More Ideas for Stories
Writing a good story is a lot of work. I personally do better
with non-fiction. On the other hand, fiction is sometimes a more
powerful way to make a point or express how one feels. And it
is fun to think of ideas for stories. So I'll take the fun part,
and leave it to others to use the short outlines below to create
a short tale or two.
We have other related pages on the site, including one on
how to have short story ideas
and how to use questions to trigger
story ideas. All of these pages are collected together on
the following page: Story Ideas.
Now, to add to our collection...
A Word is Worth...
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what
is a word worth? The setting for this tale is a totalitarian
society where people cannot think some thoughts because they
are not taught some words. It might be about a struggle for freedom,
but also an interesting lesson in epistemology.
The Dark Muse
This story is based on the observation that many of the best
poems, songs and other writings come from the darkest times in
a writer's life. So what happens when the writer's happiness
becomes a hindrance to quality work? He has to become troubled
and unhappy in order to stimulate the better work all over again.
How he does this could be interesting, but it might also be worth
exploring what the net affect on his life is.
Suicidal Gods
The various gods come to see that their time is over and people
will be better off if they are gone. In the face of the resulting
tragedy the people come together and are happy. This doesn't
necessarily have to be written by an atheist or non-religious
person. It might be more interesting from the perspective of
a true believer.
War of Words
A dictator overthrown by introduction of new ideas rather
than by war. Either the ideas expressed change his mind, or the
populace is brought to reject any authority that the "ruler"
has over them. Perhaps this is not specific enough, but some
readers will get the idea here and could run with it.
Criminal Freedom
There is an island where wrongly-jailed individuals escape
prosecution. An underground network of freedom fighters helps
them to escape from courts and prisons and bring them to this
sanctuary. They develop a more-just society there.
The Reformation
One store owner kills thieves that enter his store. Another
store owner tries a different approach; he videotapes them and
then blackmails them to work for him for free, and in the process
they learn a new way of life.
Strange Memories
The first line: "One of the things I liked best as a
human..."Animals recount time spent as humans. This is perhaps
one of the oddest ideas for a story here, but I think the right
writer could do something with it.
Missing Billionaire
He pays several private investigators to find him, and then
hides out for a year. The winner (the one who finds him) gets
a million-dollar prize. That billionaire might then use what
he learned to truly disappear.
Judge on Trial
Vigilantes "arrest" a judge for imprisoning those
who have committed victimless "crimes." This could
be part of a series of short stories about the injustice of society's
tendency to use force to prevent people from doing things that
actually hurt nobody.
The Law of Science
Over-the-counter nutritional supplements are outlawed. Since
vitamins and minerals and such cannot be patented, no company
is willing to do the necessary research to prove them effective
for various purposes (any other company could then profit from
the millions they spent on research). As a result, everything
from wild mint leaves to vitamin C is being sold illegally on
the streets, and the vendors are being hunted down and jailed.
One doctor who supported the law must in the end seek out an
illegal alternative doctor to get the treatment he needs.
The Jesus Incident
The body of Jesus Christ is discovered, and there is still
enough viable DNA to clone him. The resulting baby is accidentally
sent home with the wrong parents and grows up to become a violent
criminal. His true identity is revealed only once he is in front
of the jury for a crime he committed.
I hope to publish more ideas for short stories (and longer
ones) on the site, so check back from time to time (new pages
are always announced and featured for a few weeks on the home
page).
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