How do you define a "novel?" Does fan fiction count? What if I want to write interconnected short stories rather than a novel?

We define a novel as "a lengthy work of fiction." Fan fiction certainly counts. Scores of bestselling authors wrote novel-length fan fiction before entering the traditional publishing world. A good handful of novels are also presented as interconnected short stories. In other words, If you believe you're writing a novel, we believe you're writing a novel, too.