# Novella

> Source: https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/glossary/novella

Last updated: 2026-09-06
Category: Manuscript & structure
Also called: Novelette (shorter) · Short novel

A novella is a short novel of roughly 17,500–40,000 words; a novelette runs 7,500–17,500, under the SFWA definitions most publishers use.

## Definition

A **novella** is a work of fiction longer than a short story and shorter than a novel. The most cited thresholds are the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association's award categories: **short story** under 7,500 words, **novelette** 7,500–17,499, **novella** 17,500–39,999, and **novel** 40,000 and above. Outside genre fiction the terms are looser, and many publishers call anything under about 50,000 words a novella.

Classics of the form include *A Christmas Carol*, *The Metamorphosis*, *Of Mice and Men* and *Animal Farm* — all around 25,000–30,000 words, all read in a sitting.

As a printed object a novella is thin: 30,000 words at a 6 × 9 in trim is roughly 100–120 pages, which is why novellas are often set at a smaller **trim size** (5 × 8 in) with generous leading, or collected two or three to a volume, so the spine has enough width to carry a title.

## Related

- [Word count](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/glossary/word-count)
- [Manuscript](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/glossary/manuscript)
- [Trim size](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/glossary/trim-size)
- [Spine width](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/glossary/spine-width)
- [How to Write a Novella](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/guides/how-to-write-a-novella)
- [How to Write a 50,000-Word Novel](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/guides/how-to-write-a-50000-word-novel)
- [NaNoWriMo Novel Writing Guide: 50,000 Words in 30 Days](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/guides/nanowrimo-novel-writing-guide)
- [Book Publishing Glossary — 59 Terms Defined](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/glossary)
- [Bindery — the Claude-powered book studio](https://www.infinitelibrary.ai/bindery)

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