Random ideas for a short story


  • fate vs free choice
  • a secret reason
  • a quiet sacrifice
  • betrayal of an old relative
  • flirting with a stranger
  • flirting with an old friend
  • predator vs prey
  • a symbolic object
  • jealousy
  • second language words or phrases
  • specialty jargon
  • animal captivity
  • symbol of good
  • symbol of evil
  • annoy your brother
  • regret a decision
  • choose safety over risk
  • something mythologically familiar
  • a song without words
  • a song with words
  • a passage from scripture
  • describe a colour
  • focus on hands somewhere
  • current piece of technology
  • a current event in the news
  • some natural phenomenon with infinite details
  • notice dirt, mud, dust, rust or decay in some small way
  • refer to a classic book by name
  • have a character cut something with scissors or a knife
  • have a character write something on a sticky-note
  • quit something
  • cuss but don’t write the word
  • flashback
  • whiffle ball accidents
  • two faced
  • dream with a shadow in it
  • eat healthy at a fast food restaurant
  • loss of your own soul
  • a falling object
  • focus on a facial expression
  • loss of a significant other
  • betrayal of another
  • poison from a secret
  • chaos from order
  • have a character say “Huh?” and really mean it.
  • smile fiercely
  • smile falsely