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Are you ready to write but don’t know what to write about? Prepare to kick your writing into gear by browsing through our list of 200+ short story ideas. New prompts are added each week, and you can search by genre. But don’t let our categories stop you from putting your own spin on a writing prompt: if you find a short story idea tagged as sci-fi, but you think it would make a great romance plot, run with it! For tips on how to come up with your own story ideas, scroll to the bottom of the page.

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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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It was the most epic senior prank your high school had ever seen.

Write a story about a character who can only tell lies.

Write a story inspired by a photo on Instagram.

You buy your son a teddy bear. Every night, the bear protects your son from the monsters in the dark.

Write a story about a festive neighborhood battle between one family who loves Halloween and another family who loves Christmas.

You got on the wrong bus and ended up in a remote town where things seemed a little odd.

Someone told you a secret that you shouldn't know about a friend. What do you do with this information? Write a story about it.

You just discovered England's biggest secret: every time they sing "God Save the Queen" it extends the queens life.

You're beginning to believe the person writing the daily crossword puzzle in your newspaper is trying to send you an encoded message.

Mystery / Thriller

Write a story about two characters competing to take the worst ever picture-day portrait.

Every pirate claims to be the scourge of the seven seas, but none claim the eighth.

You're kneeling in the dirt, working on your garden when your attention is drawn up by a person saying, "Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but..."

Write about the most epic Easter egg hunt ever.

"When i grow up, I want to..."

You are a student working on a team project. You and your group are accidentally locked in the school library overnight.

You start what was supposed to just be a business front for a money laundering scheme, but your silly idea is making more money than you ever dreamed.