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.
It is discovered that Earth actually IS flat.
Write a story in the form of a diary that journals every day in the month leading up to Christmas.
Pick one of your Instagram photos. Write about the story behind it.
Write a story about a family who goes pumpkin picking, only to discover that at some point their prize pumpkins have been mysteriously switched with others from the patch. What happens next?
Write a story using the Halloween colors somewhere in the piece: orange, black, purple, and green.
In the closet of your new home is a portal through space and time. You accidentally travel to Mars.
You visited a psychic for romantic advice. Instead, they tell you that your spouse has a secret.
You're donating blood as normal in October when you notice that the nurse taking care of you is... strangely... pale? And seems to have oddly-shaped teeth... that almost look like fangs...?
The last person on earth celebrates their own birthday.
Two colleagues with poor communication skills have to collaborate for the first time on a project.
It's dodgeball day in P.E., and in a desperate attempt not to be picked last again for the teams, you...
As the sun set, the desert wasteland glowed an eerie red.
You eavesdrop on a hushed conversation taking place in the hallway. What's being said is not nice about someone you know.
Set your story at a graveyard overnight.
Every pirate claims to be the scourge of the seven seas, but none claim the eighth.
There is a fountain that truly does grant wishes to those who throw coins in it.
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 🙌
