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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
It's show and tell day! Write a story about what you most want to bring to show to your class.
A child finds out by accident that Santa Claus… isn't real! Write about the fallout that occurs afterward.
A pair of best friends realize they're two corners of a love triangle — they both have feelings for the same person.
Petals fall to the ground as someone picks apart a flower and says, "they love me, they love me not."
Write about a law in your country that you would change.
Ten years later, you see the person who bullied you in middle school in the middle of 7-11.
Write a story with the worlds: "calculation," "corn," and "mayor."
Many action movies involve the hero jumping into a vehicle and demanding the driver to "follow that car!" Write from the perspective of the driver.
Write a story about friendship that uses holiday traditions from different cultures.
After searching for your lost cat for months, it saunters into your house one day. It looks rather plump.
Write a story in the form of letters. Plot twist: it's revealed that the character who wrote them died from unnatural causes years ago.
Re-tell Jane Eyre as a short story... but set it in the far future.
The old bus driver who drives you to work every day always tells you rambling stories about his friends, who all seem to have passed away. Eventually, you begin to suspect he is immortal.
You're on a sleepover with your best friend, when your best friend starts to act strangely.
You caught the girl in classroom 3B stealing your favorite eraser, which means war.
Write about a power hungry wizard summoning an eldritch creature from a blood-stained spellbook.
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