tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post7056576345535066364..comments2024-01-28T12:23:30.132-06:00Comments on Write. Read. Live.: How long is too longCherie Colyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13205065477147957455noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-79254193510081113862013-03-23T19:22:33.820-05:002013-03-23T19:22:33.820-05:00I'm really enjoying finding out how other writ...I'm really enjoying finding out how other writers tackle chapters as well as your thoughts as readers.<br /><br />Jennifer, it sounds like your books vary as much as mine.<br /><br />Andi-Roo, it's great to get each scene done in one sitting. That is also a great way to keep your chapters uniform.Cherie Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205065477147957455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-49879555982918395722013-03-23T15:09:30.541-05:002013-03-23T15:09:30.541-05:00I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who ...I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who wonders odd things like this! :) My novels tend to have shorter chapters (3-5 pages), because I do each scene in one sitting, and that's the length of time I'm able to carve out for a day (800-1200 words per sitting). This has been true for me either with or without an outline, I've noticed. Regardless of how much I've planned (or NOT, as the case may be), one small section at a time is the magic number for me. <br /><br />That's my answer as a writer. As a reader, I don't think I've ever been overly bothered one way or another. I would go so far as to say I would be fine even if a book had NO chapters, so long as there were breaks at logical stopping points. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11308886928301520596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-5194016477112205972013-03-23T10:42:49.001-05:002013-03-23T10:42:49.001-05:00Very interesting question, Cherie. Streamline was ...Very interesting question, Cherie. Streamline was my first novel and the chapters were short. My latest novel has chapters between 4-5,000 words (not sure how many pages that turns out to be but definitely longer than Streamline). I agree that it varies wildly and doesn't matter as long as the pace is swift.Jennifer Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300124780126853962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-59274235957290101042013-03-22T08:00:14.276-05:002013-03-22T08:00:14.276-05:00Nicki, we think alike!
Mirka, novels with short c...Nicki, we think alike!<br /><br />Mirka, novels with short chapters are great for busy schedules. Many of the books I read when my boys were young did have shorter chapters. I didn't select them that way, but it worked nicely.Cherie Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205065477147957455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-32948375840954976212013-03-21T22:44:34.447-05:002013-03-21T22:44:34.447-05:00Ever since I became a mom, I prefer chapters that ...Ever since I became a mom, I prefer chapters that are short, to match my dwindling attention span as a reader. I write them for the reader in me.<br />But there is no "right" about this. Plenty of readers have far better focus than I have and the pace/rhythm and even voice of the narration tells the writer where the chapters end.Mirka Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-46564073057045537862013-03-21T15:20:41.534-05:002013-03-21T15:20:41.534-05:00This is so funny because I posted on the same exac...This is so funny because I posted on the same exact thing when I was writing Divine Temptation! And most of the feedback came in just as you say - depends on the story. I do think it's good to keep them somewhat similar in length throughout a story, though, so it sounds like splitting the 28 pager was a good call. Nicki Elsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412032684225126973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-24074979676042719602013-03-21T12:41:02.656-05:002013-03-21T12:41:02.656-05:0012-16 pages seems like a good number. With the exc...12-16 pages seems like a good number. With the exception of that 28 page chapter I believe that is where the rest of my chapters ended up on this one. I do have one novel with shorter chapters but it switches POV. Cherie Colyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205065477147957455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255198579479008085.post-74337363831721678742013-03-21T07:59:31.072-05:002013-03-21T07:59:31.072-05:00I like my chapters long (12-16 pages at least) so ...I like my chapters long (12-16 pages at least) so when I'm writing I usually try to keep hitting the same word count to keep it uniform. But it can vary. It all depends on where I want the scene/chapter to end. But yeah, chapter length is something that used to keep me up at night before lolAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06006273561407170732noreply@blogger.com