190 Impressive Short Story Ideas for Creative Writing

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Would you have to write a short story but are unsure where to begin? Don’t worry! To help you, here, in this blog post, we have suggested a list of unique short story ideas in various genres. Without any hesitation, you can very well break your writer’s block by using them as short story writing prompts for your creative writing assignments or competitions. Also, for your better understanding, we have explained how to write a gripping short story and the tips for generating your short story ideas.

Continue reading this blog post to learn more about short story writing.

What is a Short Story?

A shorter form of prose fiction than a novel or novella is referred to as a short story. It is frequently written to express a moral, evoking a state of mind, or capturing a moment. The plot, characters, setting, conflict, and themes of the short stories are the majority of the stories’ primary focal points.

Short stories generally come in a variety of sizes and shapes. However, a typical traditional short story typically has a word count of between 1000 and 5000 words, but it can also be longer than 10,000 words. There are, however, a few exceptions to the word count. Flash fiction and microfiction are two other forms of creative short stories. Between 500 and 1000 words are allowed in flash fiction stories. Stories with fewer than 500 words are called microfiction.

How to Write an Engaging Short Story

Writing a short story is a difficult task that calls for more originality. If you are unsure of how to write a great short story, follow the steps listed below in order.

Firstly, create an intriguing concept for a short story.
Secondly, determine the purpose and structure of your short story.
Thirdly, find the five common elements of your short story—plot, characters, setting, conflict, and themes—through brainstorming.
Fourthly, choose a feeling or emotion you want to evoke.
Fifthly, create a brief story outline and arrange the concepts from the brainstorming session.
Sixthly, with the assistance of the prepared outline, get started writing the short story’s first draft.
Following that, with a catchy opening try to grab readers’ attention.
Next, include interesting dialogue and scenes to advance the narrative.
After that, prudently close the story.
Finally, edit and revise the draft.

How to Generate a Short Story Idea on Your Own

Generating ideas for a short story is the first and foremost step that every writer finds hard to cross. Many people know how to write a story but may not be aware of how to develop a story idea. There is no particular definition of a ‘great story idea’. Your story idea will look good only in the way you write it.

In general, your story idea should answer the below-mentioned questions.

Who is the main character in your story?
What is the goal of your main character?
What prevents the main character from achieving the goal?

Here are some interesting ways that would help you to generate short story ideas on your own.

Consider the elements of fiction

If your mind is blocked and you don’t know where to begin a story, then try to come up with a short story idea by considering the following elements of fiction.

Plot: What happens in the story?

Characters: Who is living in the story?

Setting: Where does the story happen?

Theme: What does the story represent?

Point of View: From whose eyes the story unfolds?

Style: How the words are framed to narrate a story.

By using any of the above-mentioned fiction elements you can generate an exciting story idea. Wondering how? For example, first, identify the main character with the physical traits of your desire. Then, craft a plot around that character in a particular setting. Usually, a story is said to be good when it follows a proper structure that includes an engaging introduction, a serious conflict, and a convincing climax. So, with the character you have identified, you should think about a conflict that prevents your character from achieving success and then find out how your character handles that conflict. In this way, you can spot a good short idea.

Similarly, you can also identify a setting first, and then in that premises, you can build the characters, plot, and conflict of your short story.

Write a short story that you want to read

If you have no story idea, then think about the story you have always desired to read. It doesn’t mean that you have to come up with something revolutionary, a simple and unique story that you would love to read is enough.

Say, for example, if you like reading mystery, or science fiction, and then you can blend these two genres to generate your story idea if you haven’t read anything of that type.

Just take your time, think, and find out what kind of story you want this world to listen to. You can narrate a story that you expected to listen to when you were young or a story you always wanted others to hear. By thinking in this aspect, you can find a creative short story idea for your assignment.

Modify an already existing story

You can’t publish an already-written story with the same plot and the same set of characters. However viewing the already written story from a different perspective would help you to generate a unique short story idea.

Say, for instance, you can take a less important scene from your favorite book and put it as an opening scene for your short story. Then, you can modify the characters in it and introduce any unique elements to that scene to make it look fresh. Once you have identified the starting point, you can drive your imagination and give a new life to the story.

Inspiration can be in any form. You can write a new version of an old story by changing the characters and plot. Whenever you suffer from writer’s block, you can try this way to find out your short story idea smartly.

