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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Turn one of your grandparent's old stories into fiction.
You get lost in the woods during a hike. It's starting to get dark, when you see the glow of a campfire nearby.
Write about a time that you encountered an obstacle, and how you overcame it.
In a series of letters to Santa, write a story about growing up.
"Do you have a minute?" asks the stranger who was reading beside you on a park bench.
You just found a key in your pocket that wasn't there when you last checked.
Write a short story inspired by your favorite song.
It's the year 2099, and everyone has a smartwatch that can tell them what age they die.
You just discovered that you can teleport into one Hallmark Christmas rom-com of your choosing. Which movie do you choose, and what happens differently in the movie because of your arrival?
Write a story that takes place over the span of the longest Monopoly game ever.
Sweet Sixteenth? More like Salty Sixteenth!
A plane has just crashed onto a deserted island. It's carrying 12 convicted criminals.
The pumpkin flickered while you carved it… but there was no candle in it.
Describe your greatest fear, and how you have or have not overcome it yet.
You are a secret agent. Your mission? To steal the cookie jar back from your older sister.
You were mowing your lawn when someone walked by your yard and burst into tears.
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