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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You're one of Santa Claus's elves, and wishes on childrens' wishlists from around the world this Christmas have gone through the roof. Literally. Now you need to somehow find a repairman to fix Santa's roof before Santa finds out.
Write a short story inspired by your favorite song.
If a fire broke out in your home, what are the first three things that you would grab? Why?
Write about a time that you felt like an outsider.
As a joke, you use your cell phone to dial your own number. Someone picks up.
You are going home for Christmas for the first time in twenty-five years.
Someone you believed to be dead "comes back."
A superhero comes and rescues your class from certain doom. Which superhero just swooped in to save the day? Write a story about how you set out to make friends with them next.
All of your birthday presents this year look normal, except for one sitting in the corner that has a strange yellow glow emitting from it...
Set your story at the bleachers of the track and field.
You hear a commotion on the playground — and from the commotion, you can pick out a familiar voice. What happened?
Write a story centered on the theme of persistence when it comes to exams.
Write a story about a good witch and a bad witch who try to outdo each other on Halloween.
You visited a psychic for romantic advice. Instead, they tell you that your spouse has a secret.
It's your first spring… and you have allergies!
You've just lost something important. Write a story about finding it — or learning to cope with its loss.
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