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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You caught the girl in classroom 3B stealing your favorite eraser, which means war.
Where do you see the future of technology heading? Write an essay explaining why.
You were mowing your lawn when someone walked by your yard and burst into tears.
Every week, you post an ad in the newspaper asking for a time traveller to contact you. One day you get a response, dated year 2200.
You just got the new dog that you've wanted for such a long time, but you're finding that it's a lot more responsibility than you expected.
Write a story in which it becomes night forever. The sun has gone.
Write a story in the form of a diary that journals every day in the month leading up to Christmas.
You hear music emanating from aisle 3 of your local grocery store. No one else hears it.
Write a story where your character gets close to obtaining their greatest desire.
Write a story about your dream vacation.
Write a story based on an experience from your childhood... but have that experience happen to a person or group of people who are nothing like you or your family.
Each year, the Springers host the town's most epic Halloween costume party. You're determined to win the grand prize this year, except that this year the theme is "Willy Wonka."
You are put in charge of a mission to Mars on NASA's most advanced space shuttle yet. Organize your team.
What are you talking about, dude? I'm right here? Can't you see me?
Write a story about time passing from the perspective of a young child who tends to plants every day.
Fairy godmothers exist, and yours just introduced herself to you on your 15th birthday.
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