Recently I was asked; How long is a chapter? For me, a chapter is as long as it needs to be. I work out what I am trying to say without any word limit in mind. I think it's important that the chapter is not a means to increasing your word count - a dead spot, it has to move the story along in an entertaining way where perhaps the reader is learning more about the characters - who they are and the conflicts that need to be resolved, something is revealed, or information supplied which links in with an incident that happens later on in the story. I believe it is important too to end your chapter with the reader keen to turn that page in eagerness to read your next chapter.
What do you think?
I agree with you about ending each chapter at a point the reader will want to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteAs for chapter lengths, I've read some books where a chapter might only be a page long. But I think category romances seem to have chapters of more or less equal length.
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Thanks again Suzanne for taking the time to leave a comment - appreciate that. I do agree with you, there are those novels where the publishers do have certain specifications (hope that's the correct word) they require.
ReplyDeleteI'm just thinking about chapters at the moment while trying to keep the word count up on my next novel. I do prefer them not to be too long or else readers might lose interest!
ReplyDeleteHi Rosemary - I have to admit as a reader I do prefer short chapters. The word length of the chapters I am writing at the moment vary quite a bit, but nothing too long. As always, good to hear from you. :-) May I ask what word length for your whole book are you aiming for?
ReplyDelete'As long as it needs to be' sounds the perfect length!
ReplyDeleteThat does take the stress out of it don't you think Patsy? lol .. thanks for leaving a comment.
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