Regulating chapter length

I have just finished the seventh chapter in my first story and have noticed that as my story progresses each chapter becomes longer than the previous one. If this continues, the final chapter itself will be novel-length. I guess I am having a little trouble with bringing a scene to a close as easily as I would like.

Does anyone have any tips for regulating chapter length? Do you think this even needs to be considered? Can a chapter be as long as the author wishes it to be or should there really be a logical breaking point.

I find that maybe there was a point where I could stop the chapter but there are other things I wish to occur that are either a natural progression or occur in the same setting with the same characters and feel if I stopped the action midchapter and started a new one it would simply be disconcerting to the reader.

Bearing in mind I am posting this story as I write it so I do at least try to make the chapters substantial so that the reader does not feel shortchanged when a new chapter takes only five minutes to read (hardly long enough to immerse yourself in the story again).

Am I worrying needlessly?

Jason

ps To those of you who have been following my story I apologise for the time it has taken me to get this chapter written. A new job has taken up way too much of my time of late. I have tried to write replies to all of the emails asking about updates but if I missed you I apologise for that as well.

Jason,

Yes, you're probably worrying for nothing. So long as your chapters aren't being lengthened by anything being repeated, or cluttered with boringly unnecessary details, you'll be doing just fine.

It's my opinon that, it's your story so it's your opinion on where the breaks should go that count.

Having said that, if it's really bothing you, why not have one of the other authors here preview your additions? Perhaps someone who has already read the first chapters, of your story, might have a good feel for it's flow?

Alex.

Thanks Alex. It's not bothering me overly much I just wanted to get people's views on chapter length: if they thought it was important that they be somewhat regular or if this was totally unimportant. I know that the flow of the story must be served first, and I would think there really is a minimum chapter length that should be aspired to, but I was wondering if a chapter could be too long.

Jason

Gotcha now. Well, I guess you may want to keep in mind that after a while of reading of a computer screen a reader's eyes can get kind of sore, well mine do anyway, so chunks of story in the form of short to medium length chapters are probably a good idea from that point of view. It just makes it so much easier to go back to where one left off, rather than scrolling through a whole heap of text.

Hey, I see your story is doing really well too. I'm sure you're very pleased with the response. :)

Alex.

Thanks Alex, I am quite happy with how my story is doing. When I started it I wasn't sure if I was writing pure bollocks or was writing something no one would be interested in and I truly expected a few emails telling me not to bother. So with my expectations low (I think I really kind of talked myself into that stance on purpose) I am really glad with the response, both in reviews and with emails, I have received.

It may sound a little sappy or egotistical but I saw a void, in story content, that I really wanted to read myself and so I decided to fill it with something hopefully a few steps above pure drivel.

And back on topic for this thread, I hadn't thought about the eye-strain angle. A very good point. Having clearly delineated chapters and chapter headings is something I really wanted to do for my story. If I want to find a particular part of a story that I like, or simply where I am up to, I always like to do a "find" and use the word 'chapter' so I can just jump to the appropriate space. I find that this isn't done in a lot of stories: some say "part", others name their chapters with descriptions alone, and some just have a continuous block of text. My structure is all about the reader and making it easier for them to enjoy the story, which is why I started this thread.

Any structural comments would be appreciated, if anyone has any general ones they follow as guidelines.

Jason

Hi Jason,

Differing chapter lengths don't bother me when I'm reading a story online, but they can drive me crazy when I'm reading a book - at least if there's no rhyme or reason behind the length - but, of course, there also needs to be a reason for ending a chapter besides length. For instance, if someone typically writes 20 page chapters, but intersperses them with 4 page chapters, it might bother me. But if those 4 page chapters are all from a certain character's perspective, let's say the bad guy in a thriller, and the length serves a purpose, that's fine with me. Those 4-page sections could just as easily be incorporated into the main chapter with just a scene break to delineate the difference. It's a stylistic choice.

Personally, as an editor, I like consistency or, at least, consistent inconsistency when it comes to chapter lengths. When I'm reading purely for enjoyment, I want the story to be so engaging that I completely forget to look for structural problems or, if I notice one, I'm too caught up in the story to mind.

But maybe that's just me.

-Jessica

Thanks Jessica. I am just trying to find my way with my first story. If I can set a solid groundwork of structure with my first story then with my future stories I can simply sit back and write and not have to worry about structural concerns either.

