Author Tools
Short Story Length Checker
Paste your short story to check its word count and see which category it fits. Short story length conventions vary by market and publication.
Short Story Length Checker
| Form | Word count range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Fiction | 70,000–100,000 | Most debut novels |
| Literary Fiction | 80,000–110,000 | Often longer |
| Mystery / Thriller | 70,000–90,000 | Paced, tight narrative |
| Romance | 50,000–100,000 | Category vs. single title |
| Science Fiction | 80,000–120,000 | Can run longer |
| Fantasy (Epic) | 100,000–150,000 | World-building adds length |
| Young Adult | 55,000–90,000 | Contemporary vs. genre |
| Middle Grade | 25,000–50,000 | Ages 8–12 |
| Novella | 20,000–40,000 | Between short story and novel |
| Short Story | 1,000–7,500 | Varies widely by publication |
| Flash Fiction | 100–1,000 | Some markets go up to 1500 |
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These are typical ranges based on publishing industry conventions. Actual requirements vary by publisher, agent, genre and market. Always check individual submission guidelines.