“Novel” vs. “Short Story”: What’s the Difference?

A line illustration of two people with their mouth open, and a giant question mark between them.

The difference between “novel” and “short story”

  • Novels are longer and more complex than short stories.
  • Short stories typically focus on one central plotline, while novels can have multiple plotlines and subplots.
  • Novels often take more time to fully develop characters, while short stories focus on character development in a shorter amount of space.
Communicate naturally with Engram AI proofreader

What is the definition of “novel” and “short story”?

Novel
  • A novel is a lengthy work of prose fiction.
  • Typically, it consists of multiple plotlines, characters, and subplots.
  • Novels are often characterized by their depth and complexity.
Short story
  • A short story is a brief work of prose fiction.
  • It typically focuses on one central theme, plotline, or character.
  • Short stories are often characterized by their conciseness and economy of language.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Novel” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Novel
1,170,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I'm currently reading a novel that's set in the future.
  2. Writing a novel requires a lot of dedication and perseverance.
  3. That new novel by Stephen King is already a bestseller.
Short story
67,100,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. She wrote a short story about her childhood memories.
  2. Reading short stories can be a great way to pass the time.
  3. I always find it difficult to come up with a compelling premise for a short story.
Want to express yourself confidently?
Engram AI proofreader helps you
communicate naturally
An illustration of a person writing freely on their laptop, using Engram.An illustration of a person writing freely on their laptop, using Engram.

Related articles