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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You're haunted by a ghost. That's not the problem. The problem is that this ghost is really, really, really chatty.
"What? You're Father who? I don't know no Father Christmas, now get off of my lawn!"
While dozing by the fire in your winter cabin, you hear a knock at the door. Blizzard conditions have closed all surrounding roads, and the nearest neighbor is miles away.
You wish upon what looks like a star but is actually a satellite. Your wish has been recorded, catalogued, and an agent is now assigned the task of granting your wish.
Write a story about a character whose reflection no longer appears in the mirror. (It's up to you whether or not they're also a vampire.)
You're sitting at your desk eating candy hearts. You start to realize the notes on the hearts are trying to give you a message.
Where do you see the future of technology heading? Write an essay explaining why.
On your commute to work, you expect to see the sun rise as usual. This time, two suns rise.
You are in charge of organizing a lunch for four famous historical figures. Who do you invite? Why?
You enter a room where someone is having a phone call. They don't see you and you overhear a big secret that you clearly weren't meant to.
Write about a time that you felt like an outsider.
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