How Long Should My Story Be?

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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!

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  How many active characters are in the story?

  • A.
    1

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story)
  • B.
    2

    (Correlates to: Short Story, Novella)
  • C.
    3+

    (Correlates to: Novel, Series)
• 2.
  Who/What will the conflict resolution change?

  • A.
    The Protagonist

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella)
  • B.
    The Main Characters

    (Correlates to: Short Story, Novella, Novel)
  • C.
    The Course of the World

    (Correlates to: Novel, Series)
• 3.
  What kind of setting do you have to develop?

  • A.
    Real/Relatable Locations/Worlds

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella, Novel, Series)
  • B.
    Fictional Adaptions of Real/Relatable Locations/Worlds

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella, Novel, Series)
  • C.
    New Fictional Worlds

    (Correlates to: Novel, Series)
• 4.
  How many conflicts/obstacles will the main characters face/resolve?

  • A.
    1-2

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella)
  • B.
    2-3

    (Correlates to: Short Story, Novella, Novel)
  • C.
    3+

    (Correlates to: Novel, Series)
• 5.
  How much backstory/research is required to understand the story?

  • A.
    Very little to non

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella)
  • B.
    More than a few flashbacks/conversations

    (Correlates to: Novella, Novel)
  • C.
    Extensive details/histories

    (Correlates to: Novel, Series)
• 6.
  At where will the story start?

  • A.
    In the middle of the action

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella)
  • B.
    From the beginning/the end (cyclical)

    (Correlates to: Novella, Novel, Series)
  • C.
    Interrupting a routine/normal life

    (Correlates to: Novel, Series)
• 7.
  How many critical decisions (major conflicts) will your main characters have to make?

  • A.
    1-2

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story)
  • B.
    2-3

    (Correlates to: Short Story, Novella, Novel)
  • C.
    3+

    (Correlates to: Novel, Series)
• 8.
  What is the MAIN purpose of your story?

  • A.
    To Inform

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella)
  • B.
    To Entertain

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella, Novel, Series)
  • C.
    To Persuade

    (Correlates to: Short Story, Novella, Novel)
• 9.
  What is the best publishing format for your story, if submitted ALONE?

  • A.
    Digital Website

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story)
  • B.
    Print/Digital Anthology

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novella)
  • C.
    Print/eBook

    (Correlates to: Novella, Novel, Series)
• 10.
  If presented in a video format, which would be sufficient to present only the details written in the story (no add-on/interpretations)?

  • A.
    Movie Short (10- mins) / Episode (10-30 minutes)

    (Correlates to: Flash Fiction, Short Story)
  • B.
    Full-Length Feature (90-180 minutes)

    (Correlates to: Novella, Novel)
  • C.
    Franchise (sequels and prequels)

    (Correlates to: Series)

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Flash Fiction

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  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.
• 2.
  Short Story

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  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.
• 3.
  Novella

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  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.
• 4.
  Novel

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  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!
• 5.
  Series

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  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!