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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
A young child discovers a passion for baking. Write about the crazy kitchen adventures that they embark upon with their allergic-to-gluten family, one that culminates in a national baking competition.
Write a story where your character finds out a rumor is circulating about them.
You're digging in your garden when you unearth something that makes you stagger from shock.
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."
While spring cleaning, you come across something you had forgotten all about.
A trusting person turns into a skeptic.
You are a student working on a team project. You and your group are accidentally locked in the school library overnight.
You're in an airport, watching people say goodbye before heading through security.
"I didn't believe in Christmas until now." What might have happened to cause this character to say this?
Every day, you visit the same moment from your past.
Write a story from the perspective of a snowman who has just come to life. Plot twist: he's missing eyes.
Write a story about a young character who wants to learn magic.
It's a Thursday evening, and Greg Richerson is flashing his sports cars again.
Write a story about a character who is under intense pressure to succeed at something.
You start what was supposed to just be a business front for a money laundering scheme, but your silly idea is making more money than you ever dreamed.
Write a story where your character faces a deep fear.
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