Which term refers to narrative fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel?

• A. Short story
• B. Novelette
• C. Novella
• D. Novel

Answer: (C)

Mid-length fiction that sits between a short story and a novel is called a novella. It gives more space for developing characters and a more intricate plot than a short story, but it isn’t as expansive as a full novel. Word counts for novellas are generally shorter than most novels, often falling in a rough range around twenty thousand to forty thousand words, though exact definitions can vary. Some sources distinguish a shorter form called a novelette, which is typically briefer than a novella, but the description “longer than a short story but shorter than a novel” most clearly points to a novella.