Chapter length

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 13 Aug 2014, 10:11

littlebook wrote:I tend to have a liking for shorter chapters in case I need to abruptly stop, I will easily be able to pick up from where I left off.

This is my feeling, too. In my novels, my chapters are fairly short. But my writing is also terse and abrupt, very "modern" and of course the books, being mystery thrillers, tend to have shorter chapters. My new novel has, for example, 46 chapters, many of just 4-5 pages.

BookFever · Post by **BookFever** » 13 Aug 2014, 11:36

Purely from a reader's perspective, chapter length is of no consequence to me if there are smaller, broken up sections within the chapter. I often read before I go to bed or am reading at times when there can be disruptions and I always appreciate being able to stop reading at a logical place soon after I get tired or someone bothers me. Just a thought.

littlebook · Post by **littlebook** » 13 Aug 2014, 17:38

moderntimes wrote:
littlebook wrote:I tend to have a liking for shorter chapters in case I need to abruptly stop, I will easily be able to pick up from where I left off.
This is my feeling, too. In my novels, my chapters are fairly short. But my writing is also terse and abrupt, very "modern" and of course the books, being mystery thrillers, tend to have shorter chapters. My new novel has, for example, 46 chapters, many of just 4-5 pages.

I really like mystery thrillers. Also, I think sometimes shorter chapters add to the suspense of some novels.

I will definitely have to check your books out.

m_magers · Post by **m_magers** » 15 Aug 2014, 18:47

I am currently working on my debut novel as well and wondering the same thing! I agree that keeping each about the same length, that kind of consistency, is important and, considering this being a generation of shorter and shorter attention spans, I'm bigger on shorter chapters. Right now mine are about 3,000 words each which seem to be about 10 pages. And each chapter seems to naturally end there anyway. Although, I'm on only the first draft, ugh! Good luck!! Hope that helps!

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 15 Aug 2014, 20:04

I would not strive to make chapters the same length at all, m. That imposes an artificial boundary and chapter length should be "natural" and come from the flow of the story. For example, here's the shortest chapter in my new novel, ch 25. It's intentionally bracketed by two longer chapters... (my protagonist, the private detective, is having a relaxing and happy dinner with his good friend Kate toward the end of chapter 24...)

I looked at the waiter. “Two espressos, if you please.”

We sipped the delicious steamy brew while I paid the tab, left a nice tip.

We squeezed ourselves into the MG and I drove as carefully as possible, considering there was half a bottle of wine inside me and a lovely woman sitting beside. Kate had brought her swimsuit so we planned for another round of poolside relaxation at my place, then a snooze.

It was a glorious evening and still balmy for the hour. We took Montrose straight north and picked our way through traffic, on the way north to the Heights where I lived.

I stopped for the red light at Washington, a busy intersection. An old pickup was riding my bumper so I waved him around when the light changed. I was really in no hurry because Kate and I had all the time in the world and our friendship was there between us, always.

The gunfire was over before I knew it had begun.

25

Throughout the next few days, fragments of it came back to me in disconnected segments like quickly cut scenes in a horror movie illuminated by lightning flashes.

Pickup truck beside us.
Rattle of rusty muffler, stink of fumes.
Ski mask.
Shotgun barrel.
Burst of flame.
Blood.
And more blood.

26

I was in and out of it for more than three weeks. They saved my left arm but I’d need two or three refits, stainless implants, plus more surgeries to make everything whole. Even then they said I might never regain full use and would perhaps need more work in the future. My left eardrum was damaged as well, but they felt I’d regain most of my hearing there. If only there were procedures for repairing the soul.

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CharlotteWolf · Post by **CharlotteWolf** » 31 Aug 2014, 04:59

When I write, I tend to let the story flow and not focus on the word limit too much, as that can abruptly cause you to cut a chapter short because of some word limit. Most of the novels I've read ranged from a single page to 15 pages or so. So I think it has more to do with the type of story you're aiming for than the actual 'limit' of a chapter.