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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Write a children's book that's set entirely in space.
The last person on earth celebrates their own birthday.
A young boy working up the courage to ask his long-time crush to dance with him at the school dance.
Write a story about a world in which Mondays don't exist.
Write a story about a series of unfortunate events that takes place over the span of a field trip.
It's a Thursday evening, and Greg Richerson is flashing his sports cars again.
Write a story about a character who's just moved into town.
Write a story about a character who is under intense pressure to succeed at something.
After the brief pause that follows your mother's angry question of "Who did this?", all of you look at the cat.
It's show and tell day! Write a story about what you most want to bring to show to your class.
"Whatever you do, DO NOT touch this. Or else."
A couple gets in a fight after one finds out that the other has secretly wasted $50,000 on lottery tickets over the past 15 years.
Write a story about a character's first day at an after-school job in a retail store.
You've been turned into a ghost! Now the fun part begins. Who do you pick to haunt, and why?
Write a story that ends with a Happily Ever After.
Write a story about the small kindnesses that you see every day.
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