A short story is a work of fiction that is usually shorter than a novel and can range from 1, 000 to 20, 000 words. Novella, TALE, CONTE, ESSAY, SQUIB, rainsm, ANECDOTE, SYNOPSIS, and paperbackbook are all terms that can be used to describe a short story. A novella is a longer form of a short story, typically between 17, 500 and 40, 000 words. A TALE is a narrative or story, often one that is imagined or fantastical. A BIO is a short biography or account of a person's life. A CONTE is a short story with a moral lesson. An ESSAY is a piece of writing that focuses on a particular subject. A SQUIB is a short and witty remark or piece of writing. Rainsm is an acronym for 'rapidly assembled internet narrative story module, ' which is a type of short story written quickly and posted online. An ANECDOTE is a short and amusing story about a real incident or person. A SYNOPSIS is a brief summary of the main points of a work of literature. A paperbackbook is a book that has been published in paperback form.