Crafting The Novella

By:  Kevin Cook

If the idea of writing a full-length novel seems overwhelming, consider crafting a novella. This shorter form of fiction has been a stepping stone for many renowned authors, including George Orwell with “Animal Farm”, Thomas Mann with “Death in Venice”, and Franz Kafka with “The Metamorphosis”. Mastering the art of novella writing can enhance your storytelling skills.

• Understanding the Novella: A novella is a self-contained narrative that is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story. While it shares many narrative and structural elements with a novel, it typically focuses on a single perspective. It’s important not to view a novella as just a shorter novel, as it has unique characteristics that distinguish it from novels, beyond just word count.

• The Length of a Novella: While there’s no strict rule for the length of a novella, they typically range between 30,000 and 60,000 words.

• Novellas vs. Novels: While the most noticeable difference between novels and novellas is their length, there are several structural and thematic aspects that set novellas apart as a distinct genre. These include:

• Focused Conflict: Novellas typically center around a single, engaging central conflict. Due to their shorter length, novellas have less room for subplots and tend to focus on the main plot. Character development is primarily focused on the protagonist, with a few secondary characters.

• Quick Pace: Novellas are known for their fast pace. Unlike novels, which can delve into backstories and explore multiple perspectives, novellas provide a quick, engaging narrative from a single viewpoint.

• Continuity of Time and Space: Novellas often set the action within a continuous timeframe and a limited space, ideally a single location.

• Types of Novellas: Novellas generally fall into a few distinct genres. While there are exceptions, most novellas fit into these categories:

• 1. Literary Novella: This genre deeply explores character psychology, often at the expense of more complex plotlines. Notable literary novellas include John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”, Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”, and Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”.

• 2. Inspirational Novella: These uplifting stories resonate with readers of all ages. Bestselling inspirational novellas include Antoine de Saint Exupery’s “The Little Prince” and Paulo Coelho’s “The Alchemist”.

• 3. Genre Novella: These novellas often fall into sub-genres such as science fiction, suspense, horror, and fantasy. These genres are well-suited to narratives with a single storyline that can be told quickly and fit the standard novella length. Famous examples include Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend”.

• Crafting a Novella: Before you embark on the journey of writing your first novella, it’s crucial to understand and appreciate the form. It would be beneficial to read a variety of novellas and identify elements that resonate with you before starting your own story. Once you have a grasp of the form, you can begin writing. Here are some tips to assist you in crafting your novella:

• 1. Develop a Central Character: Novellas typically focus on one main character. Spend considerable time in your pre-writing process developing your protagonist. Ensure you understand this character thoroughly and find them engaging enough to carry an entire story. If you plan to write your novella in the first person, you should understand the character’s communication style as you will be writing entirely from their perspective.

• 2. Focus on Key Relationships: After defining your protagonist, decide on one or two central relationships to include in your story. Given the limited scope of a novella, concentrate on the relationships that are most compelling to you.

• 3. Outline the Main Plot: The plot of your novella should be outlined before you start writing. You should have a sense of your story’s beats and be able to clearly chart the narrative arc.

• 4. Structure Your Story: Decide on the dramatic structure you’re using to tell your story. Keep in mind that your story might be too short to use a traditional three-act structure, so ensure that you have enough material to justify writing a novella versus a short story.

• 5. Write: Once you’ve adequately prepared and feel that you know your story and characters, it’s time to start writing. The writing process can be daunting, but if you’ve prepared well, you can take comfort in the fact that you already have a roadmap for your story.

• 6. Edit: After completing a first draft, start the editing process. Novellas involve fewer words than a long story, which makes the editing process crucial. Revise and cut unnecessary sections to ensure your novella is as concise and compelling as possible.

• 7. Publish: Once you have a finished manuscript, start reaching out to any contacts you have in the publishing world. Securing a literary agent can help connect you with book publishers who might be interested in your work. Depending on the length of your novella, short story collections or literary magazines might be interested in publishing parts of your novella or possibly serializing it. Self-publishing is always an option, and shorter works like novellas can often do well when sold as digital ebooks accessible on handheld devices like the Kindle.

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