Novel, Novella or Short Story: Word Counts and Why They Matter
- Hayley Rushbrook
- Feb 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 17
Have you ever wondered what constitutes a novel? What's the difference between a novella and a short story?
Have you written a story but don't know in which category it falls?
Stories come in differing lengths and knowing how to define them will help you promote your book and appease reader expectations.
Book-Length Classification
Flash fiction: A maximum word count of 1,500.
Short story: Between 1,500 and 7,500 words.
Novelette: Between 7,500 and 17,500 words.
Novella: Between 17,500 and 40,000 words.
Novel: Anything above 40,000 words.
So, what are all these different types of books? Let me explain...
Flash Fiction
As you can see by the word count, flash fiction is a short-form story that typically encapsulates one event with minimal characters.
However, it still needs all the elements of a full-length story, such as character development and plot, so the story feels complete when the reader gets to the end. But it will skip things like backstories or excessive detail.
Flash fiction authors will write concisely, using sharp and to-the-point language to effectively tell their story as their limited word count doesn't allow for any fluff or unnecessaries.
Top tips for writing flash fiction
Start with the plot
Due to the unforgiving word count, flash fiction is best written when you start with the bare bones of the story. This helps you to focus on what's important before adding detail and descriptive language to pad out the narrative.
End with a boom
The last line should leave your reader thinking and trying to piece together what all your ideas mean. Good flash fiction evokes questions and is what generally draws readers to love it.
Short Story
It can be helpful to think of a short story as an episode of a TV programme.
It will usually have one main theme, two or three characters and take place in one (maybe two) setting(s).
You still need to be mindful not to get drawn into character backstories, but you have more freedom to add to the drama by using descriptive language to create the likes of tone, mood and imagery.
Novelette
Novelettes tend to be regarded as sentimental or whimsical and lend themselves well to the romance genre.
It needs to tell a complete, stand-alone story, though it still tends to focus on one central conflict and fast pacing due to the restrictive word count.
Novella
With the word count racking up, a novella allows you to explore a bit more, fleshing out some extra detail that builds upon your main character and overall plot and arc.
You can better define your conflict and include a more complex plotline.
Novel
This is the most popular form of writing sought out by readers and publishers. The commercial length of a novel is typically between 75,000 and 90,000 words.
A novel allows you to reach deep within and spill your creativity onto the page.
No longer experiencing word-count limitations, you can introduce complex characters, descriptive language, imagine multiple scenes or stumble on numerous problems.
The possibilities for backstory, world-building and character development are now limitless, so long as it's key to your story.
Typical word counts per genre:
Mystery: 80,000 to 100,000
Romance: 70,000 to 100,000
Young Adult (YA): 50,000 to 70,000
Fantasy: 90,000 to 120,00 (though they can often reach in the region of 200,000 words. These are called epics.)
Remember, these are just guidelines, not strict rules. Subgenres will also play their part in the length of a novel. For example, a romantasy (that's romance mixed with fantasy) is currently having its heyday, and the word count for a novel in this subgenre is likely to exceed the typical 100,000 word count of a standard romance.
Wrapping Up
Different word counts represent different types of fiction.
Each type has its own pros and cons and requires essential skills for each. Just because a short story denotes a much smaller word count than a full-length novel, it doesn't mean it's any easier to write.
A writer will need to look at what they hope to achieve and experiment to find what length story suits them best.
Hayley Rushbrook is a respectful, human fiction line and copyeditor and proofreader specialising in mystery, crime and thriller, romance and general fiction, children's, middle grade and YA.
She gives your hard work the careful attention it deserves, so it is recognised for all the right reasons.
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