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Short story ideas for the struggling writer and those who need just a little inspiration. We have dozens of topics, so make sure you scroll through or go to the next page. Enter our Short Story Contest and be a part of our Newsletters and Anthologies.

So, you have decided to sign-up for Twitter…you don’t know why, but you do know that it is all that…or, at least that is what your younger sister told you. You have gone to the main page, signed up, waited…nothing. That’s right, nothing. You check the screen for days wondering when the “news” will be flooding in. Once, after signing in, you see a large whale on the screen and then a funky bird. After refreshing your browser a few times, you see a blank spot under your update box. You can’t take it any more. So, you decide to have a conversation with yourself using Twitter.

How will you do this? Who is this other personality? Do you create another account? Or, do you just change voices within the tweet itself? Decide if you followed anyone. Decide if you talked to anyone? Decide on what response you got if any from other out there in the random electronic world. Do you find that people are adding you as a friend? What topics do you cover in the conversation with yourself? What impact does this dialogue have on your more physical life?

OK, while this may be a little too close to reality for some, it aligns well with what is possible in today’s society. The storyline doesn’t have to be about Twitter. You could change the timeline and set it earlier where you are writing letters back and forth to yourself. Same idea, different method…Choose your path and choose your storyline, but write and enjoy.

Parents always push their children to achieve greatness in everything they do, especially in sports. Whether they are five and just beginning their venture of kicking a small, checkered ball around a grassy field, or they are fifteen and riding the bench of high school sports team wondering whatever happened to the fun days of just being a part of a team, children are encouraged to play the game.

Choose your age and choose your point of view. Are you the child? Or, are you the parent? Are you the coach, or the cheerleader? Your point of view and the age of the child determines the path of your story. If the child is little, focus on the wonders of playing a game and running up and down the field. If the child is older, focus on the aspects of teamwork or the ups and downs that go along with winning or coming in second. Choose your path and choose your storyline, but write and enjoy.

Life is like a rollercoaster. A common analogy used to explain the ups and
downs of life. When thinking of this rollercoaster though, depending on
your experience you may picture a stand alone coaster. One in the middle of
a park, perhaps sitting next to a carousel or some other ride. Each are
enjoyable experiences as you enter the rides, but once the ride is over…well
its over.

Or perhaps you think about a slightly different experience. One where there
is a theme woven throughout the park experience and the coaster itself isn’t
just stand alone tracks, but maybe a mountain or a space center. There is a
preshow and a story. A feeling of being on a wild train or venturing
through a snowy mountain that is embedded in your mind upon entering and an
experience that continues even after the ride is over.

Coffee is a great stimulator. It provides that get up and go when the get up has just about gone, or perhaps hasn’t even shown up for the day. Tammy drinks three cups of this magical brew each morning before she even gets into work…one before her shower, one after the gym, and one on her way to the office. The rest of the day’s menu is very similar. She needs the caffeine, and nothing else seems to work. It has to be coffee or nothing. Somehow, she forgets to buy her usual coffee during her recent trip to the grocery store and runs out late that night to pick up a blend for the morning. Her usual stores are closed and the grocery store seems to be out. Feeling somewhat defeated, she heads back home. On her way, she passes a recently constructed strip mall. One of the stores is a coffee shop and it is open. The moment she walks through the door and the wonderful wafting aroma hits her, she feels a sense of calm, a sense of belonging, a sense of being at home. A clerk greets her and asks, “What is your taste of choice? Wait a minute, let me guess…”

Who is Tammy’s taste? Does the clerk know and guess the right flavor? Where is this store? What kind of coffee doe they sell? What does Tammy think of this place? What caused the feelings when she walked in? How long does she stay? Think about all of these questions and interactions and write until you have fulfilled each unanswered question. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Flying above the clouds can be uplifting, but rather dull if you do it often. Such is the case with Bill. He looks forward to being in a different place at the end of the trip, but the path itself is less than exciting. On one trip between Chicago and Orlando, the plane had to fly a little lower and was actually flying through the clouds. Bill looked out of his usual window seat and observed a different world. He stared and saw things within the clouds that he recognized on the ground.

