Monday, April 4, 2011

Serious question....



My chapters are around 3,00-5,00 before revisions and editing.
They usually go up a good 500-1000 words after that whole fun process...

I was curious about the normalcy of this so I goggled. MOST of the yahoo answers said 1,00- 1,500

REALLY?

That’s me describing the way someone looked when they sneezed!

So, is my chapter length normal, or is the Google peoples chapters normal?

What do you do?

I guess any author could argue that when it comes down to it, we can do whatever the heck we want in our own book!

Wanted: Serious answer.

10 comments:

Stephsco said...

Being a total ameteur here, this is only my opinion based on having read a lot of books. I think longer chapters can work, especially if you have breaks within them. I am personally bugged by really short chapters; have you ever read any James Patterson? Besides being almost entirely forgettable once the final page is passed, the chapters are literally 2-3 pages. In the book I read there were over 120 chapters. RIDICULOUS.

Keeping that in mind, it *may* make sense to look further at your chapter length to see if the pacing is right. Maybe more chapters could help create more suspense or intrigue, etc. Most of all though, I think consistency is important. If all of your chapters are around the same length, it gives balance to the book. You know what to expect.

Aurora Smith said...

In my book there is 29-30 chapters (There is 30, but I think two can be combined...)

BUT...They are all 3,000-6,000 so its definetly consistant...that averaged 120,000 words...which is a normal 400-500 page book.

Langley Cornwell said...

I like the thought that it's your book so you can do whatever you want to.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I wouldn't worry too much about chapter length. Short is good, but if it's short just for short sake, then there is something missing. If it's long and drags on forever, again there is something wrong. If, however, you put in chapter breaks that feel right in the flow of the story, then it's all good.

Samantha Vérant said...

Chapters are as long as they need to be. I have a chapter in my memoir that is one sentence long.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I don't know about numbers, but I think it's about what feels right, ultimately. As a reader, I guess I like medium-sized chapters, ones that if I say "I'm just going to read one more before I go to bed" don't have me stopping in the middle of the chapter (unless there is a section break). If a chapter is long, though, I do think there need to be little breaks within it, and that everything in the chapter should be related enough to be in the same chapter. Don't know if any of that helps without numbers, but I gave up on the numbers because it was just one more stress that was completely unnecessary.

Bethany Crandell said...

I think you have to do what feels right to you. I'm reading JR Ward's newest Brotherhood book right now. Sometimes there are 5 pages in a chapter, other times 20 with like 7 different scene breaks. If it feels right to you--it's all good.

Candice said...

I really wouldn't worry about it. My current WiP has chapters that are only 500 wds sometimes. I've also read books with no chapters at all! Just do what works for your story and make the breaks at natural points with a hook at the end. That's my two cents at least.

Bonnie said...

I do what ever feels right. I try not to make them extremely long just simply because I get annoyed when reading a book...and the chapter tends to drag on and on...when it could have ended 5 pages back and made more sense.

Java said...

Thanks for stopping by! I'm now following you!

3 boys huh? You have to have one more to catch up to me! :)

Have a great weekend!