Fiction works can be classified based on their style and length of the writing. Fiction is writing based on the author’s imagination and invention of a story, characters and/or backdrop. Non-fiction, conversely, is a recitation of facts and reality. Non-fiction works are writings based on truth of fact, person, events, locations, or things.
Novels, novelettes (also known as “novelet”) and novellas all contain the same subject matter but exist along a spectrum in terms of word length. Novels, at the far end of the spectrum, may have numerous conflicts, story lines, and chapters, and generally have 40,000+ words.
Novellas, in the middle of the spectrum, are much more compact, with few conflicts and sometimes not even divided by chapters. Novellas should be read in a single sitting for the full effect. Novellas will generally have between 17,500 and just under 40,000 words.
In the middle is a novelette, which generally has between 7,500 and 17,499 words. Happy mediums of both ends, but some industry professionals believe that novelettes and novellas are synonymous. Most of the distinctions will come out in the word count rules of writing contests, and will therefore vary quite widely.
As the titles would suggest, a chain or mosaic novel a series of short stories which share common characters and/or settings. Although the stories are each complete on its own and generally from different authors, they share some commonality.
Released along the way, live novels give the reader tastes of a whole story and are intended to keep them coming back for more in a “to be continued” fashion. Webserials use the Internet exclusively as the medium for exchange, either through a website or via email.