How to write a novel How to write a novel Many writers experience a block when trying to move from shorter forms of fiction writing to longer forms like the novella or novel. This block is completely natural. Short stories and poetry are easily contained within formats that the writer can control. Longer fiction often looms so large that the writer fears becoming lost in his own sentences. To make a healthy progression from short fiction to long fiction, try to remember that long fiction can always be contained within several chunks.
Outlines are a fiction writer's best friend.
Don't let your story control you. Carefully lay out a ground plan addressing each chapter. Break chapter into halves, thirds or quarters and outline those as well. The smaller the sections you are writing, the easier it will be to see how they fit into the larger picture. If you are having problems conceptualizing a long fiction story in its entirety, then consider making it two or three stories instead of simply one.