Look for ideas from real-life

Another effective way to generate a short story idea is by considering your personal experience. It doesn’t mean that you need to write your personal story. You can pull an idea from news, real-life events, situations you have seen, or interesting events that have happened in your close one’s life.

Say, for example, you can write historical fiction based on any historical event.

If you spend some time and think hard, you can derive great ideas from your imagination. Whenever you run short of ideas, jot down any real-life story that inspired you and paint a new color to that story by including a twist to make them your own.

Use a creative writing prompt

One of the best solutions for writer’s block issues is letting someone begin your story for you. In general, there is plenty of creative writing prompts available on online websites. In case, you find it hard to come up with a great story idea, you can check the list of short story ideas mentioned below, and find a prompt that is impressive for you. A creative writing prompt is a brief story starter that will describe a scenario in one or two sentences and will let you develop a story on your own.

Remember, the ideas you receive from the writing prompts through web search are just an inspiration. You need to use your strong creative writing skills and imagination to transform a prompt into an engaging short story.

List of Short Story Prompts and Ideas

Currently, are you looking for gripping short story ideas? Cool! Especially to help you out, here we have suggested some great short story ideas in various genres.

If you find it difficult to come up with an excellent short story idea, feel free to go through the below-mentioned list and pick a creative writing prompt from any genre of your choice.

3 Elements- Short Story Ideas

Here, we have listed different sets of 3 elements. From the list, select any one set and create a short story by using the three elements mentioned in the chosen set. Remember, not to place the elements forcefully in your narrative. Moreover, your short story’s core should not be compromised by the elements you include.

An ice storm, a bicycle, and a treasure map.
A stolen ring, fear of spiders, and a sinister stranger.
A horoscope, makeup, and a missing tooth.
An ex-boyfriend, a pair of binoculars, and a good luck charm.
A magic trick, a shadow, and a missing friend.
A taxi, an old enemy, and Valentine’s Day.
Aerobics, a secret diary, and something unpleasant under the bed.
A sports car, a rope, and an obnoxious ex-girlfriend.
An antique, a torn letter, and a familiar-looking stranger.
A family secret, a string of pearls, and the desire for revenge.

Simple Short Story Topics for Kids

In the list below, we have covered a few easy short story prompts for children to get started. From the list, kids who love to write can choose any idea and develop it into an outstanding short story.

Write a brief tale devoted to your mother.
The story of Hansel and Gretel according to the viewpoint of the witch that lives in the Gingerbread house.
A computer hacker accidentally releases a deadly computer virus making all machines assault people.
While cleaning up your basement you find out a puzzling key that can open up entryways to new universes.
Write a story dedicated to your best friend.
You find a golden pen in a magic shop. Every time you write something with that pen it turns true.
Mysterious symbols are appearing all over the village. It is up to your primary character to decrypt the code and identify the meaning of these symbols.
Write a short story inspired by a recent argument you had.
The spaceship of an Astronaut, who is studying life on the moon, breaks down, leaving him stranded on the moon.
After reading a cursed book, all your nightmares start becoming real.
Write a brief tale according to the point of view of an alien living on Mars.
Write a short story from the perspective of a young stray cat looking for her mother who is a house cat.
You look in the mirror and see nothing – not even a reflection of yourself.
You return home from school to find scattered papers all over your living room floor and your family is missing.
Your long, lost sister who you believed was dead thumps at your entryway.

Impressive Short Story Ideas for Middle School Students

Are you a middle school student seeking impressive short story ideas or topics? Get help from the list uploaded here. In the list, we have provided some attractive short story ideas that have the power to improve the creative writing skills of middle school students.

Your main character finds out how to travel through time. He decides to go.
Write a short story about a mad scientist who has found a way to combine human DNA with animal DNA to create a superhuman.
Your character wakes up with the ability to talk to the family pet.
Your main character has to face the greatest fear in life.
An expedition in the Amazon rainforest gets deadly when you and your team encounter a group of warriors protecting the rainforest from outsiders.
Your character has an amazing chance to take a ride on a spaceship to another planet in the galaxy.
Write a brief tale about a group of garden fairies being at war with the garden gnomes.
Your character awakens to find that they have turned into a character in their favorite book.
After visiting a magic shop and purchasing nothing, the shop owner curses you. Now, wherever you go, people keep laughing at you and you are unaware of the reason.
Your character creates an invention that changes the way that the world works.
Your character is walking along the beach when they find a hidden pathway.
One by one, students from your class are going missing. It’s up to you to find out the reason.
Your character gets trapped in a mysterious house.
Your main character follows a street cat and ends up in a world where cats rule the planet and humans are their pets.
Write a short story about a modern-day sleeping beauty.

