Is this length too short...

xcomplex · Dec 7, 2009

for a regular chapter? I am sorry if I am making another post re chapter length but I would really like to know whether my chapters are turning out too short. Most of them are 2,000 - 4,000 word. Mainly 2,800. My novel is YA Fantasy so it is quite fast paced, and it dives straight into action. The full length is 90,000. I am finished writing but I am working on a rewrite to send off to agents. Most likely will post my query in hell

So what do you guys think? The only way I could lengthen the chapters is fluffing and I don't really want to do that, because the event cutoffs for the chapters are right like I had planned.

RJK · Dec 7, 2009

One of my novels has a chapter that doesn't fill the page. Another that's about 1200 words. Another that's 5800 words.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

Thump · Dec 7, 2009

The length doesn't matter as long as the chapter breaks are approapriate. You need to decide whether the break between scenes is big enough to be a separate chapter or if the pace would better be served by combining two chapters into one. Some people do very well with chapters that are half a page in between longer chapters for example.

CaroGirl · Dec 7, 2009

There are no guidelines for novel chapter lengths. A chapter can consist of a single sentence, or even a single word for those of us who are more experimental, or it can be 10,000 words long. It's like Fantasia; there are no boundaries.

xcomplex · Dec 7, 2009

Thanks guys! This was very helpful!

C.M.C. · Dec 7, 2009

We need to all learn not to be size obsessed. Writing is not like porn, at least not in that way.

Slushie · Dec 7, 2009

"My mother is a fish."

colealpaugh · Dec 8, 2009

C.M.C. said:
We need to all learn not to be size obsessed. Writing is not like porn, at least not in that way.

It is in most other ways, including all the begging and time spent on knees.

Just sayin'.

Wayne K · Dec 8, 2009

Sorry, I thought this was Writing Erotica,

entropic island · Dec 13, 2009

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

I wouldn't do this, but other than that...

Is this length too short...

xcomplex

Fantastic Fantasy!

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Thump

defying grabbity

CaroGirl

Living the dream

xcomplex

Fantastic Fantasy!

C.M.C.

Archetype

Slushie

Custom User Title

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

Wayne K

entropic island

.