Word limits?

[Evan]

Where do you draw the line between flash fiction and short stories?

Everywhere i look tends to say something different.

Flash Fiction 100-1000 words
Short Stories 1000-5000 words

Most places define anything over 2000 words as a short story ....yet other places say that flash fiction is only about 500 words no where near 1000 words.

Im confused now as to what is the difference. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Evan

[alleycat]

This is what I've decided to use as a basic guide:

Short Short: Under 2,000 words
Short story: 2,000--7,500 words
Novelette: 7,500--15,000 words - General fiction
Novelette: 7,500--17,500 words - SF & Fantasy
Novella: 15,000--30,000 words - General fiction
Novella: 17,500--40,000 words - Sf & Fantasy
Novel: Over 30,000 words - General fiction
Novel: Over 40,000 words - SF & Fantasy


These were posted one time by "jamesaritchie" and I thought it was as good as anything else I'd seen; but you will probably still find slight disagreements about the whole thing.

ac

[pdr]

American flash fiction is usually 500-1000 words.
European, the UK and Commonwealth flash fiction is usually exactly 500 or up to 500 words.
Postcard fiction is 50 words.
Best thing to do is check your market first!

[stormie]

As pdr says, check the market. Usually magazines have a submission guideline online that states the number of words they consider is flash fiction, short story, novella....

The list alley gave you from Jamesaritchie is good, also.

[Mike Coombes]

Flash fiction is whatever the submission guidelines says it is.