novelette
/,nɔvə'let/
Definition
- Noun:
- A short novel: A work of fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter and less complex than a full-length novel. It is a narrative of intermediate length.
Usage
- The term "novelette" specifically describes a piece of prose fiction defined by its length. It is a distinct category between a short story and a novel.
- It is often used in literary criticism, writing workshops, and publishing to classify works based on word count.
Examples
- Noun:
- She published a charming novelette about a summer in Italy.
- The magazine issue features a science fiction novelette by a new author.
- At 30,000 words, his manuscript is best classified as a novelette.
Advanced Usage
- In some contexts, particularly genre fiction (e.g., science fiction, fantasy, romance), "novelette" has specific word count ranges as defined by publishing organizations (e.g., 7,500 to 17,500 words or 7,500 to 40,000 words, depending on the source).
- The term can sometimes carry a slightly dismissive or diminutive connotation, implying a work is lightweight or trivial compared to a novel, though this is not inherent to the definition.
Variants and Related Words
- Novella (n): A term often used interchangeably with "novelette," though some definitions distinguish a novella as being slightly longer than a novelette.
- Novel (n): A long work of fiction, typically with a complex plot and developed characters.
- Short Story (n): A brief work of fiction, shorter than a novelette.
Synonyms
- Short novel
- Novella (in many contexts)
- Long short story
Antonyms
- Novel
- Epic novel
- Short story
Related Phrases and Idioms
- is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. It is primarily a technical literary term.
Noun
-
a short novel
