Curated Story Collection

Browse All Short Stories

Discover our complete collection of short story examples with advanced search and filtering. Find the perfect short stories and story examples for every reading level and educational need. Browse thousands of short story examples from classic and contemporary authors.

100+
Curated stories
20+
Story themes
50+
Featured authors

About Our Short Story Examples Collection

Our comprehensive collection features short stories from renowned authors and emerging talents. Each short story example is selected to provide readers with quality story content that educates, entertains, and inspires.

Browse short story examples across multiple genres, themes, and difficulty levels. Every short story in our collection represents carefully curated story examples that showcase exceptional narrative craft.

Whether you're searching for short stories for classroom use, personal enjoyment, or literary study, our short story examples offer something for everyone.

Discover story examples that showcase exceptional narrative craft, compelling characters, and powerful themes. Explore short story examples that have inspired readers for generations.

100+
Story Examples
20+
Genres
50+
Authors
Inspiration
Showing 37-48 of 74 short story examples
Sort short stories by:
sci-fi short story

The Algorithm of Me - Short Story Example

by Jordan Kim - Short Story Author

A fourteen-year-old discovers the dangers of living according to optimization algorithms, learning that authenticity matters more than artificial perfection. Explore this compelling short story.

6 min readintermediate4.8
realistic short story

The Weight of Water - Short Story Example

by Amara Okafor - Short Story Author

A Nigerian-British-American teen struggles with diaspora identity and others' expectations before learning to choose which cultural "water" is hers to carry. Explore this compelling short story.

7 min readadvanced4.9
realistic short story

The Gig Economy of Dreams - Short Story Example

by Carlos Mendoza - Short Story Author

A millennial artist juggling seven jobs discovers that the gig economy's isolation is intentional, and begins building cooperative alternatives with fellow precarious workers. Explore this compelling short story.

8 min readadvanced4.8
realistic short story

The Last Garden - Short Story Example

by Elena Vasquez - Short Story Author

A 68-year-old gardener faces climate change's impact on her family's heirloom garden, learning to balance grief for what's lost with hope for adaptive futures. Explore this compelling short story.

8 min readadvanced4.9
realistic short story

The Memory Keeper - Short Story Example

by David Goldstein - Short Story Author

A 73-year-old man racing against memory loss creates a family history project, learning that being a memory keeper means passing the role forward, not bearing it alone. Explore this compelling short story.

8 min readadvanced4.9
realistic short story

The Last Sunday Dinner - Short Story Example

by Emma Harrison - Short Story Author

When Margaret discovers her mother has been diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's, she organizes one final Sunday dinner with her siblings. As the family gathers around the familiar table, old wounds resurface, but so does the deep love that binds them. Through laughter, tears, and shared memories, they learn to cherish the present moment and honor their mother's fading memories. Explore this compelling short story.

4 min readintermediate4.7
realistic short story

Letters to My Daughter - Short Story Example

by Emma Harrison - Short Story Author

A mother writes a series of letters to her adopted daughter, explaining the circumstances of her adoption and the profound love that brought them together. Through these letters, both mother and daughter discover that family is defined not by blood, but by choice, commitment, and unconditional love. Explore this compelling short story.

5 min readintermediate4.8
realistic short story

The Grandfather Clock - Short Story Example

by David Thompson - Short Story Author

When James inherits his grandfather's antique clock, he discovers it's more than just a timepiece—it's a repository of family history. As he learns to repair and maintain it, his grandfather's ghost seems to guide him, teaching him about patience, craftsmanship, and the importance of preserving family traditions. Explore this compelling short story.

5 min readintermediate4.6
realistic short story

The Recipe Book - Short Story Example

by Emma Harrison - Short Story Author

When Maria's grandmother passes away, she leaves behind a handwritten recipe book filled with family recipes spanning four generations. As Maria learns to cook each dish, she discovers that the recipes are encoded with family history, secrets, and the wisdom of the women who came before her. Explore this compelling short story.

5 min readintermediate4.9
realistic short story

The Photograph - Short Story Example

by David Thompson - Short Story Author

While cleaning out her late father's attic, Rebecca discovers a photograph that reveals a family secret: she has a half-sister she never knew existed. Her journey to find this sister leads to unexpected discoveries about her father's past and forces her to redefine what family means. Explore this compelling short story.

8 min readintermediate4.7
realistic short story

The Last Summer - Short Story Example

by Michael Chen - Short Story Author

Four childhood friends reunite for one last summer before college tears them apart. As they navigate their final months together, they confront changing dynamics, unspoken feelings, and the bittersweet reality that growing up sometimes means growing apart. Explore this compelling short story.

8 min readintermediate4.8
realistic short story

The Unlikely Pair - Short Story Example

by Michael Chen - Short Story Author

Marcus, the star athlete, and Oliver, the school's science geek, are forced to work together on a project. What starts as mutual disdain slowly transforms into an unlikely friendship that teaches both boys about looking beyond stereotypes and finding connection in unexpected places. Explore this compelling short story.

7 min readbeginner4.7

Your Complete Short Story Examples Resource

Finding the right short stories can transform your reading or teaching experience. Our short story examples collection brings together the finest story works from renowned authors and talented contemporary writers. Each short story example has been selected for its literary merit, engaging narrative, and educational value.

Browse short stories by your favorite authors or discover new short story examples from emerging voices. Our platform makes it easy to find short story examples that match your specific needs—whether you're looking for short stories for a particular grade level, theme, or literary style. Every short story in our collection includes detailed metadata to help you find the perfect story examples for your purpose.

Our short story examples serve multiple purposes: educators use them for classroom instruction, students study them for literary analysis, and reading enthusiasts enjoy them for personal enrichment. Each short story comes with supporting materials including author biographies, historical context, and discussion prompts to enhance your short story reading experience.