I've read that a short story should be between 7,500 to 20,000 words which also means it qualifies as a novella.
Am I right about this?
Am I right about this?
Length of story
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Wow. Where did you read that? Many shorts are well below the 7,500 range; those above that mark would be considered long short stories, which take up a lot of copy and are much harder to sell than shorter works. The 20,000 mark is also on the short side of novella length.
I'm curious to know where this information came from.
I'm curious to know where this information came from.
Wikipedia.com:
I looked up Short Story and Novelette. The reference under Short Story stated under 1000 words was considered 'flash fiction' too.
I take it then that their info is wrong, unless I didn't understand it. I read the entry again and one definition for a short story was 7,500 words or less, but in contemporary usage it would be no more than 20,000 words.
My problem is I'm writing a short story that is now at 3,000 words. I could add more to it but was wondering if it is not worth the trouble.
Thanks for the reply, SilverKing
I looked up Short Story and Novelette. The reference under Short Story stated under 1000 words was considered 'flash fiction' too.
I take it then that their info is wrong, unless I didn't understand it. I read the entry again and one definition for a short story was 7,500 words or less, but in contemporary usage it would be no more than 20,000 words.
My problem is I'm writing a short story that is now at 3,000 words. I could add more to it but was wondering if it is not worth the trouble.
Thanks for the reply, SilverKing
yeah, Wikkepedia can be written by anyone, so it's usually bunk. I would say a short story of 10,000 is very long. 1,000 and under could be considered flash fiction. There is a great market for stories 2,000 to 4,000 long. 20,000 is definitely a novella. It's very hard to sell novellas.
Don't add another word! That's the perfect length for a short story. Tidy it up, print it out and send it off.Rllgthunder said:
Good luck!
Neil Gaiman and Harlan Ellison each have written lovely stories that are 100 words long. (So have a host of other authors, but I can't think of them at the moment.)
There are short stories that are 20,000 words long, sure.
Short stories are wonderfully flexible things, which is part of why I like them so much. You can write it 'till it's done, and it's either a short story, or you can flex a few more creative muscles and it's a novel.
3,000 is good, honest.
(I wouldn't trust Wikipedia to tell me which way gravity's pulling me.)
There are short stories that are 20,000 words long, sure.
Short stories are wonderfully flexible things, which is part of why I like them so much. You can write it 'till it's done, and it's either a short story, or you can flex a few more creative muscles and it's a novel.
3,000 is good, honest.
(I wouldn't trust Wikipedia to tell me which way gravity's pulling me.)
Thanks for the replies! I'm glad to hear 3,000 words is a good stopping point. I like the story with the content it has now and was worried if it would become bloated with too many more additions.
Lengths
Cathy C posted in FAQS the following. It's part of Manuscript Preparation.
Manuscript Length
Definition: The length of a manuscript (word count) to determine what term to call a piece of fiction is often confusing to aspiring authors.
Use in industry: The industry standard for length of manuscript varies by type and genre. A good definition was provided by Jamesaritche on these boards, so I’m using his post to give general guidelines:
Short Short: Under 2,000 words
Short story: 2,000--7,500 words
Novelette (General Fiction): 7,500--15,000 words
Novelette (SF & Fantasy): 7,500--17,500 words
Novella (General Fiction): 15,000--30,000 words
Novella (SF & Fantasy): 17,500--40,000 words
Novel (General Fiction): Over 30,000 words
Novel (SF & Fantasy): Over 40,000 words
These are American definitions.
A short short story in the UK and Commonwealth is under 1000 words
Flash fiction is under 500 words.
The preferred short story length for many markets is between 1500 and 3000 words.
Literary journals tend to go for longer stories.
Cathy C posted in FAQS the following. It's part of Manuscript Preparation.
Manuscript Length
Definition: The length of a manuscript (word count) to determine what term to call a piece of fiction is often confusing to aspiring authors.
Use in industry: The industry standard for length of manuscript varies by type and genre. A good definition was provided by Jamesaritche on these boards, so I’m using his post to give general guidelines:
Short Short: Under 2,000 words
Short story: 2,000--7,500 words
Novelette (General Fiction): 7,500--15,000 words
Novelette (SF & Fantasy): 7,500--17,500 words
Novella (General Fiction): 15,000--30,000 words
Novella (SF & Fantasy): 17,500--40,000 words
Novel (General Fiction): Over 30,000 words
Novel (SF & Fantasy): Over 40,000 words
These are American definitions.
A short short story in the UK and Commonwealth is under 1000 words
Flash fiction is under 500 words.
