But I think the real, practical definition is that a novel is a story that takes a full book, while a novella is a story of such a length that you would normally put 2 to 4 together to make a book. Calling a story a “light novel” has nothing to do with length.

Is light novel a novella?

In the west, Light novels refer to japanese novella. Novels would be printed in the A5 format, but a light novel would be printed in the Bunkobon format, which would be the A6 format. Light novels have shorter paragraphs, contain less complicated characters and are generally shorter than the regular novels.

What is a light novel?

light novel (plural light novels) A Japanese novel primarily targeting young adults, typically illustrated (in an anime/manga style) and containing not more than 50,000 words.

What makes a novel a light novel?

A light novel is a style of Japanese novel targeting teenagers and young adults. These novels contain mostly illustrations in anime or manga style. They are usually published in bunkobon size (A6 – 105 x 148mm). Light novels are not very long.

What differentiates a short story from a novel and a novella?

Novels are the longest of the three types and often have many characters and complicated plots. Novellas are shorter than novels and tend to have less characters and less-complicated plots than novels. Short stories range in length from a few pages to thirty pages or more.

How long is a novella?

How Long Should a Novella Be? A novella is a fictional piece between a short story and a novel with anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 words. There’s an even narrower story option—the novelette—that has a word count between 7,500 and 17,000 words.

How many words is a light novel?

about 50,000 words

Light novels are often called ranobe or, in English, LN. The average length of a light novel is about 50,000 words, close to the minimum expected for a Western novel, and they are usually published in bunkobon size, often with dense publishing schedules.

Are light novels same as novellas?

But I think the real, practical definition is that a novel is a story that takes a full book, while a novella is a story of such a length that you would normally put 2 to 4 together to make a book. Calling a story a “light novel” has nothing to do with length.

How many pages is a light novel?

around 100 pages

As the name implies, light novels consist of typically around 100 pages. They are quick, easy to read, and usually contain short paragraphs. The vocabularies used in writing are simple and easily understood. It typically does not have more than 40 to 50 thousand words.

What is the writing style of a light novel?

Light novels don’t feature illustration, which means your main emphasis will be the writing style and minute details only. Note that not every light novel is “light” as the name implies. Some may be airy and carefree while others will have stories that are deep and emotional to intensify a bond with the audience.

How many pages is a novella?

a hundred pages

Definition of a novella



The novella typically runs about a hundred pages, though it can run a bit longer. But usually the novella is designated by word count, not page count.

What is an example of a novella?

Examples of works considered to be novellas, rather than novels or short stories, are Leo Tolstoy’s Smert Ivana Ilicha (The Death of Ivan Ilich), Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Zapiski iz podpolya (Notes from the Underground), Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and Henry James’s “The Aspern Papers.”

What is the meaning of novel and novella?

A work of fiction between 20,000 and 49,999 words is considered a novella. Once a book hits the 50,000 word mark, it is generally considered a novel. (However, a standard novel is around 80,000 words, so books between 50,000 to 79,999 words may be called short novels.)

What is the purpose of a novella?

The purpose of a novella is to tell a story in a form that is longer than a short story, but shorter than a full-length novel. A novella is a work of fiction, meaning that it utilizes imaginary characters to tell the story and develop the plot.

Do novellas have chapters?

If you’re writing a novella, using chapters is at your discretion. If it’s on the shorter side, you may feel that chapters aren’t necessary, and interrupt the flow of your story. Longer novellas, or those with perspective changes and scene transitions, can benefit greatly from inserting chapters.