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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Write a story in the form of a diary that journals every day in the month leading up to Christmas.
Fairy godmothers exist, and yours just introduced herself to you on your 15th birthday.
You've just made the discovery of secret playground deep in the woods... and only you know of its existence.
You're moments late to everything. You watch busses pull away as you run behind them, you miss the first 5 minutes of every movie, and you have never caught a green light. One day, you arrive on time.
Your friend is visiting your home for the first time. You go to the kitchen to grab coffee and when you return, your friend tells you they just met your sister. You're an only child and you live alone.
You were staring out the bus window idly when someone sat down and said, "What a DAY!"
Doctor Seuss has grown weary of writing children's books and finds new work as a reporter covering violent crime for a newspaper. Despite his new line of work, he keeps his classic Seussian style.
Santa Claus is backed up with orders recently, and you're in charge of writing the official letter of apology to all of the children around the world informing them that their presents may arrive a week late this year.
Describe your weekend using only dialogue to write the story.
You live in a future where music in any form is considered repugnant. You find an old music box.
A character doesn't know how to ask their parent to stop calling them 2+ times a day.
It's your first day in a new city where you don't speak the language.
Write a story based on the last text you received.
Write a story about a character who is under intense pressure to succeed at something.
Because of a freak science experiment, you just had a body swap — with the principal of your high school! What do you do with your newfound role?
Write a story that begin and ends around an awkward Christmas dinner table.
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