How to Write a Novella in 10 Steps!

Novellas are making a strong comeback in modern publishing. That’s because readers today want short, meaningful reads. And that’s exactly what novellas are for.

According to WordsRated, the average reading time for a novella is under 3 hours, making it the perfect format for busy readers. Even major publishers like Amazon’s Kindle Singles have increased their focus on novellas in recent years.

That’s why many story writers like me are shifting our focus to novellas. But many of us do not even know how to write a novella.

So, I am giving 10 novella writing tips in this article that I have learned throughout my career.

10 steps for effective novella writing

Writing novella is going to be a new experience for both short story writers and novel writers. As it is different from both of them. And that’s why you need to know what a novella is first.

1. Understand what is novella first

Novellas are in between a novel and a short story. So how many pages is a novella?

A novella is typically between 15,000 and 40,000 words. So on different page sizes and fonts, they may fall between 50 and 160 pages.

Famous examples include Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (~29,000 words) and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (~22,000 words).

2. Choose a single but strong conflict

Novellas do not give you much space to discuss multiple story arcs. You must only use a single-story arc to work on.

For example, in Animal Farm by George Orwell (around 29,000 words), the core conflict is between the animals’ idea of an independent society and the eventual betrayal by the pigs.

I always focus on one plot, then add twists and turns to it. If you add more than one major problem, your novella will fall under a novel.

3. Build a focused cast of characters

One of the biggest mistakes new writers make is to include too many characters. They think it will with inclusivity. But novellas do not work like that.

A novella doesn’t need 15 side characters and three love interests. Most successful novellas stick to 3–5 key characters.

Like in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, there are only a handful of characters. Only the ones that are essential to the plot of this horror story.

Choose only those characters who have something to do with the storyline.

4. Start the plot from the beginning

Normally, we don’t even hint at our main plot in the first few pages. But in novellas, we don’t have that much space. They work best when you drop the tension right in the beginning.

In The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, the novella begins with Santiago’s struggle of not getting any fish for the last 80 days.

I always try to start my story with the moment where everything changes. This way, I bound my readers to find out what happens next.

5. Structure it like a novel, but shorter

Novellas are shorter, but they still need a clear structure. Like beginning, middle, and end. So the classic three-act structure of story writing works very well here.

• Act 1: Setting up the plot
• Act 2: Rising tension and midpoint twist
• Act 3: Climax and resolution

Keep each act compact and purposeful. If a scene doesn’t move your story or develop a character, cut it.

6. Make every scene count

Since your word count is limited, each scene must carry your story, increase tension, or at least reveal your character.

Like in Coraline by Neil Gaiman (~30,000 words), every scene builds tension or reveals something new about the “Other World.”

You must ensure the same. Avoid fluff. Trim dialogue. Cut filler scenes. Every paragraph should pull readers deeper into the story.

7. Focus on one theme

If you want your novella to leave an impact, keep it to a single theme. Do not try to mingle two or more themes. Your story will be remembered by the theme.

It could be identity, mystery, grief, ambition, loneliness, fear, or change. Just make sure your entire story revolves around it. Modern AI tools are great at this because they can understand and generate natural speech, like the narrative generator. Once you choose a theme from its collection, it will generate the whole story around it.

Take The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy, for example. The story is about the fear of death and the meaning of life—nothing more, nothing less. And that’s what makes it powerful.

8. Write concise yet comprehensive

There’s a big difference between writing short and writing concisely.

Being concise means being clear, impactful, and choosing specific words. That’s what a novella demands.

Use Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory. It gives readers just enough to imagine the rest of the scenario. This creates depth without extra word count.

Source: ZEUX Innovation

9. Edit all the unnecessary parts

Then comes the most important part: editing. You have to be ruthless while editing your first draft. Read your story again and again. Cut any sentence, dialogue, or word that doesn’t make your story any better.

That’s why Esther Freud said, “Editing is everything. Cut until you can cut no more.”

Sometimes, I remove whole scenes I loved while writing. Just because they didn’t add anything new.

10. Test your novels with beta readers

Once you’ve trimmed and polished your draft, give it to beta readers before you finalize it. They could be your friends, family, or colleagues.

Just make sure you can trust them to keep it a secret. Even if just one person gets confused about something, you know you need to fix it.

Conclusion

Writing a novella can feel hard. Because you’ll have to balance story depth with word economy. But once you understand the novella format, it becomes one of the most rewarding forms of fiction writing.

So if you’ve got a story that’s too big for a short story and too focused for a novel, write a novella.

You’ll not only improve your art but also connect with a growing audience of readers who love a powerful story in fewer pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is novella writing easier than novel writing?

Not necessarily. Explaining the whole plot in fewer words can be difficult. But it depends on your choice of theme, plot, and the number of characters you are using. That’s why I told you to keep it to a single plot and only necessary characters in the above points.

2. Can a novella have chapters like a novel?

Yes, novellas can include chapters, but fewer and shorter. Some writers also go for titled sections or scene breaks instead of formal chapters. Like “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad.

3. How do you market a novella effectively?

Try launching it with a catchy hook and a strong cover. Share teasers on social media. You can also offer it for free to grow your mailing list or bundle it with your other work. Amazon Kindle and Wattpad are some platforms where you can sell them by yourself.