How Long Should a Story be?

I am going to write a story, how long should it be? Of course a story is never done until you think it is, but here are some guidelines when submitting to editors.

Micro-fiction is up to 100 words.
- This story can be difficult to write, but have become more popular recently.
Flash Fiction is 100-1,000 words.
- This is a very short story used to fill one page of quick romance or humor. These stories can be easy to write and sell.
Short Story is 1,000-7,500 words.
- This version of the short story is usually found in anthology collections or periodicals.
Novelette is 7,500-20,000 words.
-The novelette can be difficult to sell to a publisher, because they are too long for a magazine and too short for a novel. Some people put several novelettes into a compilation novel.
-Novella is 20,000-50,000 words.
-The novella is good for electronic publishing. It has good length, because an online audience won’t want to sit and read a 100,000 word novel.
Novel is 50,000-110,000 words.
-The best length for a novel is 70-80,000 words.
Epics and Sequels are over 110,00 words.
-If a novel is going to be over 110,000 words it is probably best to lengthen it into a sequel or possibly into a trilogy.

Please remember that these guidelines are just estimates of how long a story should be. Check with the publisher’s guidelines.