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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Write a story about the all-out war among the PTA moms to snatch up the last Spider-Man costume in the costume shop.
Mars is the new wild west, complete with gunslingers.
Someone told you a secret that you shouldn't know about a friend. What do you do with this information? Write a story about it.
A team of scientists have successfully teleported an apple. It reappears with a bite taken out of it.
It's Wednesday evening and you're off to the weekly meeting of your writer's block support group.
Write a story that's a retelling of your favorite book, from the perspective of a minor character.
A student has to fight against societal expectations in order to fulfill a lifelong dream.
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.
You work at an airport and notice the same person waiting in "arrivals" every week. Each time, they leave alone. One day you muster the courage to ask who they are waiting for.
You're at your computer feeling heavy writer's block. Suddenly words start appearing on the screen.
You've just lost something important. Write a story about finding it — or learning to cope with its loss.
You check into a seedy hotel and discover halfway through the night that it is made up entirely of thirteenth floors missing from other hotels.
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.
A cell phone is found inside a sealed Egyptian tomb.
Write about a place the sky meets the sea.
Write a story about friendship that uses holiday traditions from different cultures.
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