Novella | Creative Writing, Definition & Examples
A novella is a work of prose fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. It gives writers enough space to develop characters and build a complete narrative without the length and complexity of a full novel.
Novellas usually focus on a small number of characters, a central storyline, and a limited period or setting. This concentrated structure makes the form well suited to stories built around a single situation.
There is no universal word count that defines a novella. The boundaries vary between publishers, ranging from 17,500 words to 40,000 words. Novellas can be literary, inspirational, or genre-focused, and include works of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and romance.
Key takeaways
- A novella is a work of prose fiction that falls between a short story and a novel in length and scope.
- Novellas typically use a focused narrative, with fewer characters, settings, and subplots than a full-length novel.
- There is no universal word count for a novella, but many publishers place the form between roughly 17,500 and 40,000 words.
- Novellas can span literary, genre, and inspirational fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, and mystery.
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What is a novella?
A novella is a shorter work of narrative prose fiction. Its length is between a short story and a novel, combining some of the depth of a novel with the tighter structure of a short story.
Because a novella has less space than a novel, its story is usually more concentrated. It often follows one main character or a small group of characters and revolves around one primary conflict. Subplots and large casts are possible, but the form generally leaves less room for them than a full-length novel.
- Intermediate length: The word count is most commonly somewhere between 17,500 and 40,000, which is between a short story and a novel.
- Focused narrative: Novellas typically center on one main conflict, event, relationship, or character.
- Limited scope: They often use fewer characters, settings, and subplots than novels.
- Complete story: A novella has the clear and tight structure of a standalone narrative, with a beginning, development, and conclusion.
Types of novella
Novellas come in several broad forms. Common categories include literary, genre, and inspirational novellas. These categories can overlap, and some works fit into more than one.
Literary novella
A literary novella generally places greater emphasis on characters, psychology, and themes than on an elaborate plot. The story can explore a character’s inner life, relationships, or changing understanding of the world.
Literary novellas often use the shorter form to concentrate on one significant experience or transformation. This can give the story a strong sense of focus while allowing the writer to explore complex ideas.
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: It follows two migrant workers during the Great Depression, while exploring friendship, dreams, and tragedy.
- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway: The story centers on an aging fisherman’s struggle to catch a giant marlin and explores perseverance, dignity, and the human condition.
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: It follows a sailor’s journey up the Congo River, exploring imperialism, morality, and human psychology.
Genre novella
A genre novella uses the shorter form to tell a story within a recognizable genre, such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, or thriller.
Genre novellas often benefit from the form’s focused structure. A writer can develop a strong central plot, build tension, and reach a conclusion without the extensive world-building or multiple storylines in full-length novels.
- The Mist by Stephen King: A horror and science-fiction novella in which a group of people become trapped in a supermarket while mysterious creatures emerge from a strange mist
- Binti by Nnedi Okorafor: A science-fiction novella that combines space travel, alien cultures, and themes of identity and belonging
- The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: A gothic ghost story in which a governess becomes convinced two children in her care are haunted
Inspirational novella
An inspirational novella uses a relatively short fictional narrative to explore uplifting ideas, personal growth, hope, spirituality, or self-discovery. These stories often use fable-like or allegorical elements to communicate a broader message.
Inspirational novellas may be written for both younger and adult audiences. Their themes can range from finding purpose and overcoming adversity to understanding relationships and personal identity.
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: A fable-like novella that explores friendship, love, loneliness, and the search for meaning
- Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach: An allegorical novella about a seagull pursuing freedom, self-development, and a deeper sense of purpose
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: Follows Ebenezer Scrooge as ghost encounters lead him to reconsider his life and become a more compassionate person
Related terms
The word novella is sometimes confused with other forms of prose fiction. Although these forms overlap, there are some important differences. Definitions and word count ranges can vary depending on the publisher, literary organization, and author.
| A short story is generally shorter than a novella. It often focuses on a single event, moment, or effect, while novellas provide more space for progression of the plotline. A short story is commonly between 3,500 and 7,500 words. |
| A novelette is a fictional prose work that falls between a short story and a novella in length. A novelette is commonly between 7,500 and 17,500 words. |
| A novel is generally longer and can accommodate more characters, settings, and subplots. A novel is commonly over 40,000 words. |
Frequently asked questions about novella
- How long is a novella?
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A novella is typically between 17,500 and 40,000 words, although there is no universal word count range.
The exact length can vary depending on the publisher, author, and genre. Generally, a novella is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel.
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- What are the differences between a novel and a novella?
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The main difference between a novel and a novella is their length and narrative scope.
A novel is generally longer and can include more characters, subplots, and storylines. A novella is shorter and usually focuses on a smaller cast of characters, a central conflict, or a single situation.
Although there is no universal word count that separates the two, a novella is most commonly between 17,500 and 40,000 words and a novel is over 40,000 words.
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- What are examples of novella’s?
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Novellas come in different forms. They can appear as literary, genre, or inspirational novellas.
Some examples of the main types of novellas are:
- Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
- The Mist by Stephen King
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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