Really short chapters?

The_Ink_Goddess · Jun 4, 2010

What are you guys' thoughts on this?

I mean REALLY short. Like Living Dead Girl chapter-short. Even if it's an average-length novel. Kind of like...Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson, I guess?

Personally, I like them. But I think it could become a massive problem in the first-novel query hell. I mean, they say "start a new page when you start a new chapter." And I agree with this. But surely it's going to be a problem when they ask for the first five pages and your five pages is...like a page and a half of normal text?

Anyway. Thoughts?

Danthia · Jun 5, 2010

Personally, I find super short chapters a little annoying, because they often throw off the pacing for me. I feel more like I'm reading snippets of a story than a flowing narrative, since there's usually a pause (even if it does hook you) at the end of a chapter. But they can be done well, and I enjoyed Living Dead Girl. If short chapters fit the story and it works, it works.

I wouldn't worry about what it'll look like when you query. If they story is good and it works best with short chapters, do short chapters. Formatting is easily fixed if an agent loves the work but feels it'll be more marketable if you combine chapters into scenes.

Stunted · Jun 5, 2010

I like quite short chapters, but I'm not sure I would like extreme short chapters like what you're describing.

timewaster · Jun 5, 2010

Very short chapters can give a very choppy rhythm and read a little bit like a gimmick. You have to let the reader get into the story and that is hard without a reasonable amount of continuous text. Why make it hard for them?

Fantasy_trader · Jun 5, 2010

I haven't actually read a book with very short chapters like that, but when I read I find the first half a page (roughly) of a new chapter is when I'm 'settling in' to that character and place, reminding myself of what's been happening with them etc. That first half a page takes slightly longer to read as a result and I might decide to stop reading at the end of a chapter because I can't quite be bothered to 'reacquaint myself' to the situation. It's the same with writing, getting started is harder.

So that would make me want to put in a vote against short chapters, but if they are very short then the 'reacquainting' might not be necessary, seeing as the reader wouldn't have forgotten what's going on... so if it works it works!

Ryan_Sullivan · Jun 5, 2010

Yes, super short chapters break up the flow. So if a novel is meant to be choppy/scene based, then it works. They also speed up the reader. If you want to build more tension or keep the reader at a steadier pace, I'd go with longer chapters.

Rebecca_Rogers · Jun 5, 2010

I use super short chapters. I think it depends on the story, though. Like, if you want to go with a more emotional approach, then you can use short. But I agree with Ryan--if you want to build suspense, stick to the long chapters.

Epiphany · Jun 5, 2010

It definitely, DEFINITELY depends on the story.

The book I just finished has several 1 1/2-2-page chapters, but with the style, I feel like it works.
It's definitely harder to do with a fantasy. But remember, there is no right or wrong way to do things. Agents will accept your short chapters if they love your style.

Dot Hutchison · Jun 5, 2010

As a purely personal observation, uber short chapters drive me crazy. It triggers my ADD and drives me up the wall, making it impossible for me to focus on the page. I tried to read the first Maximum Ride book and I couldn't do it, and a large part of it (besides trying to read it out of obligation to work) was the brevity of the chapters. One of my managers loves Dan Brown, and she said it's actually because of those short chapters, that they make the pacing scream because it's just SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP with events. Some people love that- IF it works with the story you're telling.

For myself, my chapters tend to be around 10K and broken into sections, and there aren't many of them. That's what I write and it's what I prefer to read, simply because it feels smoother and the chapter breaks feel more impactful.

nitaworm · Jun 5, 2010

If you are talking YA, I read a bit and have 2 kids that read it. They both agreed they liked the short chapters. It made them feel like they were moving through the book faster. I changed my format to incorporate shorter chapters with great hooks at the end. I loved that format in the Max Ride series.

Smish · Jun 5, 2010

I usually don't mind short chapters. As has been said by others, it really depends on if it works for the particular novel.

Tuuli · Jun 6, 2010

I also have no problems with short chapters and short scenes, but it depend on the story, voice, and writing. If you're a descriptive person then no. There's not enough time in your chapter for anything to happen if a lot of it's descriptive. If you are a barebones writer then it'll work.

