Novelettes are also shorter than novels. They are longer than short stories but not as long as a full - length novel, typically with a more complex plot than a short story but still with a relatively limited scope.
Short stories are shorter than a novel. They usually focus on a single incident or a small group of characters and can be read in one sitting.
Poems are often shorter than a novel. They use concise language and various forms like sonnets, haikus etc., to convey deep emotions or ideas in a relatively short space.
Another form shorter than a novel is the vignette. It's like a brief snapshot of a moment, a character, or a place. It doesn't have the complexity or length of a novel but can be very evocative. For example, in some collections, vignettes are used to create a mood or atmosphere related to a certain theme.
A long - form poem collection might be one. If we consider a book to be a very long work with many chapters and a large amount of text, and a novel as a fictional story of a certain length, a collection of long - form poems can be shorter than a book but still longer than a novel, especially if the poems are quite lengthy and there are a good number of them.
Short stories are usually shorter than a novel. They focus on a single event or a limited period of time.
Flash fiction is a great example. It is extremely short, sometimes just a few hundred words, but it can be very evocative. It manages to tell a complete story or convey a powerful idea in a very limited space. Also, fables are often brief and have an evocative quality. They use simple stories to teach moral lessons and are much shorter than a novel.
Snippets or vignettes might be shorter than flash fiction. They focus on a brief moment or a single aspect, presenting a concentrated snapshot.
A micro-fiction or flash fiction is shorter. They often tell a complete story in just a few words or a very short paragraph.
Generally, drabbles are shorter than flash fiction. Drabbles typically contain exactly 100 words and offer a concise snapshot of a story or concept.
A novella. It typically has a more complex plot than a short story but is not as long and involved as a full - length novel.
A short story is usually shorter than a novel. It focuses on a single event or a limited period of time.
A poem is often shorter than a novel. Poems use concise language and unique forms to convey deep emotions or ideas in a relatively short space.