alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Default)
alfreda89 ([personal profile] alfreda89) wrote2007-05-24 11:53 am
Entry tags:

Length of Chapters?

How long are your chapters? Do you have any firm views about chapter length?

W has been listening to a lot of podcasts about writing. Mike Stackpole has been doing a "Book in 21 days" series, and mentions that he crafts his chapters to be 2500 words long. I see that as ten pages or so. He is convinced that this is a comfortable amount for someone reading one chapter a night, fast enough that the reader is committed to the book, and shorter chapters give the reader a sense of accomplishment.

I've always aimed for 25 pages, with three scenes in them. They can vary as far as 20-30 pages. Sixteen chapters, ~ 400 pages, and anywhere from 110-120,000 words in length. 110,000 words seems to be my natural length for a novel.

How long are your chapters? Do you have a reason for that length?

As a reader, do you prefer shorter chapters? Or do you not really notice chapter length?

I hope to stop by later today to see what y'all think. In the meantime, errands that must be handled.

Re: YA length vs. adult

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2007-05-26 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I decided recently that I spent way too much time trying to figure out how to aim stuff, market stuff, write what was popular. I've always been ahead of the curve. If I'd only written the proposed novels instead of looking for a sale on a partial, I could have a full time career right now, probably.

So -- my job is WRITER. Everything else is Jon's ball of wax.

Re: YA length vs. adult

[identity profile] janni.livejournal.com 2007-05-27 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
You know, I came to this same conclusion a few years ago. I was writing proposals, the proposals weren't selling, which meant both that my career was stalling out and I wasn't getting the satisfaction of at least finishing the books I'd started.

I'm much happier writing complete books, and seem to be doing better that way too. I wouldn't rule out doing proposals again--I don't know what said career will or won't want a few years from now--but I wish I'd spent less time writing proposals and worrying about markets, too.

I'm also beginning to think writing what I want to write is good market strategy, because it results in books no one else can write, meaning my books can't be swapped out for someone else's next season, say--even if it also means finding the right editor for those books can take a bit longer.

Re: YA length vs. adult

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2007-05-27 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm also beginning to think writing what I want to write is good market strategy, because it results in books no one else can write, meaning my books can't be swapped out for someone else's next season, say--even if it also means finding the right editor for those books can take a bit longer.

I hope so, too. Let's hang on to that diamond in a coal mine!