who lives in France… but wait. You don't know French.
You were mowing your lawn when someone walked by your yard and burst into tears.
Write a story about the local scarecrow coming to life and going on a revenge mission against all of those people who had dressed it badly in previous years.
A person wakes up in bed, drenched in salty ocean water.
You wake up trapped in a strange castle with no memory of how you got there and there's something lurking in the shadows as you explore the halls.
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.
It's your first spring… and you have allergies!
She was dying. She was your mother. And you remember the day your engineers first turned her on...
You were reading a book quietly at a cafe when someone passed you a note.
You have wondered how to bring down Jane Lotsacash for years. Now, the key to her demise rests on your desk...
Write a story that starts with the pick-up line, "I must be a snowflake because I’ve fallen for you."
You're the director at a marketing agency. Your next project: to come up with an irresistibly catchy Christmas jingle. The only problem is that you hate Christmas.
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 🙌