Jason

My own rule of thumb on chapter breaks are at changes of scene/time or character perspective. It gives the reader a logical break to switch mental gears, to pick up the story at a different point in time, a new location, or where the narrative jumps to something new. I find changing character perspectives in the middle of a chapter is distracting.

I don't follow the rule all the time. A good story has to entertain first, not win an A for mindless adherence to rules of composition.

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Originally Posted by sugeneg

I have just finished the seventh chapter in my first story and have noticed that as my story progresses each chapter becomes longer than the previous one. If this continues, the final chapter itself will be novel-length. I guess I am having a little trouble with bringing a scene to a close as easily as I would like.

Does anyone have any tips for regulating chapter length? Do you think this even needs to be considered? Can a chapter be as long as the author wishes it to be or should there really be a logical breaking point.

I find that maybe there was a point where I could stop the chapter but there are other things I wish to occur that are either a natural progression or occur in the same setting with the same characters and feel if I stopped the action midchapter and started a new one it would simply be disconcerting to the reader.

Bearing in mind I am posting this story as I write it so I do at least try to make the chapters substantial so that the reader does not feel shortchanged when a new chapter takes only five minutes to read (hardly long enough to immerse yourself in the story again).

Am I worrying needlessly?

Jason

ps To those of you who have been following my story I apologise for the time it has taken me to get this chapter written. A new job has taken up way too much of my time of late. I have tried to write replies to all of the emails asking about updates but if I missed you I apologise for that as well.

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Hi Jason-

I tend to write short novels --- about 45,000 - 55,000 words, and I do believe that consistent chapter lengths are important, especially when serializing.

As I write, I find my stories tend to develop 3-4 plotlines. Each chapter, I try to develop each plotline just a bit. The important thing to ask yourself after you write a "scene" within a chapter is: "Does this scene advance the plot line, enhance interest in the characters, and spur the reader to want more?" If so, you're on the right track. This is also a good way to ensure you don't get yourself (and the reader) sidetracked.

I always aim for between 12-15 pages per chapter, and I always try to ensure that at least half of each chapter contains "the good stuff," if you know what I mean. I always try to leave each chapter with a cliffhanger. It helps to start the chapter with something good and nasty too, though it's not possible in all cases.

As far as "when to end a scene": I have strung out torture scenes for as long as three chapters (though two is really optimal) --- a lot of my villains like pretty elaborate tortures :o. I think this works as long as you deliver a healthy chunk of the "goods" per chapter. Sometimes a good tease can suffice, if you make it hot enough.

I hope some of this helps. I can't profess to be an expert, I just know that this formula has worked in the past, and continues to work for *me*. Anyway, I'm always available as a sounding board if you have more specifics.

GD

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Does anyone have any tips for regulating chapter length? Do you think this even needs to be considered? Can a chapter be as long as the author wishes it to be or should there really be a logical breaking point.

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Jason:

If this information is helpful to you...don't tell anyone. :D

I've only written a few stories and the ones posted on this site were my first. :yuck: Having sat at my keyboard wondering the same thing as you, I remembered my elementary teacher's rule of thumb to live by, KISS. (No, I wasn't a suck up, butt, I did get into trouble a lot.)

(For those of you who don't know the principle, it was taught in Common Sense 101)

Basically, if you worry about the length of a chapter, you forgot the KISS principle and haven't outlined. These two things reduce the amount of time spent worrying...

Y'all! I hear the grumbling...If you're gonna give excuses about outlines, save the yourself the trouble and read below:

Reasons Not to Ouline

1. It takes the spontaneity out of the equation.

2. I change my mind about the story too many times.

3. Right! Who's got time to outline?

4. What's an outline? (If you picked this, you're in real trouble.)

5. Butt, I already started writing the story and have 1500 words already written!
(what? you get paid by the word?!!)

You can continue to add to this list...
:seehear:
I'm the biggest scatterbrain and a horrible example to my kids, butt, I need a lot of help organizing my thoughts, so, I outlined the stories.

The outline turned itself into a short story, complete with details. It was easier to divide into chapters.

The second thing that followed, once the outline was chunked into chapters, was to write the chapter. If I try to cover too much ground, it is too long. Then it's time to refer to the outline and get back on track.

Too long is when you think it is too long.

Nikita
Nobody really cares what I think anyway... :p