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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You're on an island in the middle of the ocean. One day you find a bottle washed up on the shore with a piece of paper in it.
Write a children's book about diversity.
In a series of letters to Santa, write a story about growing up.
You wake up to the sound of a voice. Nervous, you look around the room until your eyes land on your pet. You swear you just heard it sleep-talking.
It's your first winter… and it's just started snowing!
Write a retelling of a fairy tale — from the perspective of a child.
Time travel is real and time tourists show up in large numbers around major historical events. One day, thousands of time tourists are in ships above the earth, quietly waiting.
A student has to fight against societal expectations in order to fulfill a lifelong dream.
Write a story about a series of unfortunate events that takes place over the span of a field trip.
Write a story that's entirely set in the cafeteria.
Pick one of your Instagram photos. Write about the story behind it.
A ghoul, a ghost, and a mummy walk into a bar. What happens next?
Write a story about coming out. The ending is a happy one.
You discover a strange map that's been stuffed into your locker.
Write about a time that you were lost (metaphorically or literally).
Write a story about a world in which spirit animals exist. What kind of animal is your spirit animal? Why?
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