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DIRECTORY
539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
One person's trash is another's treasure.
Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?
Write a story about the local PETA branch starting a campaign supporting black cats on Halloween day.
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 about a time that you taught something to somebody.
Write about a character who is confused about what a White Elephant gift exchange is, and ends up going on a search for an actual white elephant.
Write an unrequited loved story using situational irony.
You wake up the day after an epic party. You're not where you expected to be.
One day, the world wakes up to find the Easter Island heads facing the opposite direction.
In front of you lie two doors. One contains your worst nightmare. The other, your greatest dream.
Something unusual is found in a winter coat pocket.
A reindeer is loose! What can you, a mere elf on the lowest rung of Santa's helpers, do?
Write a story in which a Christmas song plays an important role in the plot.
A group of seniors in university have been planning a graduation prank all year. Today's finally the day.
You wake up from a coma that no one expected you to recover from.
Write a story about a character learning a new sport.
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