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

Children's Book

Write a short story inspired by your favorite song.

High School

Write a story about a test that your character has to overcome. The test can be metaphorical or figurative.

Teens

Write a story from the perspective of a snowman who has just come to life. Plot twist: he's missing eyes.

Christmas

You find a note in your locker that is not intended for you, but the person with the next locker over. What does the note say? What do you do with it?

Teens

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

Conflict

Write a story about a young character who wants to learn magic.

Kids

"I have to go!" she/he said suddenly, jumping up from the table during dinner.

Funny

Shaking, you take a step back from the sight in front of you. You'd never seen so much blood in your life.

Dark

You're a janitor at a large school. People wouldn't believe the things you've heard.

Funny

Petals fall to the ground as someone picks apart a flower and says, "they love me, they love me not."

Love

You head into the forest with your trusty lantern that's been enchanted to burn forever. You're looking for something.

Fantasy

Write about a difficult decision you had to make, and how you ended up making it.

Narrative

You're on a boat that should have reached undiscovered land days ago. Your compass tells you you're on the right path but there is no land in sight.

Dramatic

Ten years later, you see the person who bullied you in middle school in the middle of 7-11.

Teens

Write a story set at a peppermint convention for people obsessed with peppermint.

Christmas

539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026

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

Write a short story inspired by your favorite song.

Write a story about a test that your character has to overcome. The test can be metaphorical or figurative.

Write a story from the perspective of a snowman who has just come to life. Plot twist: he's missing eyes.

You find a note in your locker that is not intended for you, but the person with the next locker over. What does the note say? What do you do with it?

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

Write a story about a young character who wants to learn magic.

"I have to go!" she/he said suddenly, jumping up from the table during dinner.

Shaking, you take a step back from the sight in front of you. You'd never seen so much blood in your life.

You're a janitor at a large school. People wouldn't believe the things you've heard.

Petals fall to the ground as someone picks apart a flower and says, "they love me, they love me not."

You head into the forest with your trusty lantern that's been enchanted to burn forever. You're looking for something.

Write about a difficult decision you had to make, and how you ended up making it.

You're on a boat that should have reached undiscovered land days ago. Your compass tells you you're on the right path but there is no land in sight.

Ten years later, you see the person who bullied you in middle school in the middle of 7-11.

Write a story set at a peppermint convention for people obsessed with peppermint.

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