How long is a short story?

Again following on from my previous blog, I can hear some of you asking ‘Yes, but how long is a short story and when does it become a novel?’
Short stories can be anything from 500 to 6,000 words. Anything under 500 words tends to be labelled ‘flash fiction’ or ‘micro fiction’ (although some would argue it’s still a short story) and anything over 6,000 is moving into novelette or novella territory. Once you go above 10,000-15,000 words you are looking at a novel.
Most people argue that a short story is something that can be read comfortably in one sitting.

John Dean