Three words I see quite a bit, but what I'm not so sure of is where the deliniation between them is (or if there are more categories that I am unaware of).
posted
The most commonly accepted break-downs for those categories (in science fiction and fantasy, at least) are according to how they are specified for the Hugo and Nebula awards--by length.
A short story is anything up to 7500 words.
A novelette is anything from 7500 to 17,500 words.
A novella is anything from 17,500 to 40,000 words.
posted
Short story it typically under 10,000 words--more often it is less than that. Each magazine has it's own guide as to word length. Any story up to 30,000 words is considered a short story.
Novella--30,000 to 50,000 words is the norm.
Novel--over 50,000 words, but most publishers want 70,000 to 90,000 words on a first novel.
Shawn
LOL Kathleen we posted at the same time--my numbers came from the Writer's Encyclopedia. Oh well.
[This message has been edited by srhowen (edited April 25, 2003).]
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