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