Share what Bill saw. Make sure you keep your story to the plane ride itself. Share how Bill felt. Does he interact with the things he sees? Does he tell anyone on the plane? A suggestion would be to allow others to see the what Bill sees once he share it with them. There are enough stories out there about one passenger going insane and seeing things outside a plane. Keep this one focused on possibilities. Keep this one grounded in an alternative reality that is similar, but in on a higher level than what your reality reflects. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Unid was a shaman for an ancient tribe. Unfortunately, the tribe had recently vanished. Right before the disappearance, the skies grew dark and Unid lay napping under a poonta tree. When he woke and strolled back to the village, he noticed very little. However, when he got within sight of the moving city, he did notice that no one was moving…He looked around, still a bit groggy from his respite. He searched many of his neighbors’ houses and found no one.

What happened to the village? What happened to Unid? Where did everyone go? Or, was it Unid that disappeared? Why is he still a bit of a sleepy-head? What does Unid do next? Does he just accept the situation and go about his daily routine? Does he try to concoct something to find out the true story? Do we hear any back stories about the village before the vanishing? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

The online community is full of friends we may never meet. However, it is also filled with those who have other intentions…Choose a person, male or female. Choose an age, teenager or younger, senior citizen or younger. Choose a reason that individual was online. Allow them to venture into a forum. Describe the messages. Describe the context of the site. Describe the dialogue that occurs within a topic. Delve into the steps the person takes within the forum and outside the group.

Does the character tell her in-person friends about the group online? Does the character interact with the online group? Or, does he just log on and read? Is there a get together that causes concern? Is this group a pleasant place to share ideas? Or, is a place where predators lurk? Use your online experiences to drive the story. The cloud can be full or darkness and rain, but it can also be a bright place as well. It is where we choose to travel that makes the difference. Where does your character choose? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Time stands still when you do not carry a watch. Time also stands still when you do not know what time is…We can hide from reality and even be put in places to help us pretend more. However, we can not dismiss reality when the lights around us signify changes. Tessa went into the home when she was 12 and has not seen others since then. Her room provides all she needs. It is a small, three-sectioned room that changes with Tessa’s imagination. When she needs to go outside, she exits through one section and ends up in another, viewing trees and feeling the breeze. She interacts with the creations she has drawn or described out loud. The main computer provides the rest. On one particular day, an actual visitor somehow crept into the room…

Who was this visitor? How did Tessa get here in the first place? What is this place? How long has it lasted in this location? Who runs the place? Where did this computer come from? How does it recreate the creatures of Tessa’s imagination? Decide on the path. Decide on the storyline. Decide on the imaginary creatures that enter and exit the space. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Traincor was a tree bender. He has served as the royal tree bender for the last 20 years. Usually, his life is simple. Usually, he completes his tasks, spends time with his family, and helps neighbors with simple tasks. Usually, he doesn’t see the Czartin, the ruler of the realm. This is not a usually day. This day is different. Today, the Czartin needed the services that only the top tree bender in the realm. A neighboring world had recently contacted the Czartin, sharing their worries, problems, and possibilities of cooperating. Without a partnership, the peace that has lasted for centuries would be at risk. Traincor seemed to be one who could help build the partnership.

Who was this neighboring world? What were the worries, problems, and possibilities? How has peace reigned for as long as it has? What does the realm Traincor lives in look like? What is a tree bender? How can a tree bender help with the challenges? What about Traincor’s family? Where are they? How will they impact his decision to help? What type of person is the Czartin? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Smithy was also a bit on the heavy side, but he was not too large. He was definitely an over-eater who had hoped at various moments to control his appetite. This was to no avail. Every attempt Smithy made to stop eating caused the desire to grow even more. He never left a meal without eating dessert. After one meal at a new restaurant, his usually painful and immediate heartburn did not return. As he finished his appetizer, he reached for his medication in his top pocket. As he was about to take it, he realized that he did not feel any pain. He put the pill back in his pocket and moved to his main dish. As he continued to eat, he searched for the familiar pain. Nothing…Smithy began to wonder what had happened.

