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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You start hearing sounds, but when you ask your friend about it, they look at you with a confused expression.
Write about a character who is confused about what a White Elephant gift exchange is, and ends up going on a search for an actual white elephant.
Write a story about a character learning a new sport.
Write about a wish that you once made.
You witness a total solar eclipse.
The Tooth Fairy finds something unexpected sitting beside the expected tooth under a child's pillow.
Write a story about a haircut that doesn't go exactly the way that a character wanted it to.
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."
You're kneeling in the dirt, working on your garden when your attention is drawn up by a person saying, "Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but..."
"Have a good night," you say, and breath a huge sigh of relief the moment you walk away.
You wake up to the sound of a voice. Nervous, you look around the room until your eyes land on your pet. You swear you just heard it sleep-talking.
There's someone standing on the corner of the street you live on. It's the fifth time they've been there this week.
Everyday, you sit at your window to watch a neighbor play a musical instrument. You can't hear the music, but you're transfixed by the musician's expression.
Write about the origin of April Fools' Day.
You find your grandparent's old chessboard in the attic. Absentmindedly, you move a piece. The next day, an opposing piece has been moved.
Put yourself in your teacher's shoes for a moment, and write a story about a day at school from their perspective.
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