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.
A 50-year-old has started to do the daily Sudoku, scared that she is starting to lose her memory.
Write a story in the form of letters. Plot twist: it's revealed that the character who wrote them died from unnatural causes years ago.
There's someone standing on the corner of the street you live on. It's the fifth time they've been there this week.
Write a story that includes these three words: "clown," "purple," and "apple."
Five competitive students are invited to board game night. Only one can win.
"I love you," you said. Before you could hear a response, your phone died.
The biggest tsunami in a decade is here. You're told to leave the city immediately, and you're on your way out when you see a dog struggling to stay afloat in the distance.
Every pirate claims to be the scourge of the seven seas, but none claim the eighth.
Money really does grow on trees and is heavily regulated by governments.
Write about a wish that you once made.
Petals fall to the ground as someone picks apart a flower and says, "they love me, they love me not."
A person dictates who he or she will date based on quantitative measures, such as horoscopes, how they perform on a test, etc.
An entrepreneur is suffering self-doubt from a string of failures, and this is their last chance.
Write about a character who is confused about what a White Elephant gift exchange is, and ends up going on a search for an actual white elephant.
Write a story about a catastrophic attempt to use grandma's famous pumpkin pie recipe for the annual Halloween feast.
It's dodgeball day in P.E., and in a desperate attempt not to be picked last again for the teams, you...
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 🙌
