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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
It's your first day in a new city where you don't speak the language.
It's your birthday! Write a story about the ideal birthday that you'd spend with your family, your friends, or yourself.
Overheard in P.E.: "It's not that I wanted to hit you in the head with the ball, it's that I thought you were a spider."
For years, four characters have met for a monthly card game. Write a story in which one character realizes that another is cheating.
Write a short story inspired by your favorite song.
You come across a cheaply printed book of magic tricks. You try one out and discover the book is truly magic, and teaches you how to break fundamental laws of physics.
A character's best friend is leaving town forever, and they haven't told them that they love them yet.
Write a story that takes place over the course of a house party.
Write a story where your character finds out a rumor is circulating about them.
You've just lost something important. Write a story about finding it — or learning to cope with its loss.
By the time this party is finished, three people's lives will be changed forever.
Write about a time when you were hurt by someone unexpected.
In the closet of your new home is a portal through space and time. You accidentally travel to Mars.
Write a story about a series of unfortunate events that takes place over the span of a field trip.
It's the year 2099, and everyone has a smartwatch that can tell them what age they die.
A legendary dragon is on its way to capture a princess. Plot twist: the princess kidnaps it, and temporarily locks it away in her tower to teach it a lesson.
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