Recently we received several
emails asking the question: "How long should my story be?"
The simple answer is: As long as
it takes to tell the whole story.
However, there are certain word
lengths that most editors prefer to see when submitting work. Here is an
approximate guideline for story lengths.
Micro-Fiction
~ up to 100 words
This very abbreviated story is
often difficult to write, and even harder to write well, but the markets for
micro fiction are becoming increasingly popular in recent times. Publishers
love them, as they take up almost no room and don't cost them their budgets.
Pay rates are often low, but for so few words, the rate per word averages quite
high.
Flash Fiction
~ 100 - 1,000 words
This is the type of short-short
story you would expect to find in a glossy magazine, often used to fill one
page of quick romance (or quick humor, in men's mags) Very popular, quick and
easy to write, and easier to sell!
Short Story
~ 1,000 - 7,500 words
The 'regular' short story,
usually found in periodicals or anthology collections. Most 'genre' zines will
feature works at this length.
Novellette
~ 7,500 - 20,000 words
Often a novellette-length work
is difficult to sell to a publisher. It is considered too long for most
publishers to insert comfortably into a magazine, yet too short for a novel.
Generally, authors will piece together three or four novellette-length works
into a compilation novel.
Novella
~ 20,000 - 50,000 words
Although most print publishers
will balk at printing a novel this short, this is almost perfect for the
electronic publishing market length. The online audience doesn't always have
the time or the patience to sit through a 100,000 word novel. Alternatively,
this is an acceptable length for a short work of non-fiction.
Novel
~ 50,000 -110,000
Most print publishers prefer a
minimum word count of around 70,000 words for a first novel, and some even
hesitate for any work shorter than 80,000. Yet any piece of fiction climbing
over the 110,000 word mark also tends to give editors some pause. They need to
be sure they can produce a product that won't over-extend their budget, but
still be enticing enough to readers to be saleable. Imagine paying good money
for a book less than a quarter-inch thick?
Epics and Sequels
~ Over 110,000 words
If your story extends too far
over the 110,000 mark, perhaps consider where you could either condense the
story to only include relevant details, or lengthen it to span out into a
sequel, or perhaps even a trilogy. (Unless, of course, you're Stephen King -
then it doesn't matter what length your manuscript is – a publisher is a little
more lenient with an established author who has a well-established readership)
Remember, these word counts are
only estimated guides. Use your own common sense, and, where possible, check
the guidelines of the publication you intend to submit your work to. Most
publishers accepting shorter works will post their maximum preferred lengths,
and novels are generally considered on the strength of the story itself, not on
how many words you have squeezed into each chapter.
Copyright 2002 Lee Masterson
Lee Masterson is a full-time
freelance writer from