How Many Words in a Short Story?
1,000-7,500 words
Typical length: 3,500 words
Word Range
1,000-7,500 words
Typical Length
3,500 words
The typical word count for this type of document is 1,000-7,500 words, with 3,500 words being the most common length. The ideal length depends on your purpose, audience, and the specific requirements of your task.
Typical Structure
- Opening / Hook (first 250-500 words)
- Rising action (30-40% of total)
- Climax (10-20% of total)
- Resolution (20-30% of total)
Guidelines and Tips
Flash fiction: under 1,000 words (often 500 or fewer). Micro fiction: under 300 words.
Most literary magazines accept short stories of 1,000 to 7,500 words, with 3,000 to 5,000 words being the sweet spot.
The Australian short story competition circuit (e.g., Overland, Meanjin, ABR Elizabeth Jolley Prize) typically accepts stories of 2,000 to 5,000 words.
Short stories should focus on a single moment, character, or conflict — do not try to compress a novel into a short story.
Every word must earn its place. Cut ruthlessly in revision — short stories should be tight and purposeful.
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Open Word CounterFrequently Asked Questions
How many words is a short story?
A short story is typically 1,000 to 7,500 words. The most common length for published short stories is 3,000 to 5,000 words.
What is flash fiction?
Flash fiction is a very short story, typically under 1,000 words. Common flash fiction lengths are 500 words, 250 words, and even 100 words (drabble). It requires extreme economy of language.
How many pages is a short story?
A typical short story of 3,500 words is approximately 14 pages single-spaced or 28 pages double-spaced.
How long should a short story take to read?
A 3,500-word short story takes approximately 15 minutes to read at average speed (238 wpm), making it ideal for a single sitting.