What did he eat? Where was the pain? Why did he not feel the gurgling? Why did he continue to dwell on this? What else did Smithy order? How long did he stay at this new restaurant? What is this place? When did it open? Describe the servers, Describe the ambiance. Describe the food and its taste. Try to stay in the restaurant during this story. Try to be particular about the interactions with others. Try to create a unique ending. ? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

All Hallows Eve brings up many visions and expectations from most. From little children to aged adults, this evening conjures many thoughts and pictures of the ghoulish, the spirit world, and the supernatural. What is you are one of those creatures. You know, the scary members of the night. The great part for you on this evening is that you can finally blend in with the others. You can finally have a normal life for one day. Your entire year is spent planning for this one day…planning for this one opportunity to be a part of something different…yet, the same. This night is an opportunity to see and experience new adventures. Unlike most days, there are only hours that you have not a complete 24. The missions will need to be limited to around 6 hours.

What can this creature accomplish during this brief time period? What type of creature –plays the part of the adventurer? Is it a vampire? A zombie? A spirit? A werewolf? Or, perhaps a new, yet to be identified ghoul? Why does the party-goer wish to just blend in? What does he/she hope to get out of the evening? Is there a series of Halloweens that can represent the attempts this entity makes to be a part of a different story? Could the stories be based on year and what has happened? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Jason’s and Jennifer’s father was a quiet man. He never yelled or struck his children. He never had to discipline his children. Their mother would simply say, “wait until your father gets home,” and they would calm down long before he ever did arrive home. He would ask about their days and watch tv, but that was all. He seemed to be extremely busy at work as he was usually gone before they woke up and returned right as dinner was being put on the table. Jason and Jennifer never even knew where he worked and their mother never talked about it.

Decide on their father’s name. Decide on their living conditions. Decide on what their father does. Decide how Jason and Jennifer find out what their father does. Decide if their mother knows. Decide if there are other characters involved such as Jennifer’s and Jason’s friends. Decide on the short version of this tale and think about the longer possibilities. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Derek had been raised by his father. Once, when Derek was eight, he asked where his mother was. His father simply replied, she is no longer with us, frowned and went about his day. For an eight-year old, this meant that she had died. Not wanting to know how or why, Derek, never asked again. That is until he was 17 and applying for a job. On the application was a spot for his mother’s maiden name. He never knew it. In fact, he never knew anyone from his mother’s family. Derek took the application home and was determined to ask his father again about his mother.

Decide how Derek asks his father about this mother. Decide if she is still alive and what adventure he may create to find details. Decide if this is a short story, a novella, or a novel. Decide why there are no pictures of his mother and no contact with her family. Decide why his father never discussed this with him. Decide on the path and why he would follow it. Decide if he ever asks his father, or simply leaves the line blank and thinks about the answer in various settings. Decide if Derek ever does apply for the job.

Where does this take place? What is the family’s financial situation? Has Derek’s father had girlfriends? Does Derek see any member of his father’s family? Do they have any pets? Does Derek share any of his thoughts with his friends? What are their names? How long has he known them? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

When the Jill’s pet rabbit went missing, her friends jumped to help her find him. He was last seen in his cage chomping on a carrot. Small signs of how he got out, escaped, or was taken away still remain on his home. Tiny strips of fabric, bright green cloth are trapped on the cage lock. Jill’s friends start asking questions of everyone in Jill’s family and neighbors. They find bunny footprints in the dirt leading toward the fence. They also find…

Decide on the other characters. Decide on the name for each character, including the bunny. Decide on the stories shared by each person interviewed. Decide on extra evidence found. Decide on the path the sleuths take to find the furry friend. Decide on the storyline. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

The clouds cleared and the rainbow made its way across the sky. Tiny feet scurried trying to locate the end of the brightly colored ribbon of light. When you lose the magic that brought you to this land and have no other way back to your own home, you keep trying no matter how long it has been between rainbows. Sure, you have maintained those simple party tricks with playing cards, pulling one coin out of random places, and basic mind-reading, but you lack the direction to find the end and true pot of gold…the path back home.

Decide on how you got here in the first place. Decide if you will truly tell this tale in the first person. Decide on the characters met along this most recent path to the end. Decide if the tale continues or silences after this episode. Decide how long this lost soul has remained without his own country. Decide on your path. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…