Creative Short Story Ideas for High School Students

Do you need creative short story topics for your high school assignment? Take a look at the list published below. Particularly, to help high school students, in the list, we have included some impressive short story ideas on different themes and genres.

Write a story according to the viewpoint of an animal at the local shelter.
You are babysitting two kids after school and it’s a spooky, stormy night. You hear a loud crash.
An adopted child starts to receive tens of letters from people who claim they’re her parents.
A retired couple explores life in a new country abroad without family.
Your character changes jobs to have more time with his family. But his family doesn’t appear to be keen on having him around…
Write a short story about a character who is the complete opposite of you.
Three strangers win a getaway vacation together.
Write a story about your favorite childhood fairytale that has come to life.
A war hero returns home and attempts to make connections with old friends.
Your character is caught shoplifting. The shop owner says that she won’t call the police but instead demands a personal favor.

Interesting Short Story Ideas

To write a short story, always give preference to a topic or an idea from the genre you are interested in so that you can freely express your creativity without making any logical blunders. Listed below are a few fascinating ideas you may select for developing a short story.

Your character is content with her life but suddenly inherits a large sum of money and a palatial estate on the east coast.
A young prodigy becomes orphaned.
Your orphaned character acquires a house and moves in to find that it’s already occupied by the spirits of the character’s long-deceased parents, who aren’t at all like the people other relatives have described.
Your character wakes up alone in an unfamiliar place.
A group of children discovers a dead body.
Your character starts receiving messages from someone who knows his/her deepest fears and intends to exploit them.
A middle-aged woman discovers a ghost.
Your character has just lost a child by miscarriage, and when she comes home, her married life has changed.
A young couple runs into the path of a serial killer
Tell the tale of a scar.

Unique Short Story Prompts

The plot of your short story should be original to stand out in the crowd. So, it is necessary to choose a unique creative writing prompt for your assignment. If you require exceptional short story ideas, then get help from the list that has been suggested here.

Write a short story about an orphan who can hear whispers.
Write an anecdote about one man and the lost scarf.
Narrate a story involving a rare book and two people fighting over it.
Write about a lost bracelet.
Write a story about a guitar with a unique signature on the inside.
Compose a story from the perspective of a plant.
Write a tale about a lie told over breakfast.
Write a story involving a song your character knows but doesn’t remember.
Prepare a story involving a camera and a pack of ice.
Write about a card game that turns out badly.

Popular Short Story Ideas

To prepare a short story, you may use any of the popular ideas listed here. But when you compose a short story on a commonly selected idea, to make your work appear original, use a fresh set of elements, storylines, characters, and innovative storytelling strategies.

A character tries to convince their friend to become vegan.
Write a story based on a salesperson who struggles to meet their quota for the day.
A character who collects dolls notices one is missing from the shelf.
Write a story involving three women and a stolen cane.
A hacker competes with another hacker to hack into a website.
A character attempts to keep cool in a conversation with the police.
Craft a story based on a dog that witnesses a murder and struggles to alert the proper authorities.
A man on a business trip rents a child to be his son for the day.
Write a story from the perspective of a mouse.
Write about two birds and their role in a heist.

Science Fiction Short Story Ideas

To unleash your inner geek, you can create short stories on ideas ranging from time travel and the search for ancient artifacts to space exploration and sentient dinosaurs. If you are curious to develop a science fiction-based short story, then the list of ideas suggested here might be useful to you.

Every day, you visit the same moment from your past.
Your main character is given a suit that protects them from danger-unfortunately it has a different threshold for safety than seems ideal.
Write about another planet that has life just like Earth.
A scientist uncovers a secret portal that leads to a life-changing future.
The police chief of a small town is murdered by someone who claims to be an alien.
A neurologist invents a device that allows people to record and re-watch their dreams.
A new chemical weapon makes your whole Special Forces team invisible. The only person who can see you is your controller.
Your future child visits you and begs you, “Don’t go on the business trip,” without explaining why.
A hacker with the ability to create holograms anywhere soon leaves police unable to tell real crimes from illusions.
Your protagonist can see the future and doesn’t want to leave his/her home.

