The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Out Law, novella (?)
Mira:
--- Quote from: RobReece on August 12, 2025, 01:48:31 PM ---If we're just talking about whether to call it a novella or a novelette,, I'd hope that it's Jim. But my guess is the publisher. If we're talking about the decision to write a short piece vs. a longer one, I might say the same thing, but I don't think Jim went through his publisher for The Law, so Jim?.
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I just Googled it and went to a couple of sites, basically length or number of words are important.
--- Quote ---A novelette is longer than a short story but shorter than a novella. The word count is usually between 7,500 words to 17,500 words.
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Complexity is important, usually according to the web page I visited a novella is typically from one character's point of view, that fits, one was from the point of view of Thomas, the other was from Murphy's point of view. However in latter years that has changed somewhat as far as number of "main" characters in either, also there are generally no chapters. Apparently chapters are also found only in novels. Anyway that's what I found.
Dina:
Thank you very much, folks. i love this forum.
g33k:
--- Quote from: Mira on August 12, 2025, 11:37:21 AM --- ??? :-\ :-\ I wonder who decides which is which?
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TBH, I do not believe these terms have universally-agreed-upon delineations.
I'm inclined to feel the OED is likely to be the closest thing we have to "authoritative" definitions, but even there I wouldn't necessarily be 100% confident.
Mira:
--- Quote from: g33k on August 15, 2025, 07:43:37 PM ---TBH, I do not believe these terms have universally-agreed-upon delineations.
I'm inclined to feel the OED is likely to be the closest thing we have to "authoritative" definitions, but even there I wouldn't necessarily be 100% confident.
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I imagine there are guidelines, word count does appear to be one of the important ones, then it does get a bit more flexible like point of view, number of main characters that has changed over the years.
g33k:
--- Quote from: Mira on August 16, 2025, 02:13:15 PM --- I imagine there are guidelines ...
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I'd ask 2 questions: whose guidelines are these?
And then... who else has some "guidelines" that differ?
To be clear: I do see that information is out there.
But I don't see that any clear consensus definition exists.
Everyones' definition is similar-ish, with varying degrees of "ish"
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