Chapter breaks

Personally, I like chapters around 5-10 pages. I have a short attention span. I might start whining after 20.

I'd say that shorter chapters are probably better because they create a sense of movement and forward motion that would up the suspense.

I don't think it hurts to have longer chapters, but I bet it helps to have shorter ones. (if that makes sense)

I think, like Shady above me, that I like chapters that are 5-10 pages when I read. That being said, I think I write ones that are 10-15.

Like reenkam I agree that shorter chapters are probably better. It's easier to pick up from where you left off while reading if you can stop after 5-10 pages at the end of a chapter.

I like short. It gives that feeling of, "Ah, I'm tired, but I can read just one more chapter..."

Some of my favourite writers (Alan Garner, Jennifer Johnston) often or usually do without chapters altogether, using linebreaks only between scenes. That's a kind of rhythm that works for me. I haven't quite managed it in one of my WIPs - it's divided into three parts, with on the MS a single asterisk indicating a change of scene and three asterisks a change of viewpoint character (it's all third person limited). The other WIP is first person from one POV all the way, so I just do single asterisks between scenes.

I'm not fond of a lot of very short chapters - it gives a very staccato feel to the novel. An example is a book I otherwise like a lot, David Almond's Skellig, which has more chapters than it has thousands of words. But it's his novel, not mine - I'll still read it!

Recently I heard a talk from writer Jane Wenham-Jones who suggested rewarding yourself with a chocolate every time you finish a chapter. I did wonder if that might make for a lot of novels with two-page chapters. I must be more into delayed gratification.

I personally think that for fantasy slightly longer chapters (10-20 pages) work well. I think thirty is getting a little long, esp. for teen readers. Just my $.02.

Hmm... my chapters seem to be quite long in my most recent WIP, but it's mainly because I'm cramming in two or so scenes each time, usually one from both of my viewpoint characters. I'm hoping that the scene/line-break thing helps make it seem to go fast--I know I dislike extremely long chapters when I read. And hey, I'm your target audience.

10-20 pages doesn't seem too bad. 30 pages may work... depending on the enjoyability (yes, it's a word) of your writing.

It all depends on the pacing. If the chapters are moving quickly and/or there are scene breaks to give a sense that it's shorter, then long works just fine. But if the pacing is slow and the chapters bog down, then it doesn't work. But that's also true of even a short chapter.

I personally do shortish chapters, and mine run between 2000-3500 words on average. YA tends to be shorter, but if your chapters work as is don't feel you need to force them into anything.

Not that I really know anything, but at as a reader I'd go with the shorter rather than longer chapters. But then, I have to get up and move so I don't ossify so short chapters work for me on the "physical" sense". I agree that current adolescent attention spans would also contribute to shorter chapers.

For what it's worth, my average chapter length in my YA WIP runs between 2300 and 3800 word chapters with inline scene breaks when I change VP characters.

PS: (Thought of something else) Since chapters are supposed to end on a hook to draw the reader on to the next chapter, logic would say: the more hooks, the better the read. (all other things being equal, ya know like character, plot, craft etc.).