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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Write a story about the unlikely friendship that starts up between a young character and the eccentric old lady next door.
Write a story about a character who can only tell the truth.
A logical person starts acting irrationally.
Think about a moment in your life that elicited very strong emotions. Write about a character going through a different experience that leads to the same emotions.
Time travel is real and time tourists show up in large numbers around major historical events. One day, thousands of time tourists are in ships above the earth, quietly waiting.
What are you talking about, dude? I'm right here? Can't you see me?
Shaking, you take a step back from the sight in front of you. You'd never seen so much blood in your life.
A comedian bombs every time every time they get up on stage.
Write a story using the Halloween colors somewhere in the piece: orange, black, purple, and green.
Write a story about your dream vacation.
Adapt your favorite fairy tale to take place in your home town.
"He's been dead for ten years," said the little old lady, looking at you with concern.
Write a story about a high-stakes decoration competition between neighbors vyying for the title of Most Festive Home in their city (and the local newspaper feature that comes with it).
You've been asked to watch the class pet over a long weekend. It gets loose on its first night at your house.
Write about the way the sunset looks from the perspective of two characters. One is sad, the other is happy.
Write a dual perspective story, with each alternating perspective based on one of these two words: "bitter" and "sweet."
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