 Do you prefer writing short stories or do you like writing full-length novels? Some writers prefer to write full-length romance novels so that they have the page space to develop the romantic relationship between their main characters. Other writers prefer writing shorter stories (e.g short stories, novellas) to focus on the development of the romantic relationship between the main characters without including minor characters or subplots. While romance writers usually write full-length novels, they also consider and experiment with shorter pieces of writing. What is a romance short fiction Length of short fiction 5 reasons to write shorter romance stories What is a romance short fiction Shorter romance stories follow the rules that full-length romance stories have:
However, shorter romance stories have some significant differences from full-length romance stories (novels). Shorter romance stories usually consist of a small number of characters, and they typically focus on the main characters of the story without exploring other minor characters. Also, shorter romance stories (ranging from 100 words to 40.000 words) follow the 3-act structure with a beginning, middle and end, but they do not have a complex plot or subplots.They usually describe major events in the main character’s life that can be resolved within the allotted page space. The plot events drive the story forward and show the progress of the romantic relationship of the main characters. The main characters in shorter romance stories have a conflict that keeps them apart until the end of the story. The conflict is not complex and can be believably resolved within the allotted page space. In shorter romance stories, there is no room for large descriptions of the backstories of main characters or detailed descriptions of setting that are usually found in full-length novels. Depending on the length of the story, shorter romance stories take place in 1-2 main locations. Length of short fiction There are many different forms of short fiction, such as micro fiction, flash fiction, short stories, novelettes and novellas. Although there is not a definitive guide about the length of these shorter fiction stories, I present to you the average length of different forms of short fiction:
Anything longer than 40.000-50.000 words is typically considered a novel, although a 50.000 novel is considered to be short. Romance novels are typically around 70.000 words -100.000 words, depending on the romance subgenre. Read the blog article How long should a romance novel be to learn more information about the word count of romance novels and why it matters. 5 reasons to write shorter romance stories 1) Test out new ideas Writing shorter romance stories helps writers safely try new things and sharpen their storytelling skills. Writers can try writing a few scenes to try out new plot or character ideas and experiment with new romance subgenres and tropes to see if the story works before committing to writing a full-length novel. 2) Write shorter fiction as a prequel to a series Writers often write novellas as prequels to a series to introduce the main characters and the world to the readers. Writers often want to establish the main character’s backstory, introduce the world or the story problem that the main characters will have to solve in the series. Writers might offer the novella for free or for a discounted price as a way to introduce a new series to the readers and to convince them to buy the next books (full-length novels) in the series. 3) Newsletter magnets Writers write shorter stories intended for newsletter magnets to show readers a sample of their writing skills and their writing style and to convince them to buy their full-length novels. This can be a great way for readers to learn about new writers and stories before deciding to buy one (or more) of the writer’s full-length novels. 4) Writing for anthologies Writers are often invited to write short stories for anthologies. Anthologies usually follow a specific theme (e.g Christmas) or setting (e.g small town). The writer needs to read carefully and follow the specific guidelines to be considered for submission to particular magazines or publishers. Publishers also invite different writers to participate in anthologies with specific themes (anthologies with a Christmas theme are a great example), and it is a great way for writers to reach a wider audience. Writers can also create and publish their own anthology. 5) Participate in a short story contest Participating in a short story contest can help you exercise your creative muscles, sharpen your writing skills, take a break from your current writing project and have fun while writing a flash fiction or short story. Some contests offer a significant cash prize for winners and/or offer to publish the winners’ stories in particular magazines. Make sure to check the credibility of the contest and its rules and guidelines for submission before joining the contest. Conclusion Writing romance short fiction is a great way for writers to sharpen their writing skills, experiment with new plot or character ideas in new genres or tropes and introduce their stories to new readers. Have you tried writing short fiction? Do you prefer writing shorter romance stories or do you like writing full-length novels? Comment below! Additional resources How long should a romance novel be What is a romance story and how to write one How to choose a story idea for your romance story 8 romance subgenres to explore this year 8 popular tropes to explore this year About the authorMaria Georgiou is a reliable and supportive developmental editor and beta reader for romance authors. She specialises in editing contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy romance and romantasy stories. She is a member of the EFA and ClubEdFreelancers. Learn more about the author: About me Get in touch: Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky Learn about fiction editing: Resources Library and Blog Get a quote for your writing project: Get in touch with me form
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About the authorMaria Georgiou is a professional developmental editor and beta reader for romance authors. She specialises in editing contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy romance and romantasy stories. She is a member of the EFA, and ClubEdFreelancers. |
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