Types of Novellas

Learning More about the Novella

BLOG SESSION

July 2017

"Types of Novellas"

Good Morning Writers, Authors, Novelists & Poets ~

In our last Blog Session, we discussed the Novella.  We took notes in our Journals about the Novella, Novelle, and the Novel.  We made notes about the differences, and why some Readers as well as Writers gravitate to the Novella.

You can  easily view our last Blog Session by scrolling down after reading today's Session, or you may catch up on any missed Blog Sessions by clicking on any of our past Blog Session links in the right-hand column where it says, "Blog Archive".  If you have not yet Bookmarked this Blog, be sure to do so today.  You may also follow by email by typing in your email address over in the right-hand column where it says, "Follow by Email", then click the "Submit" button.  You'll receive all Blog Sessions by email as soon as they are published.

As many of the Readers here on the Blog know, Camp NaNoWriMo is currently going on during the month of July online for those who are writing Novels or working on Writing Projects.  Many of our friends here will also be writing Novels during the month of November when National Novel Writing Month begins.  Camp NaNoWriMo is the best time to get your mind in gear for what is to come during the month of November when thousands of Authors and Writers of all different genres converge online for NaNoWriMo.  You can click on either of the links to check out both Camp NaNoWriMo (happening online now during the month of July) and NaNoWriMo (which takes place in the month of November each year).

Now is the time to grab your Journal and get ready to take notes.  We are all back here today to continue where we left off in our last Blog Session when we were discussing the Novella.  As promised, we will be discussing the various types of Novellas . . .

Novellas are grouped into three (3) broad categories:

1.  THE LITERARY NOVELLA

The Novella is said to be the golden child form for literary experimentation because it allows for more scope than the short story, while still retaining its intensity.  The length of the novella is perfect for dense language that would be much harder to sustain in a novel.  A novella allows for emphasis on character psychology over narrative concerns, and for exploring difficult questions without overworking.

Please Note:  Famous literary novellas include:  The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Chess by Stefan Zweig, and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

2.  THE INSPIRATIONAL NOVELLA

The shorter novella form has also been used by Authors who want to tell inspirational stories that will appeal to all ages.  The novella's length makes it more approachable for younger readers, and also makes it easier for the Writer to deliver concise, expressive, and more immediate advice.  The enduring popularity of The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, and The Prophet by Khalil Gibran are testaments to how well the novella form is suited for this task.

3.  THE GENRE NOVELLA

Novellas are also a popular choice for the fiction genre.  The novella form has been embraced by the Science Fiction and Fantasy communities.  Because electronic publishing takes the cost of physical printing out of the equation, it is now much easier for novellas to hold their own and be just as profitable as longer Novels.

Reading a Novella

Let's discuss the length of a Novella once again...

Estimates vary, of course, but a Novella is usually anywhere between 10,000 to 50,000 words long.  However, Novels for younger audiences often run shorter, so 50,000 words may be nearer to a full-length novel in certain markets.  Some awards (such as the Hugo and Nebula Awards) also have their own word count criteria for novellas, as well as an additional category between short stories and novellas termed, “novelettes”.

Novellas versus Novels

What's the difference?

Novellas are sometimes compared to films.  If we assume that 15,000 words takes approximately an hour to read, then a 30,000 word novella can be read in about as much time as it takes to watch a film.  Thus, a novella usually covers a similar number of scenes and events.

A Novel is too large a structure to visualize all at once.  However, films and novellas are more manageable, as well as very appealing to readers.

And, you'll definitely have to make a note in your Journal that despite their contracted size, novellas can tell the exact same story as a novel.

Novels include a lot of extra detail that is not necessary to the narrative, but that detail works to build a deeper relationship with the reader (by drawing them in, and convincing them to invest more time, attention and interest).

However, we cannot ignore the fact that the Novella also needs to build the same relationship, and has a harder job because there is less time and space within which to do so.

NEXT BLOG SESSION:

Should YOU Write a Novella?

Writers, Authors, Friends ~

Until our next Blog Session . . .

Peace, Love & Light,

René

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