Chapter lengths. Does anyone notice?

mamboitaliano17 · Aug 5, 2008

My chapter breaks aren't very organized. I can have several 3 page chapters in a row, then a 7 or 10 page chapter where the scenes are longer and interlinked, but still moving ahead quickly enough.

My main character is a teenager, so I suppose it will be YA if ever published. I know a lot of YA books have short chapters so that will work just fine, but what do you think about short fast-paced chapters being mixed in with longer ones? Is anybody bugged by this personally?

I have no idea, because I don't read in chapter segments, I read until I feel the need to go do something else. And I don't write in chapter segments either, I write until my need is filled for the day. So the chapter lengths don't really affect me either way, I'm just curious about whether people actually care about this. Thoughts?

smoothseas · Aug 5, 2008

Basically, I think that editors want what the public demands.

What I would do, if targeting a specific market, is look to see what the various publishing houses currently have on the shelves. Count the number chapters, then average out.

Fillanzea · Aug 5, 2008

I notice chapter lengths - not specific page numbers necessarily, but I notice if chapters run short, medium, or long. I do a lot of reading on the subway, so it lets me judge whether I have time to read one more chapter before my stop. But that doesn't mean all your chapters have to be the same length. Variations in rhythm can be very useful. I'd only worry about it if you had one chapter MUCH longer than the others - say, 15 pages if most of your chapters were 3 pages.

Bufty · Aug 5, 2008

3 pages - 7 pages - 10 pages. I can't see it matters at all. I certainly don't check chapter length when buying a book.

If I have to stop somewhere - chapter end or not - I bend over the corner of a page or stick a bookmark, or whatever, in it.

I would think where a break occurs story-wise was more important than adhering to an arbitrary page quantity.

dawinsor · Aug 5, 2008

I have no idea how common this is, but I like variety in chapter length.

Pike · Aug 5, 2008

Read an interesting format idea from Robert Ray. He suggested that chapters - though not inclusive - should run shorter during the first act (first quarter) of the novel, longer during the middle act, and tighten up towards the end. Sounds kinda like a Bell Curve approach to writing but it means getting the main gist of the novel out quickly at first, take time to expand towards the middle, and sprint towards a climatic ending.

Tink · Aug 5, 2008

The only place I have noticed an extremely short chapter in any book that I have read was in Jack Ketchum's book The Girl Next Door it was chapter #42 and it was basically NOT describing a bad scene in the book...other than that I really don't pay attention to chapter lengths, just content.

Danger Jane · Aug 5, 2008

I think as long as you establish that your chapter (and scene) lengths are going to vary and you don't have, for instance, one chapter in the beginning, middle, or end that's a drastically different length, you're fine. When I'm writing a story with relatively consistent chapter lengths, I try to stay within about a 1200 word range between longest and shortest. When I'm writing a story with varying chapter lengths, the range might be 300 words to 2000.

SPMiller · Aug 5, 2008

Depends on how you see the distinction between a chapter and a scene. I write chapters with multiple scenes, and end each chapter with a mini-cliffhanger.

I think of myself as a drug dealer. Every single word I write is designed to get them hooked. They need to find out what happens next. Then I refuse to give them convenient stopping points: every break (chapter or scene) is carefully written to delay resolution of conflict, thereby forcing the reader to keep reading.

I want my readers to stay up all night, be late for work the next day, miss school, miss their train stop, and so forth.

Raphee · Aug 6, 2008

I don't count chapter pages. I don't even notice them in books I love.

They only become visible. when I'm reading something I am not enjoying that much.

maestrowork · Aug 6, 2008

I do notice if a chapter is excessively long (like 45 pages) or short. But as long as they work, who cares?

Seriously, so many people are asking questions like "how long should a chapter be?" or "how many chapters?" Don't worry about these things! Just write. It's like asking "how long should a string be" when all you want to do is make a sweater.

writersprite · Aug 6, 2008

Maestro has it right. Don't fret about the chapter lengths because this will serve to distract you from the writing of the tale.

