Are You A New Writer? (Basic Explanation of Book Criteria)

Here are some basic categories your book will be in based off word count. 

(Page counts are approximated by 5x8 inch margins, and do not count chapter breaks, headings, or break-offs of new chapters) 

1 – 1,000 words is a Short. 

Description: A short is basically smaller than a short story, consisting of a scene or maybe two of a book and/or a basic idea. 

(1- 4 pages) 

1,000 – 10,000 words is a Short Story. 

Description: A short story has a basic plot structure of a beginning, rising action, climax, and resolution—basically a smaller version of a novel—and usually does not end in a cliffhanger, but sometimes can. 

(4 – 40 pages) 

10,000 – 20,000 words is a Novelette. 

Description: A novelette falls between a short story and a novella. Consisting of a basic plot structure and also a resolution. 

(40 – 80 pages) 

20,000 – 30,000 words is a Novella. 

Description: A novella is shorter than a novel but is considered a book in-of itself. It has a beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, and can tell a detailed but short story between your main characters. 

(80 – 120 pages) 

30,000 – 120,000+ is a Novel. 

Description: A novel is the largest "original or basic" format of a book, ranging from two-hundred pages to over eight hundred. Novels have to be well thought out, have a basic plot structure and also many side/mini ones. It tells a very detailed description of the story between the main characters and sometimes even an antagonist. Novels usually have a resolution, but sometimes end in a cliffhanger if adding additional novels of their story, forming a series. 

(120 – 480+ pages)