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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
Mars is the new wild west, complete with gunslingers.
Write about a difficult decision you had to make, and how you ended up making it.
It's the first day of summer camp, and one of this year's new campers is the child of a major celebrity. Write a story about the first week from the head camp counselor's perspective.
You were put in charge of getting your great-grandmother a gift this year by your family — but she's old enough that she's already seen, heard, and experienced everything under the sun. What do you get her?
You briefly go out in the snow and come back inside. When you go out again, your footprints from earlier lead in a different direction.
A writer becomes trapped inside their own book.
Ten years later, you see the person who bullied you in middle school in the middle of 7-11.
"By the time I wake up in the morning, I want them dead."
Two colleagues with poor communication skills have to collaborate for the first time on a project.
Write a story about the local scarecrow coming to life and going on a revenge mission against all of those people who had dressed it badly in previous years.
A friendly pranking rivalry between two colleagues in an office starts to get serious.
For years, four characters have met for a monthly card game. Write a story in which one character realizes that another is cheating.
Write a story about the local PETA branch starting a campaign supporting black cats on Halloween day.
A pair of best friends realize they're two corners of a love triangle — they both have feelings for the same person.
You are part of a huge team of accountants that manages the karma of people on earth.
A former party animal lives in a retirement home. They've decided it's time for one last bash.
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