A novella is a work of fiction that falls in between a short story and a novel in length. That amounts to about 50 to 100 printed pages. So, are you interested in writing such a story, just to get a feel of how it is to write a novel, or to get some practice maybe? Are you brainstorming for your latest novella, but are facing a block? Here are 5 tips for writing a novella to help make your work stand out:
1. Keep Your Ideas Small
A novella is not a full-blown novel, it is a short story. Keep in mind the fact that shorter stories have shorter ideas and lesser time to narrate those ideas. Keep your story simple, with fewer complications, twists and turns, and a solid premise to start with. Also, remember to keep the story to the point, without wandering off in different tangents, because you have limited time and space (around half the length of an average book) to tell your story. Choose your idea wisely and polish it, keeping in mind the time and space you have to narrate it.
2. Number of Characters
Another crucial aspect of writing a novella is to keep your central characters to a bare minimum. It is better to have 2 central characters in your novella, as opposed to a group of 5 people in your story. Add to those 2 characters a villain and a supporting character, if necessary. This makes it easier for you to provide back stories, and character developments in the limited space that you have. You have a limited number of words to use, so reduce them wherever possible. Don’t waste words on developing more characters than necessary.
3. Fewer Subplots
Even though your story needs subplots, make sure you keep them at the bare minimum. In a novel, each character can have subplots, which add more layers to the story and the character itself, but since you are writing a novella, keep in mind that you are not at liberty to dive into as many subplots. Your story must be more focussed on the main idea, and your main aim must be to complete the primary objective of your characters, whatever that may be. Having said that, every story needs some tricks, to keep the readers on their toes. You can use subplots in your novella, but in drastic limitation. This makes it even more crucial to select a riveting subplot, which will make your novella more exciting and fun to read.
4. Experiment
Remember, a novella, is above all, a place to experiment. Don’t be afraid to try different storylines or abstract ideas. Take more risks in your writing. Your story doesn’t necessarily have to be serious, nor does it have to conform to any rules or patterns of writing. Don’t be afraid to play around with your characters or changing the point of view. You could even experiment with the surroundings in your story to make it more interesting!
5. End With a Bang!
Since this is a shorter version of storytelling, you need to keep up the pace. Write your story at a high tempo, start the story strongly and keep the writing tight, maintain the pace throughout the story, and preferably end it with a twist, or something powerful, which will shock or excite the reader. The readers should walk away from your story feeling satisfied and thrilled. Remember, though, do not make the end complex, or leave your story at a cliff-hanger. You want your readers to be satisfied, not confused.
Keeping in mind these 5 novella writing tips, you can now start working on your next novella. Happy writing!
Image credit: David Goehring on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Pranay.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Pranay Kanagat is a freelance writer who has a love for writing on various subjects. In particular, he enjoys creative writing. He is also studying for an Engineering degree.[/author_info] [/author]