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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
"I have to go!" she/he said suddenly, jumping up from the table during dinner.
Your mother sits you and your brother down, and says, "Kids, I'm gonna tell you an incredible story the story of how I met your father."
Write a story about a pair of siblings who open up a lemonade stand during summer vacation, and the rivalry that flares up when their neighbors decide to start a Kool-Aid stand at the same time.
Write a story about moving to an entirely new city where everything is new and unfamiliar.
A comedian bombs every time every time they get up on stage.
One character wants a snake, but their roommate has a phobia. They adopt one anyway.
Write a story about a catastrophic attempt to use grandma's famous pumpkin pie recipe for the annual Halloween feast.
Pick a color and write a story based on the feelings that that color evokes for you.
An elderly married couple toast each other over a pint on St. Patrick's Day.
You discover a strange map that's been stuffed into your locker.
Write about someone discovering something important from their childhood hidden in the back of a closet.
Doppelgangers exist in this world. You just met yours — and they're not friendly.
Write a love story using dramatic irony.
Some fishy things have been going on at school. Write about a group of friends who establish their own detective agency to get down to the bottom of it, once and for all.
Write a story about the friendship between two different species of animals.
Write about the first time you learned to do something.
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