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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You're a janitor at a large school. People wouldn't believe the things you've heard.
A group of seniors in university have been planning a graduation prank all year. Today's finally the day.
A character becomes addicted to the slots in Las Vegas.
Write a story about a character who's just moved into town.
It's your first spring… and you have allergies!
Write a story about two characters competing to take the worst ever picture-day portrait.
"I'd like to buy a plane ticket to your furthest destination today," you told the airline employee.
Write a story about a ghost hunter who doesn't believe in ghosts -- until he gets stuck in a haunted mansion overnight.
A character must overcome their fear of running to join the soccer team, where their longtime crush is.
You open a fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant. Inside is a handwritten note.
Using only the setting of birthday parties, write a story about growing up.
Write a story in the form of letters. Plot twist: it's revealed that the character who wrote them died from unnatural causes years ago.
You're beginning to believe the person writing the daily crossword puzzle in your newspaper is trying to send you an encoded message.
Write a dual perspective story, with each alternating perspective based on one of these two words: "bitter" and "sweet."
A pair of twins swap places for a day. What do they find out about each other?
Write a story about Christmas from the perspective of someone who hates Christmas.
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