How Long is a Short Story? [Word Count Guide for Writers]
Short stories come in all shapes and sizes. Some are only a few pages long, while others are closer to novella length.
But what is the perfect length for a short story?
That answer can vary depending on who you ask!
I’ve had both short stories and novels published, and I’ve run into this question quite a few times! This article will explore different types of short stories and what the word count of each should be. We’ll also give you tips on writing a short story that packs a punch!
How Long Is A Short Story?
The average length of a short story can be tricky to determine, as there is no single definitive answer. It all depends on who you ask and the story’s purpose!
Some readers may call a twenty-page narrative too long, while others may consider that to be just right. Whether you’re writing for yourself, your friends, or even a publisher, it’s essential to understand that stories come in all different sizes and shapes—short ones included!
The best way to figure out how long your story should be is by balancing brevity with impactful character development and an interesting plotline.
Let’s take a closer look at some popular metrics for pinpointing the average word count for a short story!
Word Count Guidelines
Let’s take a look at the guidelines – we’ll start with the lowest number of words, and go up from there!
Flash Fiction (up to 1,000 words)
Writing tight and succinctly is an art form, but it becomes incredibly challenging when you start dealing with short lengths – such as flash fiction, which typically runs up to 1,000 words.
While a thousand words may not seem like much, successfully executing an exciting flash fiction story in just a few words isn’t simple. It requires creative constraint and discipline, and, above all else, it demands that you focus solely on the essential elements of your narrative.
Some even challenge themselves to write as short a story as possible – for example, a six-word story is a popular challenge among many writers. In general, anything below 100 words is termed “micro fiction.”
Short Stories (1,000 – 7,500 words)
Writing a successful short story takes more than just being a great wordsmith! Following the recommended word count guidelines is one of the most critical aspects of crafting a compelling piece. While there are no hard and fast rules, word count can be important for most writers.
Generally speaking, a good length to aim for would be from 1,000 to 7,500 words – this range hits the sweet spot for grabbing readers’ attention and ensures that your message isn’t lost in too much detail. It is also the range for most literary magazines calling for writer submissions.
Novelettes (7,500 – 10,000 words)
Your target should be 7,500-10,000 words when writing novelettes. Keep an eye on your page and word count as you write so you can make content adjustments before submitting your manuscript.
Novella (10,000 – 40,000 words)
Writing a novella is a great way to be creative and challenge yourself artistically.
When writing a novella, the recommended word count is usually between 10,000-40,000 words, giving you quite a bit of freedom within the constraints.
This length also establishes entry points into other genres like short stories, novels, or full-blown works of fiction. With this range in mind, you can experiment with different characters, plots, and pacing approaches to maximize your creativity.
Novel (50,000+ words)
While there is some leeway between a short novel and a long novella (the grey area between 40,000 and 50,000 words), in the end, it’s up to the author to decide which format better suits the work.
That said, a novel is typically considered as such if the word count is over 50,000 words. There is no upper limit to the length of a novel, with some spanning many hundreds of pages. However, always remember your chosen genre, audience expectations, and convention norms.
Reasons to Write Short Stories
Writing short stories can be incredibly rewarding. You get to develop a plot and characters with only a few thousand words, so it’s an efficient use of your time.
Short stories also force you to hone your writing skills since you need to pick the perfect words and structure the plot to captivate and surprise the reader quickly.
Short stories are also great if you want to practice writing in different voices because there’s more room for experimentation than with a longer work.
It’s a great format to hone your craft, either as a new writer or an established pro. It allows you to try new things and stretch your abilities in a way that doesn’t require much time.
Finally, if you’re an aspiring author, writing short stories increases your chances of getting noticed – it’s much easier for editors, agents, and other industry insiders to recognize someone who has multiple pieces published than someone who has only written one long novel or nonfiction book.
Why is Word Count Important?
Short story writing dictates that you keep the number of words you use in mind.
Often, the length of a story may indicate its genre. For example, an action-thriller tends to have a shorter page count than an epic fantasy. In the same respect, a short story can indicate similar traits.
A short story can typically range from 1,500-7,500 words. Anything longer shouldn’t be classified as a short story; often, these pieces are novellas or novels.
Word counts vary depending on the genre and magazine or publication, but staying within guidelines will ensure that editors consider your work more seriously.
Word limits force short story writers to tighten their prose and highlight their most concise and powerful ideas, leaving out anything unnecessary. It showcases a mastery of language, which is something all readers appreciate and editors respect.
Knowing your market and sticking to the appropriate word count for that medium ensures that you take your short stories seriously. Before you press send, make sure your story fits the given constraints perfectly!
Definition of a Short Story
A short story is a fiction work that can typically be read in one sitting. They are usually about a single moment or event and often deal with a few characters and settings.
Short stories often focus on a particular theme or topic, such as love, relationships, coming-of-age, loneliness, or overcoming adversity.
A hallmark of the format is brevity – usually much shorter than traditional novels – so authors must pack powerful emotions and vivid characters into relatively few words.
A short story is a fiction work that can typically be read in one sitting. They are usually about a single moment or event and often deal with a few characters and settings.
Shorter stories often focus on a particular theme or topic, such as love, relationships, coming-of-age, loneliness, or overcoming adversity.
A hallmark of the format is brevity – usually much shorter than traditional novels – so authors must pack powerful emotions and vivid characters into relatively few words.
While many books might have a handful of chapters that may not directly relate to each other, every detail in an average short story serves the same purpose: advancing the plot and exploring the theme.
As you become more familiar with this genre, you will understand why it remains an essential part of literature today.
Short stories were popularized by famous authors such as Edgar Allen Poe and Charles Dickens as a form of engaging writing accessible to readers of all types.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the length of a short story isn’t as cut and dry as one might think.
Whether your goal is to write short flash fiction about a specific moment or emotion or take readers on a long journey with your novella or novel, this guide should give you a good idea of how many words your story should involve.
Utilizing these tips as reference points, don’t be afraid to get creative and let the ideas form within your head. After all, writing is another way to explore our world and tell stories that challenge our perception of reality!
