I find your posts interesting and informative. I am always fascinated, with all that is involved in writing a book, novella or a short story.
I am one of your readers who enjoy your novella/short stories for two reasons you mentioned: to gain insight into minor characters and to tide me over until your next novel.
A quick question, is there a difference between a novella and a short story?
Interestingly, definitions for short stories vary a good deal, but over and over I have seen short stories (versus flash fiction) as 3,500 to 7,500 words, Novellas, 17,000 to 40,000. But this puts an interim between 7,500 and 17,500 which is called a novellette. But no one I know refers to their stories a novelettes, so I call a shorter work under 17,500 words as a short story.
I really enjoy getting to know various characters better in reading the short stories and novellas. It actually makes the novels better since we know everyone’s background. Thanks for bringing them to life.
I find your posts interesting and informative. I am always fascinated, with all that is involved in writing a book, novella or a short story.
I am one of your readers who enjoy your novella/short stories for two reasons you mentioned: to gain insight into minor characters and to tide me over until your next novel.
A quick question, is there a difference between a novella and a short story?
Interestingly, definitions for short stories vary a good deal, but over and over I have seen short stories (versus flash fiction) as 3,500 to 7,500 words, Novellas, 17,000 to 40,000. But this puts an interim between 7,500 and 17,500 which is called a novellette. But no one I know refers to their stories a novelettes, so I call a shorter work under 17,500 words as a short story.
Thanks for the explanation.
I really enjoy getting to know various characters better in reading the short stories and novellas. It actually makes the novels better since we know everyone’s background. Thanks for bringing them to life.