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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
"I have to go!" she/he said suddenly, jumping up from the table during dinner.
Someone steps out of your television set… and you were watching a horror movie.
Write about a time that you found out something surprising about yourself.
When people die, they are transported to the event that ultimately caused their death. One day, you are hit by a car and sent 12 years into the past.
A group of kids get an invite to a costume party in the neighborhood… but when they arrive, the monsters aren't costumes. They're real.
Write about a time that you were challenged in a belief that you had.
You've just made the discovery of secret playground deep in the woods... and only you know of its existence.
It's Wednesday evening and you're off to the weekly meeting of your writer's block support group.
You're scrolling through the pictures on your phone. You notice a new one: it's of you sleeping.
A child finds out by accident that Santa Claus… isn't real! Write about the fallout that occurs afterward.
Write about a time that you felt like an outsider.
You meet someone who's different from you. Write a story about how you become friends.
On your commute to work, you expect to see the sun rise as usual. This time, two suns rise.
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 short story in the form of a text message exchange between two best friends during history class.
You've just lost something important. Write a story about finding it — or learning to cope with its loss.
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