Glossary · Writing & editing
What is a novella?
Definition
Novella: A novella is a work of fiction longer than a short story but shorter than a novel — often defined as roughly 17,500 to 40,000 words.
A novella sits between the short story and the novel. It has room for a full story arc and developed characters, but usually focuses on a single plot line, a small cast and a limited time frame. Classic examples include many well-known short works by authors from Dickens to Steinbeck.
There is no single official length, but a widely cited definition comes from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association's Nebula Awards: a novella is 17,500 to 40,000 words, a novelette is 7,500 to 17,500, and a novel is over 40,000. Other awards, publishers and magazines draw the lines slightly differently.
Novellas have long been a hard sell in traditional publishing, but they work well in self-publishing. They are quicker to write and edit, so authors can release more often; they make good series starters, prequels, or reader magnets offered free to newsletter subscribers; and they fit readers who want a story they can finish in an evening or two.
Be clear about length in your description, so readers who expect a full-length novel are not disappointed. For print, a novella may produce a thin book; check whether your page count is high enough for spine text on your platform, and consider a smaller trim size to give the book more presence.