Romance and Drama Short Story Prompts

Are you looking for heartwarming romantic short story ideas? Explore the list that has been recommended here. In this list, for your creative writing assignment, we have provided some amazing short story prompts based on romance and drama.

Write a love story that starts and ends in 24 hours.
A romance told through a series of texts.
Your main character and their best friend find themselves in a love triangle with your antagonist.
“Do you have a minute?” asks the stranger who was reading beside you on a park bench.
Rewrite a popular romantic scene from the perspective of a bystander who has no idea what is going on.
Write a story that ends with a Happily Ever After.
Your antagonist wins over your main character’s best friend, convincing that friend of their good intentions.
Narrate a story of a character who gets matched up with a famous person on Tinder. What happens on their date?
Your main character gets a new job, working at the evil corporation run by your antagonist—but the work they would be doing could help people.
Write a romance story that opens with a woman rapidly throwing apples at the bread aisle in a grocery store.
Your character is at a friend’s house for a dinner party. Suddenly, someone they despise walks in. What do they do now?
Write a romance about two old friends after they’ve been married, divorced, and moved back home.
A young boy working up the courage to ask his long-time crush to dance with him at the school dance.
Your main character gets a new job, working at the evil corporation run by your antagonist—but the work they would be doing could help people.
Write an unrequited love story using situational irony.

Short Story Ideas on Mystery and Horror

Compose your short story on any of the prompts listed here if you love genres like mystery and horror. However, when writing a short story based on mystery or horror, keep in mind to incorporate the components that support the chosen theme.

Your character wakes up covered with strange tattoos and can’t remember how it got them.
The doorbell rings. No one is there, but a secretive bundle was left behind. Your character opens it up and finds something inside that’s very unexpected.
Your main character finds a black mahogany door in their basement, shut tight with chains.
Write a story about how one detective solved a mystery by using Instagram.
Your main character is trapped in a dream that is quickly becoming a nightmare.
An escaped convict leaves behind evidence of his innocence for the search party to find.
Your main character has a conversation with a ghost from their past.
Write a mystery short story about what happened with a lamp and a missing tooth.
Your main character wakes up wearing a strange ring that glows with sparks of blue electricity.
A character buys a new coat, only to find a mysterious message sewn into the lining of it.

Miscellaneous Short Story Ideas

Here, we have shared a list of miscellaneous short story ideas, prompts, and topics in various genres. If it is tough for you to generate a good short story idea, then without any hesitation, from the recommended list, pick an idea that matches your interests and passion.

Write a story where your character faces a deep fear.
You are granted one wish. But you have to use the wish for someone else.
Write a story where your character is at odds with a family tradition.
You got on the wrong bus and ended up in a remote town where things seemed a little odd.
Write a story where your character finds out a rumor is circulating about them.
You were waiting at a crosswalk when someone you didn’t recognize started waving from across the street.
Once upon a time, on a night with no stars and no moon, there was a shadow in the darkness.
Your main character has been knocked unconscious, and another character from your story needs to step up and take their place.
Your antagonist and protagonists are placed in the same dorm room at the university.
As the floor trembles and the walls shake, you know there is only one way to survive.

Captivating Short Story Starters

Are you unsure where to start writing your short story? If so, make use of the list uploaded here. In the list, we have added some captivating short story starters on diverse genres for you to get started.

“Are you sure you need to do this?” the man asked as he positioned the needle over her heart.
“I don’t think you’re capable of love.”
“What’s that smell?”
“What are we going to do once the remainder of this food is gone?” he asked.
“Why is all of Daddy’s stuff in the front yard?”
It’s impossible to tell really, just how many times I’ve come back.
All four tires were on the ground, but I had begun floating toward the surface.
“Do you have experience with demons?” she whispered from under the table.
He opened the letter and sank to his knees in the middle of the driveway.
“Don’t lie to me. I already know the truth.”
“We’re sending you to live with another family. It’s for your safety.”
“Is this your handwriting?” the policeman asked with a scowl.
The doctor emerged from the double doors and said, “There were some unexpected complications.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” the man asked as he positioned the needle over her heart.
Tears filled her eyes as she scanned the list a second time. She didn’t make the team.

“What if…” Short Story Writing Prompts

In this section, we have recommended a list of awesome ‘What if’ short story writing prompts on different themes. From the list, choose any creative prompt that matches your interest and allows you to showcase your innovation to the outside world.

