Let's Learn ~ What's the difference?

Novels ~ Novelettes ~ Flash Fiction

Novellas ~  Micro Fiction ~ Short Stories

What’s the difference?

Welcome back all Writers, Authors, Aspiring Authors, Emerging Authors, Film Writers, Journalists, Creative Writers, Editors, and Poets ~ We are here for another informative Blog Session!

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Journal Notes

Today's Session is going to dive into the topic of Novels, Novelettes, Flash Fiction, Novellas, Micro Fiction & Short Stories.  We are going to find out what the difference is between them...

In short, the difference between them is length.

Another important point is that every Publisher and Editor has their own guidelines on lengths.  Before you write for a submissions call or submit to a publisher, check to see what category you fall into, and what length that particular publisher is looking for.  Do your research.

Here are some rough guidelines for the lengths of each category...

Micro fiction

500 words or less.  There are specific categories within this, including six-word stories and 100-word stories, and a host of other names – you might have come across ‘sudden fiction’, ‘short short story’ and ‘immediate fiction’.

Flash Fiction

500 – 1000 words, but ‘flash’ often includes micro fiction too, so it’s usually anything below 1000 words.  If in doubt, check the submission guidelines or with the Publisher.

Short Stories

Usually between 2,000 and 10,000 words.  Most publishers prefer 3,000 – 8,000 words, so aiming for the 4-5k mark is pretty safe.

Novelette

Approximately 8000 – 20,000 words.  Essentially, novelettes fall into the gap between short stories and novellas.  They are a pretty new category, and you’ll likely have a hard time publishing these if you don’t already have a market.

Novella

20,000 to 50,000 words, with the usual aim for length being 40,000 words.  Novellas used to be a hard sell but they have grown in popularity over the last five years.

Novel

50,000 to 150,000 words.  You can aim higher, but you’re likely to end up with a book more suited to being an Epic Novel, and it will have to be extremely fascinating!  If you’re hitting the 200k mark or above, consider splitting the book into two, or writing a series.

Ideally, you want to aim for 80 – 100k words for a standard Novel, which roughly equates to the 300-page books you see on fiction shelves.

Today's Writing Tips

• Carry around a Journal or Notebook to catch ideas as they come up.  For example, plot ideas, or interesting names for characters.  Keep it by your bed at night as well.  The mind is often best at free association when it is on the edge of sleep.
• Consider an App for your smart phone or tablet that will allow you to enter notes for your story.
• Also consider carrying around a Photo Album to capture the perfect scenes that you come across in your daily travels that inspire you to write your story.  Place your photos of scenes that you come across that will help you to keep your mind on your story, and be inspired.

Until Our Next Blog Session . . .

~ Sit and enjoy the scenery ~

Enjoy some ART this weekend...

Artistic Minds®

Peace, Love & Light,

René

© Copyright - René Allen - JULY 2017 - All Rights Reserved