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Are you ready to write but don’t know what to write about? Prepare to kick your writing into gear by browsing through our list of 200+ short story ideas. New prompts are added each week, and you can search by genre. But don’t let our categories stop you from putting your own spin on a writing prompt: if you find a short story idea tagged as sci-fi, but you think it would make a great romance plot, run with it! For tips on how to come up with your own story ideas, scroll to the bottom of the page.

539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.

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Page 24

You are a curmudgeonly old man whose name is Writer S. Block. You just spotted your next victim.

Funny

A comedian bombs every time every time they get up on stage.

Conflict

You are a space kitty, traveling from planet to planet. You write a letter home and this is what it says.

Funny

While transferring between international flights at an airport, you befriend a strange person while passing through security.

Funny

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.

Funny

A 50-year-old has started to do the daily Sudoku, scared that she is starting to lose her memory.

Conflict

A character has to choose between family and their desire for the truth.

Conflict

Someone who has lived a thousand years takes up a job teaching high school history.

Fantasy

You pass by a person sitting with their face to the sun, the most content smile you've ever seen on their face.

Fiction

A habitually fearful person turns brave.

Fiction

Write about a time when you tried something unfamiliar.

Narrative

Write about the first time you learned to do something.

Narrative

You woke up and all seemed normal. Little did you know that before you'd even had a chance to get out of bed, you would become the subject of a prank.

Funny

539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

A ghoul, a ghost, and a mummy walk into a bar. What happens next?

Write a story about understanding differences in cultures through clothing.

Set your story at a busy airport during Christmas week.

You are a curmudgeonly old man whose name is Writer S. Block. You just spotted your next victim.

A comedian bombs every time every time they get up on stage.

You are a space kitty, traveling from planet to planet. You write a letter home and this is what it says.

While transferring between international flights at an airport, you befriend a strange person while passing through security.

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.

A 50-year-old has started to do the daily Sudoku, scared that she is starting to lose her memory.

A character has to choose between family and their desire for the truth.

Someone who has lived a thousand years takes up a job teaching high school history.

You pass by a person sitting with their face to the sun, the most content smile you've ever seen on their face.

A habitually fearful person turns brave.

Write about a time when you tried something unfamiliar.

Write about the first time you learned to do something.

You woke up and all seemed normal. Little did you know that before you'd even had a chance to get out of bed, you would become the subject of a prank.

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