Even a short novel is fine. Outside of the points you listed, I think shorter is better for potential readers as well. I am a pretty avid reader and would neve

Even a short novel is fine. Outside of the points you listed, I think shorter is better for potential readers as well. I am a pretty avid reader and would never pick up a novel by a first time published author that is 800+ pages; the time (and potentially monetary) investment is just too large. On the flip side, I do pick up books by new/unheard of to me authors that are 250-400 pages long.