Café in Trento, Italy |
When
a writer has an idea for a story, one question is: How do I know if the story
is a novel or a short? To answer this question, consider scope. For a novel,
the landscape is broad and deep enough to sustain a longer work. The storyline has
enough plot points, or main events. The main characters evolve or devolve sufficiently.
For a novel, you need more words and time to accomplish these goals. Writers
then ask: Can’t I do the same in a short story? Yes, but a short is like abstract
art; all the elements of a great work are there, but you do more with less. One
way to tell the category of your work is to write a plot treatment. If you find
that each idea generates more, you likely have a novel. For the consummate short
story writer, see the work of Nobel laureate Alice Munro.
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