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539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
You meet someone who's different from you. Write a story about how you become friends.
Mars is the new wild west, complete with gunslingers.
You're one of Santa Claus's elves, and wishes on childrens' wishlists from around the world this Christmas have gone through the roof. Literally. Now you need to somehow find a repairman to fix Santa's roof before Santa finds out.
A reindeer is loose! What can you, a mere elf on the lowest rung of Santa's helpers, do?
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.
Write a story about a haircut that doesn't go exactly the way that a character wanted it to.
Write a story that starts with the pick-up line, "I must be a snowflake because I’ve fallen for you."
A pair of twins swap places for a day. What do they find out about each other?
Write a story about a catastrophic attempt to use grandma's famous pumpkin pie recipe for the annual Halloween feast.
Your mother sits you and your brother down, and says, "Kids, I'm gonna tell you an incredible story the story of how I met your father."
You head into the forest with your trusty lantern that's been enchanted to burn forever. You're looking for something.
August 30, 1946: The date of the one and only time travel convention. You attend every year.
Pick a genre and then write about a long walk home after school.
Write a short story in the form of a text message exchange between two best friends during history class.
It's Valentine's Day and when you open your locker, a note falls out. What does it read?
Re-tell Jane Eyre as a short story... but set it in the far future.
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