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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
A character must confront their fear of commitment if they want to save their failing relationship.
Write a story about the all-out war among the PTA moms to snatch up the last Spider-Man costume in the costume shop.
Write a story about a rival studio that is desperately trying to create a song to outsell Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You."
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 a short story inspired by your favorite song.
A character doesn't know how to break up with their partner, and keeps putting it off until the very moment that the partner bends down on one knee and proposes.
Overheard at the track-and-field: "I! NEVER! WANT! TO! SEE! THAT! DOG! POKING! HIS! HEAD! IN! HERE! AGAIN!"
A drama club is horrified upon reading a review of their performance in their high school newspaper.
Write a story about living a lie. You get to choose the lie.
You're moments late to everything. You watch busses pull away as you run behind them, you miss the first 5 minutes of every movie, and you have never caught a green light. One day, you arrive on time.
There is a fountain that truly does grant wishes to those who throw coins in it.
You find a treasure map.
Write about a time that you found out something surprising about yourself.
You come across an ATM that gives you the exact amount of money you need to survive for the day, how you spend it is your choice. Today you are given $10 million.
Write a story where your character finds out a rumor is circulating about them.
Two colleagues with poor communication skills have to collaborate for the first time on a project.
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