The novella has long occupied a mysterious and often misunderstood place in literature: too expansive to be a short story, too compressed to be a novel, and yet uniquely capable of achieving effects neither form can sustain on its own. Join moderator Cynthia Reeves and novella writers and teachers William Torrey, Lewis Robinson, and CB Anderson for an in-depth conversation about the novella as a distinct and powerful fictional form.
Drawing on classic and contemporary examples, the panel will explore the novella’s ability to balance narrative intensity with emotional and thematic expansion. As one critical definition suggests, the novella combines “the short story’s intensity of effect and the novel’s expansiveness,” creating a hybrid form shaped not merely by length, but by narrative purpose and strategy.
The discussion will consider questions that fascinate both writers and readers alike: How does a novella fundamentally differ from a short story or a novel? Do writers conceive of their works as novellas from the beginning, or do these projects evolve organically into the form? What narrative opportunities does the novella uniquely allow? Which novellas do these writers consider touchstones or exemplars of the form?
Panelists will discuss craft, structure, compression, pacing, character development, and the practical realities of publishing fiction that resists conventional categorization. The conversation will also examine why the novella deserves renewed attention in contemporary publishing, especially for readers drawn to works that can be read in a single sitting yet resonate with the depth and complexity of a novel.
Whether you are a writer wrestling with questions of form, a reader passionate about short fiction, or simply curious about the literary possibilities of the novella, this panel offers an engaging exploration of one of literature’s most flexible and enduring forms.
Writers & Teachers