The preferred short story length for many markets is between 1500 and 3000 words.
Literary journals tend to go for longer stories.
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Thanks for the length information. I'll cut and paste that into my writing folder so I can reference it in the future.
This website is the best!
Since coming here I've finished a 95,000 word fiction, a short story, 1/3rd way through the sequel to the 95k work, started a horror novel and a contemporary novel.
Why would anyone want to leave when there's so much to learn here!
Thanks again!
RT
This website is the best!
Since coming here I've finished a 95,000 word fiction, a short story, 1/3rd way through the sequel to the 95k work, started a horror novel and a contemporary novel.
Why would anyone want to leave when there's so much to learn here!
Thanks again!
RT
OT (somewhat): Wikipedia's not that bad and you shouldn't worry about looking up things there. The point is not that entries can be written by anyone, it's that entries can -- and are -- written by everyone. You can go there right now and update the entry in question with what you've learned. Overall, the process of a lot of people checking and rechecking, correcting and expanding the majority of the entries works out fairly well. People who know their subjects cold can be fiercely protective of the content, especially now that the site is so famous.
They also have a team of volunteers who monitor questionable behavior, as well as an advisory board that investigates contentious subjects. For example, when Stephen Colbert kiddingly urged his viewers to add ridiculously false information about elephants, the Wiki team immediately locked down the section for a couple of days.
Wikipedia is just fine for a quick lookup or first reference, but even with books you wouldn't rely on just one reference anyway.
They also have a team of volunteers who monitor questionable behavior, as well as an advisory board that investigates contentious subjects. For example, when Stephen Colbert kiddingly urged his viewers to add ridiculously false information about elephants, the Wiki team immediately locked down the section for a couple of days.
Wikipedia is just fine for a quick lookup or first reference, but even with books you wouldn't rely on just one reference anyway.
Rllg,
Are you familiar with Writer's Market?{/i}. Hundreds of publications expressing their guidelines for short fiction, and I guarantee most want 1500-3500 words. I have no idea where you got this 7500-20,000 words concept.
caw.
Are you familiar with Writer's Market?{/i}. Hundreds of publications expressing their guidelines for short fiction, and I guarantee most want 1500-3500 words. I have no idea where you got this 7500-20,000 words concept.
caw.
Rllgthunder said:
No, not even close. A short story is from 2,000-7,500 words. It wouldn't make any sense to call it a short story at the length you heard, and it wouldn't make sense to have a short story and a novella be the same thing.
The length you mention is neither a short story nor a novella. It's a novelette.
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Actually, side-by-side comparisons have shown that Wikipedia's error rate is quite similar to that of Encyclopedia Britannica. You should verify everything you find online that isn't from a previously verified source, and Wikipedia is no exception. Like Jeff, I'd encourage you, and anyone else, to update any entry that has information you've found to be inaccurate.
Also, I'd say that MANY novels, but not necessarily MOST novels, are 80,000 to 100,000 words. A lot are in the 60,000 to 75,000 range. The length guidelines that pdr so kindly posted are right on, but of course you should always check the expectations and requirements of any publication or publisher to whom you're submitting to make sure you're giving them something they can use.
Kristen
Also, I'd say that MANY novels, but not necessarily MOST novels, are 80,000 to 100,000 words. A lot are in the 60,000 to 75,000 range. The length guidelines that pdr so kindly posted are right on, but of course you should always check the expectations and requirements of any publication or publisher to whom you're submitting to make sure you're giving them something they can use.
Kristen
Kristen King said:
The problem with Wikipedia's error rate is the type of errors it contains, and the fact that an article can be correct one day, and then in error the next. It's a useful tool, but not one I trust. The side by side comparisons with Birtannica are not very scientific, and usually compares apples with oranges by making all errors equal in seriousness. They aren't. Wikipedia has a far, far higher error rate when you look at meaningful errors versus meaningless errors.
As for novel length, yes, always check guidelines. In the end, what matters is how long aparticular publisher wants a particular novel for a particular line of books.
I agree Wikipedia is a good starting source and has value, but their entry for what length a short story was threw me. I usually go there for a quick reference to gather ideas on related subjects to Google.
The definition there (Look up SHORT STORY at Wikipedia.org to see their definition) seemed ambiguous at most. They do allude to the fact that some definitions put the count at 7500 max, but in contemporary usage claim 20,000 words. Anything over 20K falls into novelettes, novellas and novels. This is where the meaning of their definition made me take pause and question it here, where people have the experience to know.