Also, as SPMiller remarked, remember that the most important goal for you as a writer is to hook the reader and keep them interested.

One of the tools you use to accomplish this is how you 'cut' the story into morsels to continue to draw them forward. Each page and line should have a specific purpose, as should each scene or chapter break. Try and hone your 'eye' for distinguishing where a good pause [read: chapter or scene break] would serve.

~mwahahahaha~

Pike · Aug 6, 2008

SPMiller said:
I think of myself as a drug dealer. Every single word I write is designed to get them hooked. They need to find out what happens next. Then I refuse to give them convenient stopping points: every break (chapter or scene) is carefully written to delay resolution of conflict, thereby forcing the reader to keep reading.

I want my readers to stay up all night, be late for work the next day, miss school, miss their train stop, and so forth.

I love this anology! It's so Poe.

Telstar · Aug 6, 2008

A a reader I dont like too short (<5 pages) or too long (>15pp). Anything in between is fine for me.

As a writer I tend to write ~10pp chapters and their length is quite similar. I think the outline helped a lot on this.

Judg · Aug 6, 2008

I only get bugged by chapter length if the chapters are very long, because it's harder to take a break if I need to. Unless, of course, those long chapters are split into scenes. Other than that, anything goes.

KTC · Aug 6, 2008

Judg said:
I only get bugged by chapter length if the chapters are very long, because it's harder to take a break if I need to. Unless, of course, those long chapters are split into scenes. Other than that, anything goes.

A woman after my own heart. I love to have my chunks broken down for me. I am a terribly slow reader. I would probably win the prize for slowest, in fact. When I get a book that's broken down as you described, I sigh with relief. I see places where I can stop and break if I run out of time.

But otherwise, really...if a book is good I forgive everything.

Wolvel · Aug 6, 2008

I don't worry about lenth, I just follow my motto and "Write the Damn Book".

I'll sort it all out latter.

lostgirl · Aug 6, 2008

What Maestro said.. quit worrying about the format and just write the book. Formatting can be taken care of in editing.

I'm also a cliffhanger girl.. I break my chapters where I know the reader will want to continue reading to find out what's going on. But I don't pay attention to how many words are in one chapter to the next. I break them where they need to be broken. Period.

Judg · Aug 6, 2008

KTC, left to myself, I would read any good book in a single sitting, and I often do. But if the book is not quite so gripping, or if life insists on intruding, it's nice to have a natural place to pause.

maestrowork · Aug 6, 2008

Bookmarks! Bookmarks!

Just sayin'

Judg · Aug 6, 2008

Bookmarks: I haz em :e2cat:

But I like to know where on the page to start reading...

dayne-jen · Aug 6, 2008

lostgirl said:
I'm also a cliffhanger girl.. I break my chapters where I know the reader will want to continue reading to find out what's going on. But I don't pay attention to how many words are in one chapter to the next. I break them where they need to be broken. Period.

Amen!

If you're worrying about consistent chapter length, you're probably missing something else that is more important. (Have you counted your adjectives, adverbs, and commas lately?) Chapters end when they tell you they're done. Time to move on to the next one.

maxmordon · Aug 6, 2008

The greatest shortest chapter I can remember is from a Da Vinci Code parody called El Código Bochinche

That was something like this:

Chapter 13

There is no chapter 13, watch out for the bad luck

I usually try to keep the numbers of my chapters between 20 and 35 pages and have worked so far

Nakhlasmoke · Aug 7, 2008

As far as I remember, Terry Pratchett doesn't even use chapter breaks. Or am I making this up?

maxmordon · Aug 7, 2008

Nakhlasmoke said:
As far as I remember, Terry Pratchett doesn't even use chapter breaks. Or am I making this up?

He uses it in a few books.

In his opinion, life doesn't have chapters, The Iliad doesn't have chapters, why to have chapters? They are only for kids

Chapter lengths. Does anyone notice?

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