What is a Novella?
A work of fiction longer than a short story but shorter than a novel.
The In-Between: Understanding Novellas in Fiction Writing
A novella is a unique form of fiction writing that occupies the space between short stories and novels.
While there's no exact word count to define a novella, the general rule of thumb is that it's longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. It's long enough to have a plot with multiple characters and subplots but not so long that it requires the multiple arcs and layers of a novel.
This in-between length allows novellas to tackle more complex storylines and character development than short stories while also maintaining a concise and focused narrative. Novellas often explore themes and ideas that may not fit within the confines of a short story while still being much more economical than a novel.
Novellas are particularly popular in literary fiction and have been used by writers such as Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote. However, they've also gained popularity in contemporary genre fiction, such as sci-fi and fantasy.
Novellas are the unassuming middle children of the literary world.
They are often overshadowed by their shorter and longer siblings, the short story and novel respectively. Here are a couple of standout examples of how novellas have been used in literature.
This classic novella tells the story of two migrant farm workers, George and Lennie, during the Great Depression.
Despite its short length, Steinbeck's story manages to tackle themes of loneliness, friendship, and the elusive American Dream.
LaValle's novella is a subversion and tribute to H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos, focusing on the story of a young black man in 1920s New York City named Charles Thomas Tester.
The Ballad of Black Tom addresses the racial and social tensions of the time in a unique and compelling way, while also incorporating elements of cosmic horror.