Finding the post for Manuscript preparation was a real big help, too. I'll be spending more time there in the future.
The definition there (Look up SHORT STORY at Wikipedia.org to see their definition) seemed ambiguous at most. They do allude to the fact that some definitions put the count at 7500 max, but in contemporary usage claim 20,000 words. Anything over 20K falls into novelettes, novellas and novels. This is where the meaning of their definition made me take pause and question it here, where people have the experience to know.
Finding the post for Manuscript preparation was a real big help, too. I'll be spending more time there in the future.
Rllgthunder said:
Wikipedia has bazillions of really strange entries where writing is concerned. And some equally strange ones concerning publishing.
When you need the most accurate answers to your writing questions, your time might be better spent here on AW. It may take a little more study, but you'll be guided by members who understand publishing, editing and even the laws that govern the writing industry. Also, check out the sticky threads at the top of most forums for a quick reference guide.Rllgthunder said:
When you can't find answers, just ask away, and someone will come along who knows what they're talking about.
I found the guidelines for manuscript preparation here in the FAQ forum.
Wikipedia was very beneficial early on (although I thought that they ripped it off the database that Douglas Adams started over at h2g2.com, way back in the day). I get less impressed with it the further along we get.
That said, I just finished reading the Wikipedia article on Norton the First, Emperor of America a couple days ago, and all its information was spot on. So I'll read it, but I won't consider it as reliable source any more than I would consider "Joe's Shakespear Website!" to be a reliable source of information on Robin Goodfellow. I might read it because it's quick and it's probably more or less right, but anything useful I get out of it, I'm going to check out in a book or two.
That said, I just finished reading the Wikipedia article on Norton the First, Emperor of America a couple days ago, and all its information was spot on. So I'll read it, but I won't consider it as reliable source any more than I would consider "Joe's Shakespear Website!" to be a reliable source of information on Robin Goodfellow. I might read it because it's quick and it's probably more or less right, but anything useful I get out of it, I'm going to check out in a book or two.
My personal preference for shorts is the 1.5k-3k range, but at GUD we classify anything up to 15k acceptable as a short.
Mike Coombes said:
Yes, though I suspect "classifying" is the wrong word. 15K is never a short story, and probably can't be written teh same way a short story is written. But it's a matter of magazine space. If a magazine has the space for a 15K story, then to that magazine, anything up to 15K is called a short.
But there is, or should be, a real difference in the way a 5K and a 15K piece is written. Legth is only part of what makes one piece a hsort story, another piece a novelette, and yet another piece a novella. The way it's written, plus the number and type of thread elements, is also a very big part.
Jamesaritchie said:
I mostly agree, although I think my use of the word 'classify' is correct.
I would certainly expect stories of, say, 1k, 3k and 15k words to be written differently but for our purpose they are all classed as shorts and given equal consideration.
Q. How long's a short story?
A. As long as it takes to tell it and/or as long as the market guidelines state.
Some people write longer than short, others in reverse.
My first draft stories usually come in at between 1,700 and 2,500, then I may customize them to fit a specific market.
Few markets publish stories over 4-5,000 words.
2-3,000 seems the most usual, and suitable for many markets.
LP
A. As long as it takes to tell it and/or as long as the market guidelines state.
Some people write longer than short, others in reverse.
My first draft stories usually come in at between 1,700 and 2,500, then I may customize them to fit a specific market.
Few markets publish stories over 4-5,000 words.
2-3,000 seems the most usual, and suitable for many markets.
LP
Interesting topic, one I have been thinking about most recently. I was planning to submit some short stories. I looked at the length of mine, and they come up on average at about 7500 words, shortest being about 5500words. When looking at markets for short stories, I have yet to find many that accept stories of that length.
They are definitely short stories, but I had seen the lengths that were posted here by pdr, and not at the same source. I suppose mine could fall into the category of Novelette, which do not seem to be all that popular.
I mean if that is how you write them then that is how you write them. I couldn't possibly cut them down by half, nor could I extend them to novella length. It's a predicament, to be sure.
They are definitely short stories, but I had seen the lengths that were posted here by pdr, and not at the same source. I suppose mine could fall into the category of Novelette, which do not seem to be all that popular.
I mean if that is how you write them then that is how you write them. I couldn't possibly cut them down by half, nor could I extend them to novella length. It's a predicament, to be sure.
It could be, but you can still submit your work to pubs that accept longer works. If your stories stand up, editors will help you pear them down to lengths that meet their available content space.blumoon said:
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