Is it essential to use short chapters in your novel? Can they be treated as short scenes like in Lisa McMann's WAKE trilogy?

Ken · Jun 6, 2010

The_Ink_Goddess said:
But surely it's going to be a problem when they ask for the first five pages and your five pages is...like a page and a half of normal text?

... if they do, don't send a page and a half. Send five pages worth of text, and disregard the "new pg for each chpt" rule for the query stage. That's what agents would want, I'd suppose.

dichucks · Jun 6, 2010

I used short chapters with the last YA manuscript I wrote. And that's the one that got me my agent. So yeah, I love short chapters.

bobcat22 · Jun 7, 2010

My book that's on submission has short chapters. Most are two or three pages. I don't have chapter numbers, though, just the page breaks. It's similar to the style of like Anderson's Speak.

byoung82 · Jun 7, 2010

Maximum Ride was the first book I remember reading where short chapters were used throughout. At first I found them distracting, but as I became accustomed to them, I became less distracted and more aware of how they set the pace for the novel and how appropriate they were for how Patterson wrote his book. I'll just remember to add chapter length to the toolbox and use as necessary.

Glenakin · Jun 7, 2010

Depends. Sometimes they're annoying, other times they make the book move faster. I don't have short chapters. I have "episodes". But then again, I'm thinking maybe I should have chapters within the episodes.

Honestly, do what you think is right for your book.

tangerinetrees · Jun 8, 2010

i think that if the novel is composed of nearly ALL short chapters, then the pace would be pretty fast. it would totally work depending on the story, as Epiphany said. if the really short chapters were few and sandwiched in between normal-length chapters, the style of the writing would benefit most, i think... it also depends on how much content a super short chapter can hold.

personally, i love short chapters!

go for it, and don't worry about querying, because ultimately if your story shines through that'll count the most.

goddessofthehunt · Jun 8, 2010

Sometimes I feel restless when I have to read longer chapters. I like short ones. They make me feel like I'm reading faster. My length preference may have something to do with that fact that I rarely get to read long passages of text at once, since most of my reading is done in between classes or homework. Then again, if long chapters work for the story then I'll handle it. It just means I'll probably have to put the book down more often and move around to get rid of the pent up energy

indie_girl · Jun 10, 2010

Maximum Ride was also the first book that came to mind for me when I saw this topic (and I've been wondering about it for a while--all of my chapters are freakishly short!). The short chapters definitely made the book feel like it was going by quickly, and helped with pacing--but I agree that they can make a story seem choppy.

Do all of your chapters begin with a new idea? That's always how I was taught to space things out. Maybe a few of your shorter chapters can be merged?

timewaster · Jun 11, 2010

byoung82 said:
Maximum Ride was the first book I remember reading where short chapters were used throughout. At first I found them distracting, but as I became accustomed to them, I became less distracted and more aware of how they set the pace for the novel and how appropriate they were for how Patterson wrote his book. I'll just remember to add chapter length to the toolbox and use as necessary.

How short is short? My standard is 1500 words,which is shortish but not too strange for YA. I think if you are talking less than a page that is a different thing.

shaldna · Jun 11, 2010

I;m a huge fan of both Michael Crichton and Terry Pratchett.

MC writes uber short chapters - often only a line or so.

TP for 30 books didn't write in chapters at all.

theantisplice · Jun 16, 2010

I like short chapters, if they work for the story. Usually they make me read a book faster, because I keep figuring, "Just one more."

My chapters in my current WIP are pretty short. A thousand words or less, and in some cases a couple hundred. I've done longer chapters in the past, but I wanted to try out this approach. I like it so far.

maracalone · Jun 20, 2010

I like short chapters for YA and MG. I think they make it easier to leave off at certain points and do something else. My students adore short chapters. But then they are students.

History_Chick · Jun 20, 2010

I dont mind short chapters. Its those really long ones that I hate.

Really short chapters?

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