"__ a long story" (3)
(Other definitions for its that I've seen before include "Belonging to something nonhuman" , "Sit (anag.)" , "Another form of 'tis" , "The thing's" , "Belonging to a particular thing" .)
(Other definitions for novel that I've seen before include "Fictional work" , "Kim, eg" , "Of a kind not seen before" , "Rebecca?" , "New and intriguing" .)