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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Write a short story in the form of a text message exchange between two best friends during history class.
The theme for this year's prom is "Great Gatsby," and you're the head of the prom committee that's in charge of putting it together.
Every week, you post an ad in the newspaper asking for a time traveller to contact you. One day you get a response, dated year 2200.
The Tooth Fairy finds something unexpected sitting beside the expected tooth under a child's pillow.
"The grass is always greener on the other side." You were prepared to find out.
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.
Write about a time when you tried something unfamiliar.
A woman drops her wallet on the street, and it falls open. You pick it up and are about to return it to her when you notice a strange picture inside.
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...?
Two elderly people in a retirement home are a secret pair of detectives that have solved some of the biggest crimes and mysteries through anonymous tips.
"When i grow up, I want to..."
Write a story that retells a famous fairy tale, but in a modern-day high school setting.
Write a story that ends with a shocking plot twist.
Fairy godmothers exist, and yours just introduced herself to you on your 15th birthday.
A character doesn't know how to break up with their partner, and keeps putting it off until the very moment that the partner bends down on one knee and proposes.
Five competitive students are invited to board game night. Only one can win.
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