A novel's writing style can afford to be more leisurely. There's room for digressions, long conversations between characters, and detailed explanations. A novella has a style that is more in - between. It's not as expansive as a novel but not as terse as a short story. The writing is focused on the central theme or plot. A short story has a very economic writing style. It's about getting the essence of the story across as quickly and effectively as possible. There's no space for fluff in a short story's writing style.
Novels often have a more elaborate writing style due to their length. There can be detailed descriptions of settings, characters' backstories, and multiple plot threads. Novellas are more streamlined in their writing. They get to the point a bit quicker while still maintaining some complexity. Short stories have a very concise writing style. Every word counts as they have limited space to tell the story.
Well, the structure of a short story is typically concise. It doesn't have much room for digressions. It focuses on one main idea or event. The paragraphs are usually short and the whole story moves forward at a brisk pace. A novella, however, can afford to have a more complex structure. It might start with a prologue that sets the scene in a broader context. Then it has a main body with different parts that develop the story gradually. It can also have an epilogue. For instance, some novellas use flashbacks and flash - forwards within their structure, which is less common in short stories as short stories are more about immediate storytelling.
In terms of writing style, prose can be very diverse. It might use a lot of flowery language for description or be very straightforward in stating facts. A short story often has a more engaging writing style. It uses elements like dialogue and action to move the story along. For example, in prose, you could have a passage that just rambles on about a person's feelings. In a short story, those feelings would be shown through the character's actions and words in the context of the story.
You can also look at the complexity of the plot. Novels usually have multiple sub - plots and a large number of characters interacting in various ways. Novellas have a more streamlined plot, and short stories are often about a very simple, single plotline. For example, a novel might tell the story of a family over generations, a novella could be about a key event in a character's life, and a short story might just be about a character's brief encounter.
In terms of length, a short story is short, often under 10,000 words. It's not very complex. A novella is around 10,000 - 40,000 words and has more complexity. A novel is usually over 40,000 words and is highly complex.
In a memoir, the writing style is often more introspective. The author may use a lot of 'I' statements as they are sharing their own experiences. In realistic fiction, the author may use different points of view more often. For example, a memoir about a journey might be written as 'I saw this, I felt that', while a realistic fiction about a similar journey could switch between different characters' perspectives.
One way is through the complexity of characters. In a novella, characters tend to be more multi - dimensional. In a short story, they are often more one - note, serving mainly to drive the single - focused plot. For example, in a short story about a detective solving a crime, the detective might just be presented as a smart, no - nonsense type. But in a novella about the same detective, we might learn about his family, his past traumas, and how they affect his detective work.
In terms of publication, novellas are sometimes published as standalone works, but they are also often part of collections. For example, some anthologies contain several novellas. Short novels are more likely to be published on their own. In the market, short novels usually have a wider readership compared to novellas. This is because they can offer more in terms of story and character development, which appeals to a broader range of readers. Novellas, on the other hand, are often favored by readers who like a quick, focused read.
To distinguish them, consider the scope of the story. A short story has a narrow scope, often focusing on one character's experience or a single incident. A novella has a broader scope than a short story. It may have multiple scenes and a few main characters. A novel has the broadest scope. It can span generations, different locations, and have a large web of characters. Additionally, the length is a clear indicator. Short stories are usually under 10,000 words, novellas between 10,000 and 40,000, and novels over 40,000 words.
In terms of length, a short story is generally much shorter, often no more than a few thousand words, while a novel can be tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of words long. Regarding complexity, a short story usually has a simple structure with fewer characters and plotlines. A novel is more complex, with multiple characters, sub - plots, and a more intricate narrative structure.
In best prose poetry, the writing style is often more lyrical and free - flowing. There are often no strict rules for grammar or punctuation in the pursuit of a certain mood or effect. Flash fiction, however, has a more straightforward writing style that is focused on getting the story across quickly. So, if it reads like a mini - story with a clear purpose, it's likely flash fiction; if it's more about the language's musicality, it could be prose poetry.