How to Write a Novella

Novellas are one of the most enigmatic forms of fiction, falling in the grey area between short story and novel, and often taking qualities from both. But, novellas can also be extremely versatile. You can tell a wide range of stories, from very simple narratives to more complex ones. Longer novellas can be published on their own in print, shorter ones can be featured in a short story collection, and they can also make effective promotional tools or lead magnets to promote a series or your mailing list.
There aren't many rules regarding the novella form, but here are some dos and don'ts for writing a novella!
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:25 - What is a novella?
1:35 - Conflict
2:04 - Characters
2:39 - Use film structure
3:24 - Three act structure
3:44 - Using the form
4:18 - Earn the ending
5:00 - Novella recommendations
5:50 - Review
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[@MelroseERA]

I'm a beginning writer. So I decided to break my novel concept into a novella trilogy to ease myself into the world of writing. Before that, I decided to make a short-story of 5,000 words as a preview to act as a hook for my readers. I published my first Novella: Hans Odyssey, Volume: Discovery. This eased my path. I've sold about 40 copies to people at a small farmer market which just brought me joy.

[@David-dc3nk]

Congratulations! 👏

[@DarwinRoger893]

Congratulations 🎉

[@demonsangells]

Dunno about the 'unpopularity' part... My favorite books have consistently been novellas. They are in that sweet spot where you get a full story without suffering from the middle-book syndrome, where the pacing gets plummeted in so many novels.

[@Reedsy]

They're not as popular as novels, but it doesn't mean they aren't often fantastic! I think they should be more popular, plenty of novels would be more effective as novellas in my opinion, but not as many are published.

[@demonsangells]

@@Reedsy I can't agree more. My first published work will be a ~19k Adult Fantasy, short novella, which will be released in a couple of weeks. I am very happy with it, and I genuinely feel that it is a neat little story that helps me set the plot and world-building for the novel I am working on.

[@heywhysoserious]

@@demonsangells hii what is the name of the book and where can u buy it??

[@Dontwantahandle111]

Great explanation 😊

[@pure-tayhealthandwellness9683]

My daughter's name is Novella

[@GwynneBloodgood]

That's beautiful!

[@steveprescott218]

Three great novellas: The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald, A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, and Utz by Bruce Chatwin

[@randomwords5320]

I want to write a shorter novel, but calling it a “novel” just seems kind of daunting. So for now I’m going to call it a “novella”, and see how long it ends up.

[@milestrombley1466]

I plan to write a few novella series for a living.

[@MariJadeWrites]

how is it going? :)

[@milestrombley1466]

Ok

[@coachworthy_]

Hope your writing journey is going well! I’m an aspiring author and currently on a WIP as well. I’d love to network with other authors such as yourself.

[@TheInsectKing]

How’s it going 3 years later?

[@emxry]

I haven’t seen this and I already know it’ll help me loads.

[@blakegrimes3557]

Damn, your hair looks amazing in this video. Get it!

[@josefinasotes796]

I think the idea of novellas is great for me, because I usually have short but dense ideas, and I'm TERRIBLE at sticking with the same idea for more than a month, sometimes even less. I've tried writing short stories but I always feel like I'm missing something, and trying to write a novel is just too much for me(especially because I pressure myself for everything)

[@roguerangerproductions]

Bro samw

[@DarwinRoger893]

SAME

[@mavelynnnn]

i love how straight to the point you are and i LOVE the chapters / time markers

[@lydiacrouch5537]

I was writing a book and I had planned for it to be the first of a two-book series. I get to the last chapter only at ten thousand ish words and realize it is not only a novella but a character's backstory.

[@coachworthy_]

I hope your writing journey is going well! I’m an aspiring author and currently on a WIP as well. I’d love to network with other authors such as yourself.

[@chaosdozer7692]

Hi, thanks for this lovely video. Excited to start my (5 year-old idea of a) novella! Really enjoy what you said in regards to viewing film akin to a novella. Puts what it should be in great perspective. Will continue to refer to this video, cheers!

[@odie-wankenodie8607]

I'm telling myself that I'm writing a novella just so I won't get intimidated.

[@RaymondHulha]

You make great content, thank you for all your videos!

[@zaid_hus]

Think of it like a movie is all I needed to hear. Thanks!

[@DUST35]

Interesting that you brought up the parallell between novellas and film structure 👍

[@nahyanameen1992]

I love Miss Bishop! I can't wait to buy a new Canadian novella like my favourite vlogger...

[@spacealienjesus709]

Not to be mean but with most peoples schedules ( attention spans ) novellas are a great way for an unknown author to get a foot in the door.

[@Reedsy]

Not mean at all, it's very true!

[@rev6215]

Finally I have the honor to say, First

[@prometheus200]

You are absolutely amazing. You have made it's so sensible for me.

[@Reedsy]

So happy it helped!

[@michaelrauch8629]

This was beyond helpful

[@osmigtorres2333]

I wrote a novel 53k words which is 1 of the 3 book series I plan on writing. I'm about to publish my debut novel soon. I wrote a parables and poems collection write after finishing my novel. And I just started my first novella. I want to write different formats, novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, etc.

[@theteacupbunny632]

I think the only real novella I've read is The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

[@daedricdragon5976]

Would you say Great Gatsby is a novella? What The Alchemist?

[@manish61]

Thanku reedsy❤️

[@Smokey_Cornbread]

I've published my first on Amazon in January, I'll post the link if anyone is interested

[@englishclassesbydrjintubor6808]

Very informative video

[@Jacob-gu3in]

At what point would you say a novel idea would be better served as a novella or vice versa? What would you say are pros and cons of going with a novella over a novel to tell your story? Is it kind of an 'if you know you know' thing?

[@odie-wankenodie8607]

I would say that it depends on how much detail you want to put into it. Novella pros: straight to the point, less intimidating. Novella cons: less detail can be put in for larger plots, less attracting for many people.

[@LeslieFlemons]

Yeah, I'm struggling to make my book into a full-length novel, so I might have to make it into a novella, instead. That would make things less stressful. Btw, Of Mice and Men is a good example of a novella.

[@thedialectic6346]

Why don't publishers like novellas if so many authors and readers do?

[@alfonsomango_suyu]

i will write a novella. she looks pretty in this video

[@netabolt6546]

is A Christmas Caroll a Novella? also, what about mr Jakyll and Dr Hyde? both are great story's that are short enough to be novella but some class it as novel if i'm not wrong. but i thought, they were short enough to maybe be a novella? also, a short one as well, for a third example, not realy sure as well for this one, but, The Time Machine by HG Wells, my copy clocks in at 99 pages so thats relatively short.

[@jasonyntig717]

Yep a Christmas carol is a novella

[@AdeleDIYs]

Trying . . . 😅

[@David-dc3nk]

Thank you! I found an idea of mine that I may write as a novella. "Pieces of Truth" Genre: Psychological Thriller Synopsis: Alice and her childhood crush Brian drift apart after witnessing the brutal murder of two classmates. Years later, Alice and Brian unexpectedly reunite in college only to have their renewed relationship become problematic when they both begin receiving bizarre messages from two people claiming to be their murdered friends from childhood. Are their friends still alive and out for revenge? Is someone playing a cruel joke on Alice and Brian? Or is this a big misunderstanding?

[@elviejodelmar2795]

If you can't find novellas, look no further than Louis L'Amour. Average length 150 to 200 pages; over 100 in print 200 million copies sold.

[@khankhalil8574]

Have you written a novella?

[@jayashreechakravarthy4949]

Idk I need time to sit and think. These things are complex.