What if the sun began to die?
What if vampires are real?
What if a young boy could hear everyone’s inner thoughts?
What if your dream world is the actual world?
What if dinosaurs are still alive somewhere?
What if time travel was real?
What if dogs and humans switched bodies?
What if hackers erased everyone’s debt?
What if humans began to age backward?
What if angels lived among us?

Great Short Story Ideas

Find here a list of a few great short story ideas that can assist you in writing a brilliant short story worthy of an A+ grade. If you are not sure what short story topic to choose for your creative writing tasks, access the list.

Narrate a story from the perspective of a ghost at a funeral.
Write about someone afraid to feel the wind.
Write about the lives of two hamsters as they squeeze out of their cage.
Craft a story about a character that can’t stop lying to those closest to them.
Write about a mystery room underneath an open field.
Compose a story about what it’s like to interview people for a living.
Write a story that starts with the sound of raindrops on a metal can.
Write about a dog that lost its eyesight.
Create an anecdote about a box of photos and the secrets they contain.
Write about a blogger who unintentionally reveals something major in their exploration.

Engaging Short Story Prompts

Your readers should be intrigued by the short story you create. Hence, for your creative writing assignments, make sure to select any captivating short story theme. The following are some engaging short story ideas that may inspire you to fascinate your target audience.

List the top five things you are most scared will happen to you. Afterward, create a narrative in which one of these occurs to your character.
Consider a significant issue that one of your friends had to deal with. Then compose a narrative in which your protagonist struggles with that issue.
What is a terrible habit you have? Create a character with a far worse instance of the bad habit than you do. Create a narrative where your character gets into problems because of this behavior.
One more thing to accomplish after what felt to be the longest night of his life, write a narrative that begins with this line.
Write about the early sun finding your cheek after passing through numerous leaves.
Write a tale about the worst churro ever and a very strong cup of coffee.
Write a tale that takes place in a 56-story hotel’s middle suite on the middle floor.
Tell the tale of the worn baseball cap that is now fading on a tombstone.
Write a tale that starts with a seasoned character drumming his toes.
Create a tale about a cactus that was accidentally left on the doorstep of the new home of your character.
Compose a story on a curious camera- A person discovers an old camera that takes pictures of the future.
A driver takes a wrong turn and finds themselves on a mysterious highway that seems to shift and change.
Write a breezy short story on the last love letter- A person discovers a cache of old love letters and sets out to deliver them to their intended recipients.
Create a story about a person discovering a shocking secret about his/her family’s past.
A group of friends explores an abandoned asylum, only to discover they are not alone and the former patients are not what they seem.

Innovative Short Story Ideas

The short story you compose should demonstrate your creativity to the outer world. So, to accomplish this, select any short story topic that encourages you to express your innovation, imagination, and creativity. Here are a few innovative short story prompts you may choose for your creative assignments.

Write a story about what happens when one mystical being reads every book that’s ever been published.
Create a story that starts with, “He crinkled the paper and shoved it aside.”
Write about the long summer’s impact on an already overheated world.
Compose a story that opens with the sound of clanking boots on metal grates.
Write a story featuring a sprinkler, a trampoline, and a toothpick.
Compose a story that begins with a tree flickering in the inconsistent breeze.
Write about a foreign visitor and a runaway hat.
Write a story centering around a playground with a hidden entrance
Craft a love story about two trees in your neighbor’s backyard.
Write a story about the struggles of being born with purple hair in a world where color is frowned upon.
Write a story about a mysterious neighbor.
Create a story about a person who struggles to hold on to the last memory of a lost loved one.
A person wakes up one morning to find a stranger staring back at them from the mirror.
A person discovers that a ghost is writing stories through them.
Write a story on a virtual reality trap- A person becomes trapped in a virtual reality world and must find a way to escape.

Final Words

Hopefully, the diverse short story ideas and topics we have suggested in this blog will inspire you to spark your creativity. No matter whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting, with the short story prompts we have recommended above, you can explore new genres, themes, and styles. But to prepare a great short story, always make sure to choose an engaging idea that resonates with you and allows you to wildly use your imagination. After you have selected an appropriate idea, develop a captivating short story using a compelling narrative, well-developed characters, and effective storytelling techniques. If you struggle to spot an idea for your short story or experience difficulties with writing a short story, get guidance from the creative writers from our team. As per your needs, they will assist you with your creative assignments.