Novella
Literary term · say it nuh-VEL-uh
A novella is a work of prose fiction longer than a short story but shorter than most novels. It usually follows a small cast through one main conflict, allowing room for change without the many side plots of a longer novel.
Ways a novella can focus its story
One central conflict
A Gothic novella uses mystery, fear, or supernatural events to explore disturbing secrets within a relatively short prose narrative.
In Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Utterson and Poole break into Jekyll's laboratory and discover Hyde's body. The locked room and unexplained disappearance of Jekyll create Gothic suspense.
In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
One life-changing experience
A Christmas novella is a short prose narrative centered on Christmas, often exploring generosity, reconciliation, or moral renewal.
In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge's supernatural Christmas visits lead him to change his conduct. On Christmas morning, he sends a large turkey to the Cratchit family, putting his new generosity into practice.
In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
One unsettling situation
A modernist novella uses a concentrated prose narrative to explore experiences such as alienation, uncertainty, or the instability of identity, often departing from realistic storytelling.
In The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa wakes transformed into an insect-like creature but initially worries about missing work. This collision of an impossible transformation with ordinary employment anxieties introduces the novella's exploration of alienation.
In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
How to spot a novella
- Check whether the story falls between a short story and a full-length novel.
- Look for a small cast gathered around one main conflict.
- Notice how closely the scenes serve the central story.
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How many words are in a novella?
There is no fixed word count, though roughly 20,000 to 40,000 words is a common guide. Publishers and literary awards draw different boundaries, so a book near either end may also be called a long short story or a short novel.
What is the difference between a novella and a novel?
A novella is generally shorter and more tightly focused than a novel. A novel has more room for several conflicts, a larger cast, and substantial side plots. These are tendencies rather than strict rules, and some books are described both ways.
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