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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Write about a time that you found out something surprising about yourself.
You're a busker in Central Park on a spring day.
Write a story about a pair of siblings who open up a lemonade stand during summer vacation, and the rivalry that flares up when their neighbors decide to start a Kool-Aid stand at the same time.
Set your story at a sunny day in the park.
Set your story on a hayride. Bonus points if a headless horseman makes an appearance.
Write a story about trust. Include a pair of siblings in it.
You participated in your office's Secret Santa, but no one will admit to buying your gift. Write a story about the search for the mysterious gifter.
You start what was supposed to just be a business front for a money laundering scheme, but your silly idea is making more money than you ever dreamed.
Write a story that's entirely set in the cafeteria.
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.
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.
A trusting person turns into a skeptic.
An anxious and unsure person becomes extremely decisive.
Write a story about friendship that uses holiday traditions from different cultures.
Write a children's book that's set entirely in space.
Write a story about a world in which spirit animals exist. What kind of animal is your spirit animal? Why?
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