What Is a Novella? Word Count, Definition & Examples

A novella is a work of prose fiction between 17,500 and 40,000 words, longer than a short story and shorter than a novel. The novella word count typically produces 70 to 160 printed pages. The form centres on a single conflict with a small cast and a compressed timeline.

The Novella Word Count Range

Length is what separates the prose categories, and the boundaries below are the ones publishers and award bodies work from.

These figures come from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association award categories, which have become the trade’s default reference points across genres.

Some publishers apply slightly different edges. A press might set its novella range at 20,000 to 45,000 words, or accept anything from 15,000 upward. Always check the individual submission page, since the house definition governs.

What Makes a Novella More Than a Length

Word count is the label. The structure underneath is what gives the format its character.

• One Central Question. A novella asks a single dramatic question and answers it. Subplots stay minimal.
• A Compact Cast. Three to five significant characters are typical, with everyone else serving the main line.
• A Tight Timeline. Events often unfold across days or weeks rather than years.
• A Single Reading Session. Most readers finish a novella in two to three hours, which shapes pacing decisions throughout.

That combination is why novellas often feel more intense than novels. The form leaves room for one idea, developed thoroughly.

Examples That Define the Format

Several of the most durable works in English sit squarely in this band:

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, around 30,000 words
• The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, around 27,000 words
• Animal Farm by George Orwell, around 30,000 words
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, around 28,000 words
• The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, around 22,000 words

Each one carries a single premise and follows it to its conclusion. That is the novella working as intended.

Is a Novella a Short Novel?

Readers use the terms interchangeably, and the overlap is real. Publishing treats them as distinct categories, however, because the distinction affects pricing, submission guidelines, award eligibility, and retail category placement. A 35,000 word manuscript submitted as a novel will usually receive a request to expand. The same manuscript submitted as a novella meets the brief exactly.

The structural differences run deeper than length alone, and they are worth understanding before you commit to a draft. Novella vs Novel vs Short Story: Key Differences Explained covers scope, pacing, and market positioning side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many words is a novella?

Between 17,500 and 40,000 words, or roughly 70 to 160 printed pages.

How long does a novella take to read?

Two to three hours for most readers, based on an average pace of 250 to 300 words per minute.

Is 50,000 words a novella?

At 50,000 words a manuscript is generally classed as a short novel rather than a novella.

Have a Manuscript In the 17,500 to 40,000 Word Range?

The Novella Publishers editorial team will assess its structure, word count, and market fit at no cost. Request your free assessment.

For the full picture on routes, publishers, and production, read our complete guide to novella publishing.