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DIRECTORY
539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You are a Nobel Prize Winner, on your way to the awards ceremony. Suddenly, you are transported back in time.
You're scrolling through the pictures on your phone. You notice a new one: it's of you sleeping.
Write a children's book about a young child who gets transported into a magical world inside of a snow globe.
Fairy godmothers exist, and yours just introduced herself to you on your 15th birthday.
One person's trash is another's treasure.
You are put in charge of a mission to Mars on NASA's most advanced space shuttle yet. Organize your team.
Emotional baggage must now be checked in at the airport.
Write a story about a rival studio that is desperately trying to create a song to outsell Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You."
Write a story about two costume shops who try to outdo each other with bigger and crazier costumes each Halloween.
You just discovered England's biggest secret: every time they sing "God Save the Queen" it extends the queens life.
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.
Five competitive students are invited to board game night. Only one can win.
You saw something that you weren't supposed to see. Telling the truth could fix a horrible situation for one of the colleagues involved — but it would get you fired.
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.
Two elderly people in a retirement home are a secret pair of detectives that have solved some of the biggest crimes and mysteries through anonymous tips.
Write a story about a group of five friends who set out at night for trick or treating… and when they return, they're only four.
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