Menu
Write your book in Reedsy Studio. Try the beloved writing app for free today.
Win up to $250 in our weekly writing contest
Submit your short story on Reedsy Prompts.
DIRECTORY
539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Time travel is real and time tourists show up in large numbers around major historical events. One day, thousands of time tourists are in ships above the earth, quietly waiting.
Write a story about a good witch and a bad witch who try to outdo each other on Halloween.
A man sidles up to a woman in a bar. Little does he know she's an undercover cop following him.
Write a story about a family who goes pumpkin picking, only to discover that at some point their prize pumpkins have been mysteriously switched with others from the patch. What happens next?
It's your birthday! Write a story about the ideal birthday that you'd spend with your family, your friends, or yourself.
You find a well-kept, spotless leather bound book in the middle of a vast desert.
Write a story where your character is at odds with a family tradition.
Write a story that takes place entirely in the dark.
You wake up to the sound of a voice. Nervous, you look around the room until your eyes land on your pet. You swear you just heard it sleep-talking.
While transferring between international flights at an airport, you befriend a strange person while passing through security.
Write a descriptive story about a household using only one of the five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, or taste.
Find the perfect editor for your next book
Over 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.
Save your shortlist
Enter your email address to save your shortlist so that you don't lose it!
By continuing, you will also receive Reedsy's weekly publishing tips and access to our free webinars.
Check your email
We've sent over your shortlist. Thank you for using Reedsy's Short Story Ideas Directory 🙌
