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How Long Should My Story Be?
One size does not fit all. We hear that all the time about different things; well, the same goes for writing. There are different lengths of writing; depending on certain features of your story, you may be writing the wrong type of story!
How many active characters are in the story?
1
2
3+
1 / 10
Who/What will the conflict resolution change?
The Protagonist
The Main Characters
The Course of the World
2 / 10
What kind of setting do you have to develop?
Real/Relatable Locations/Worlds
Fictional Adaptions of Real/Relatable Locations/Worlds
New Fictional Worlds
3 / 10
How many conflicts/obstacles will the main characters face/resolve?
1-2
2-3
3+
4 / 10
How much backstory/research is required to understand the story?
Very little to non
More than a few flashbacks/conversations
Extensive details/histories
5 / 10
At where will the story start?
In the middle of the action
From the beginning/the end (cyclical)
Interrupting a routine/normal life
6 / 10
How many critical decisions (major conflicts) will your main characters have to make?
1-2
2-3
3+
7 / 10
What is the MAIN purpose of your story?
To Inform
To Entertain
To Persuade
8 / 10
What is the best publishing format for your story, if submitted ALONE?
Digital Website
Print/Digital Anthology
Print/eBook
9 / 10
If presented in a video format, which would be sufficient to present only the details written in the story (no add-on/interpretations)?
Movie Short (10- mins) / Episode (10-30 minutes)
Full-Length Feature (90-180 minutes)
Franchise (sequels and prequels)
10 / 10
Flash Fiction
1,500 WORDS MAX
You can get through a flash fiction in, well, a flash! Short and sweet, you get right to the point with this. No need to get all complicated. Think of it like one scene of a bigger story.
Short Story
1,500 - 7,500 WORDS MAX
Short stories are mini-novels. They do tell a full story, but not a very complicated one. Usually with one conflict that goes through the whole sequence of events, this can be similar to a chapter.
Novella
20,000 - 50,000 WORDS MAX
Novellas are one of my favorites! I love reading and writing them because you can get a full novel in half the time. Simple versions of a novel, think of it as just the meat and bones.
Novel
40,000 WORDS MINIMUM
Everyone knows about novels. The most popular form, you have much more freedom to get creative with one of these. But, don't get carried away. Because there is so much room, you can mess up your story easily!
Series
Maybe your ideas just can't stop. You have your novel figured out, but it doesn't feel done; there's so much more to the story that you can't fit in right now.
You probably need a series. Write a novel for each one, make sure they reference one another and are cohesive, and put them all together!