AbiWord is also a good choice. It is lightweight and easy to use. It has all the necessary functions for writing a novel such as spell - check, basic text formatting. It's perfect for those who don't want a lot of bells and whistles and just need a simple and free word processor to get their novel written.
Another great option is LibreOffice Writer. It's free and open - source. It offers a wide range of features for writing novels. You can easily manage your chapters, create headings and sub - headings. It has a clean and simple interface that doesn't overwhelm you. There are also templates available that can help you get started with the right formatting for your novel.