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DIRECTORY
539 Best Short Story Ideas for Authors in 2026
Showing 539 short story ideas curated by Reedsy.
"I didn't believe in Christmas until now." What might have happened to cause this character to say this?
It's show and tell day! Write a story about what you most want to bring to show to your class.
Stuff has been mysteriously disappearing from your home for weeks, but you live alone.
Write a story with an open ending.
You come across a cheaply printed book of magic tricks. You try one out and discover the book is truly magic, and teaches you how to break fundamental laws of physics.
Write a story that ends by coming full circle.
The objects in the Chemistry classroom come to life when students and teachers are not around.
You accidentally break something at a dinner party and go to ever-increasing lengths to cover it up.
Write a story about two costume shops who try to outdo each other with bigger and crazier costumes each Halloween.
Your friend is visiting your home for the first time. You go to the kitchen to grab coffee and when you return, your friend tells you they just met your sister. You're an only child and you live alone.
You're a food critic eating the best meal of your life. You're at McDonalds.
Pick a genre and then write about a long walk home after school.
Write a story about a character learning a new sport.
Write a story about a group of five friends who set out at night for trick or treating… and when they return, they're only four.
Who would you choose as the TIME Person Of The Year? Why?
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.
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