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The shortest of these three genres of fiction is the short story. A short story can be defined as a work of fiction anywhere between one thousand and twenty thousand words (Mays 31). This form of fiction developed in the mid-nineteenth century, and became popular because of its ability to be read in one sitting (Mays 32).

Of course over the past century, the short story has evolved to become the modern literary form we know and study today. For example, many different short stories such as The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs, and Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway, are often studied in school to observe the morals behind the plot and apply them to our own life. Take for instance, The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs. A story about an owner of a monkey paw being given the opportunity of receiving three wishes, with a price for each wish, this short story's main lesson addresses the idea of being careful for what you wish for.

A short story goes beyond merely being a tale to impacting its readers through life lessons and morals. In fact, when asked about the impact of short stories, Neil Gaiman once said, “A short story is the ultimate close-up magic trick – a couple of thousand words to take you around the universe or break your heart.”

Some famous short story authors include Neil Gaiman, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Olen Butler, Tobias Wolff, Jennifer Egan, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Sources:
Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 2017.
Aerogramme Writers' Studio. “35 Beautiful and Insightful Quotes about Short Stories.” Aerogramme Writers' Studio, Aerogramme Writers' Studio, 1 May 2017, www.aerogrammestudio.com/2014/06/25/35-beautiful-and-insightful-quotes-about-short-stories/.

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According to Kelly J. Mays, a novel can be defined as a work of fiction of at least forty thousand words or more (Mays 31). The idea of this fiction genre first began in the seventeenth and early eighteenth century when romance and adventure stories began to include more techniques regarding history and narratives; thus, making for a longer story. Just like any story, the purpose of the novel is to give its readers a better understanding of themselves by drawing them into the lives of characters that have sprung from the writer's imagination. Of course, the writer's imagination can take many forms; for example, a novel could be something as classic, and almost dull, as Moby-Dick, or something unique with more intensity and visuals like Persepolis. These different forms of novels then create sub-genres like graphic fiction, mystery, romance, fantasy, etc..

In my opinion, a novel has the power to go beyond just any story through its character development. As a result of the length of a novel being more drawn-out, the author can decide how in depth each character's background should be. By using literary techniques like imagery and diction, the writer is able to bring characters to life in the reader's mind.

All in all, the novel is a piece of prose fiction that allows the reader to get lost in a life besides their own. As American novelist Barbara Kingsolver says, "Good fiction creates empathy. A novel takes you somewhere and asks you to look through the eyes of another person, to live another life."

Some well known novelists from history include Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Mark Twain. In today's modern society, most teenagers know novelists like J.K. Rowling, Marjane Satrapi, John Green, and Nicholas Sparks.

Sources:
Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 2017.
Mokkil, Vineetha. “The Purpose of Fiction.” Litro Magazine Stories Transport You, 30 Sept. 2016, www.litro.co.uk/2016/09/the-purpose-of-fiction/.

“Novel Quotes.” BrainyQuote, Xplore, 2001, www.brainyquote.com/quotes/barbara_kingsolver_461568?src=t_novel.

“The Four Basic Elements Of Any Novel.” AutoCrit Online Editing, www.autocrit.com/editing/library/the-four-basic-elements-of-any-novel/.

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The novella is an example of prose fiction that is slightly shorter than the novel. It can be defined as a work of fiction with seventeen thousand to forty thousand words (Mays 31). In this genre of fiction, the story is known to be more controlled and concentrated by the writer. As a result of the shorter length, the author can focus more on the inner workings of a character or two, rather than keeping track of the many parts of a long novel. This genre of fiction became particularly famous between 1850 and 1950 specifically because of the way it could hone in on a simpler plot with fewer main characters. During this same time, the novella would become its own literary genre.

Though not as well known as the novel or the short story, Ian McEwan,  an English novelist and screenwriter, believes that "it is the perfect form of prose fiction." McEwan continues to applaud the novella by saying that the authors "don't ramble or preach, they spare us their quintuple subplots and swollen midsections... We are more strongly aware of the curtain and the stage, of the author as the illusionist."

Despite the fact that most people believe they have never heard of any famous novellas, there are many stories that we have mistaken for novels or even short stories. For example, Truman Capote's Breakfast at TIffany's is  probably one of the more famous novellas. Others include Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Beyond those well-known novella authors, others include Leo Tolstoy, Voltaire, Joseph Conrad, and Herman Melville.

Sources:
Mays, Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 2017.
McEwan, Ian. “Some Notes on the Novella.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 19 June 2017, www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/some-notes-on-the-novella.