Some people write their entire story straight through before they even think about breaking out the chapters. Others use chapters to create a rhythm in the story, to control the pace. Some authors use chapters to separate POV shifts. There are writers who set their chapter breaks so they don't exceed a maximum number of pages or maximum reading time. Personally, my scene shifts are my chapter breaks, and I always end my chapter with some sort of hook, like a mini-story. I have twenty chapters in my 87,000 word manuscript.
Where do you put your chapter breaks? Do you set them while you're writing or afterward? Is there such a thing as too short or too long when it comes to chapter length? Do you prefer titled chapters or numbered?
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My chapters usually find their own place within my stories. Sometimes, my story will want a chapter break but I know it's too early. 1000 word chapters are just too short for me personally. And then I have to figure out why it's too short and what I'm missing or if I'm missing something. Usually though, they tend to place themselves where they need to go. Although I'm surprised when you say you consider 7,000 word chapters short! 28/29 pages for a chapter is long for my writing but everyone is different. The beauty of writing.
ReplyDeleteI break my chapters at the end of scenes too. Sometimes at the end of a few scenes, but that depend on whether they have anything solid to do with each other. It just happens naturally for me and don't really think about it. Hmmm, I bet now I'm going to start thinking about it ...
ReplyDeleteThe way I tend to do it is one scene is one chapter, and changing of POV I start a new chapter >:)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
I've read good chapters which are two words long, and others which exceed 50 pages. Any length of chapter can work, as long as it flows within the story (and ideally isn't 5x as long as any other chapter).
ReplyDeleteI prefer numbered chapters unless the titling is clever.
In my current novel, I split the narration whenever I can end with a good hook (and I also choose to switch POVs at this same point). The chapters average about 3,000 (unedited), with shorter ones at the beginning and then again to coincide with the quicker action near the end. And I'm not clever, so I number my chapters.
As a reader I prefer shorter chapters, so I'm trying to write that way! As my WIP is told from three different POVs (am I crazy?), I'm trying not to overload the chapters.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time doing proper chapter breaks with my writing, so I'll usually do a modified break while I'm writing the first draft. When go into my first round of editing, then I'll figure out a proper chapter break, and like a couple of the commenters, I'll do it by a scene break.
ReplyDeleteThe odd thing is that for my last manuscript, most of the chapters came out to about 12-15 pages in length, so for a 149 page novel, I got about 14 chapters out of it.
Still, it all boils down to what you're really comfortable with in the long run.
As I'm sure you remember, my chapters were short. Make yours a length that feels right. And I write all the way through, including edits, before I divide up the story into chapters.
ReplyDeleteWriting in chapters also helps me flesh out certain concepts. Sometimes I rearrange while editing, but they are there from the start. A chapter usually consists of several scenes that flow together
ReplyDeleteI never thought of it from the reader's perspective. Maybe b/c I like having neat, orderly chapters. Those one line chapters in some novels really torque me.
......dhole
I do my chapter breaks while writing. I have about 90,000 words and have 23 chapters... So I guess my chapters are even a little shorter than yours!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I hate with chapters is when the author has like 100 chapters in 80000 words. That, to me, is unnecessary and really annoying.
I don't find chapter breaks a problem because to me they are scene breaks, so I decide what the scene is about and write the chapter to fit that scene. However, I find I chop and change my paragraph breaks much more. :O)
ReplyDeleteI just read this exact question on another blog! Too funny.
ReplyDeleteThere are no rules for this. Some of my chapters are 10 pages. Some are 6. Some are 2. No kidding. I just "know" where to end them, so that's where I do it.
Mine just seem to break at the end of a scene. My longest is 12 pages and my shortest is four... then again I'm only about half done, so that'll probably change. :)
ReplyDeleteI like short words, short paragraphs, short chapters and my chapters, too, are scenes with hooks. Sometimes I switch POV, but not always.
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~that rebel, Olivia
The story I'm currently writing has chapters only two or three pages long. Sometimes only one.
ReplyDeleteHey Angela are you ok? I note you haven't posted since 15th Nov. Hope all is well with you :O)
ReplyDeleteThere are no rules. The pace may change from story to story. You do what feels like the right thing to do in the moment. My stories have become more structured over the years, making most of the chapters in one book of similar length.
ReplyDeleteBut I change it from book to book deliberately.
I think chapter length depends on the type of story. I put mine in after it's finished. I can't think about chapters when I'm trying to get the story out.
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Write what comes naturally to you. The reader will feel the energy and go with the flow. Good luck!
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