The critical difference between a novel and a story is the length. A novel is an intricately woven tale complete with a wide array of characters and settings. It also explores many different options as far as conflict and intrigue are concerned. A novel is typically separated into chapters, sometimes they are numbered, and other times they are not.
The story of a novel is spread over a long time period, and it could even be years. A short story, on the other hand, is a story with fewer characters, and the meat of the story is the plot itself. The central character of a short story is supported by only a select number of characters that make the story enjoyable. Writing a short story is typically more challenging to write than a novel. This challenge is because novels are more adaptable since the short story writer must condense the story and deliver his or her message in a shorter amount of time.