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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.

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Write a story that includes these three words: "clown," "purple," and "apple."

Kids

I thought he seemed a perfectly normal human being, until he started speaking.

Dark

It's the first day of school, and you're finding it hard to make friends when someone unexpected steps up.

Children's Book

Write a story using only dialogue that illustrates what a normal day at your school looks like.

High School

You are home alone watching TV. A character dials a number on their phone. Your phone rings.

Dramatic

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

Kids

A character must confront their fear of commitment if they want to save their failing relationship.

Conflict

Re-tell Jane Eyre as a short story... but set it in the far future.

Teens

You've just lost something important. Write a story about finding it — or learning to cope with its loss.

Children's Book

Write a story about a ghost hunter who doesn't believe in ghosts -- until he gets stuck in a haunted mansion overnight.

Dark

Write about a time that you were lost (metaphorically or literally).

Narrative

A character becomes addicted to the slots in Las Vegas.

Conflict

During a group project, the class clown is stalling on doing their share of the work.

Conflict

Write a story about a good witch and a bad witch who try to outdo each other on Halloween.

Halloween

It is discovered that Earth actually IS flat.

Science Fiction

Write a story about a group of five friends who set out at night for trick or treating… and when they return, they're only four.

Halloween

539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

Write a story that includes these three words: "clown," "purple," and "apple."

I thought he seemed a perfectly normal human being, until he started speaking.

It's the first day of school, and you're finding it hard to make friends when someone unexpected steps up.

Write a story using only dialogue that illustrates what a normal day at your school looks like.

You are home alone watching TV. A character dials a number on their phone. Your phone rings.

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

A character must confront their fear of commitment if they want to save their failing relationship.

Re-tell Jane Eyre as a short story... but set it in the far future.

You've just lost something important. Write a story about finding it — or learning to cope with its loss.

Write a story about a ghost hunter who doesn't believe in ghosts -- until he gets stuck in a haunted mansion overnight.

Write about a time that you were lost (metaphorically or literally).

A character becomes addicted to the slots in Las Vegas.

During a group project, the class clown is stalling on doing their share of the work.

Write a story about a good witch and a bad witch who try to outdo each other on Halloween.

It is discovered that Earth actually IS flat.

Write a story about a group of five friends who set out at night for trick or treating… and when they return, they're only four.

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