More apps built by Reedsy

reedsymarketplace

Assemble a team of professionals

reedsystudio

The writing app for authors

reedsylearning

Writing courses, events and memberships

reedsydiscovery

Get your book reviewed

reedsyprompts

Weekly writing prompts and contests

REEDSY PROMPTS

Write your book in Reedsy Studio. Try the beloved writing app for free today.

Win up to $250 in our weekly writing contest

Submit your short story on Reedsy Prompts.

Add filters

539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.

← Prev

Page 26

You come across an ATM that gives you the exact amount of money you need to survive for the day, how you spend it is your choice. Today you are given $10 million.

Fiction

You are put in charge of a mission to Mars on NASA's most advanced space shuttle yet. Organize your team.

Kids

You were mowing your lawn when someone walked by your yard and burst into tears.

Funny

Write about the way the sunset looks from the perspective of two characters. One is sad, the other is happy.

Dramatic

Set your story at a graveyard overnight.

Dark

Write a story from the perspective of your middle school self.

High School

The theme for this year's prom is "Great Gatsby," and you're the head of the prom committee that's in charge of putting it together.

High School

Write a story about the local PETA branch starting a campaign supporting black cats on Halloween day.

Halloween

For a week or so you've noticed a stray animal hanging around your home. One day you let it in.

Fiction

Something unusual is found in a winter coat pocket.

Dramatic

Write a story based on an experience from your childhood... but have that experience happen to a person or group of people who are nothing like you or your family.

Narrative

An advertising firm lands a huge contract to make Easter the yearÍs most popular holiday.

Holiday

You are a secret agent. Your mission? To steal the cookie jar back from your older sister.

Kids

Two colleagues with poor communication skills have to collaborate for the first time on a project.

Conflict

You're outside in the park playing Pokemon Go when… wait… is that Pikachu… getting into a fight with your dog…?

Kids

You're digging in your garden when you unearth something that makes you stagger from shock.

Dark

539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

You come across an ATM that gives you the exact amount of money you need to survive for the day, how you spend it is your choice. Today you are given $10 million.

You are put in charge of a mission to Mars on NASA's most advanced space shuttle yet. Organize your team.

You were mowing your lawn when someone walked by your yard and burst into tears.

Write about the way the sunset looks from the perspective of two characters. One is sad, the other is happy.

Set your story at a graveyard overnight.

Write a story from the perspective of your middle school self.

The theme for this year's prom is "Great Gatsby," and you're the head of the prom committee that's in charge of putting it together.

Write a story about the local PETA branch starting a campaign supporting black cats on Halloween day.

For a week or so you've noticed a stray animal hanging around your home. One day you let it in.

Something unusual is found in a winter coat pocket.

Write a story based on an experience from your childhood... but have that experience happen to a person or group of people who are nothing like you or your family.

An advertising firm lands a huge contract to make Easter the yearÍs most popular holiday.

You are a secret agent. Your mission? To steal the cookie jar back from your older sister.

Two colleagues with poor communication skills have to collaborate for the first time on a project.

You're outside in the park playing Pokemon Go when… wait… is that Pikachu… getting into a fight with your dog…?

You're digging in your garden when you unearth something that makes you stagger from shock.

Save your shortlist

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.