Gundampilotspaz

What is a good chapter length for a normal novel. I've been told for a fanfiction about 2000-5000 words but I'm also writing a novel that I hope to publish.

gabriella

Some people have chapter's for different scenes, while others have chapters that go as long as a certain problem is created and solved. Whatever works best for you. Though I like them short, cuz it gives me time to take a breather.

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Nazareth

A good mark to shoot for is 2000-3000 for shorter chapters (which you'll end up with roughly 40 chapters in an 80,000 word novel) or for 5000-6000 for longer chapters (which will give you about 15 chapters or so for same 80,000 word novel)- I see books written both ways- it depends on what you're more comfortable with- do you like to stick to only a scene or 2 per chapter? or can you weave several things into a chapter comfortably? if so go with the 15 chapter scenerio

Pendulum

I prefer shorter chapters first of all because it lets me remember where i am easily without a bookmark and secondly because they add an extra level of suspense to the novel. If a chapter ends right at an important climax then it gives an air of mystery to the novel, because people often end reading at the end of a chapter. For example sometimes kids are told that they can get to the end of a chapter before lights out, and that leaves them wanting more. Then again, noone even said you need chapters. Some very good books don't have them, so it is entirely your choice.

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Savannah

Long chapters generally discourage me from finishing a book.

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gabriella

I totally agree with you Savannh. Same with chapters that almost always end with suspense, because you may as well have one long chapter. I feel like I just can't break out of the book and take a breath, digest what I've just read. Though I want to read more, at the same time I'm thinking, "Oh my God, it didn't end?" One good thing about long chapters, though, is the feeling you get when you finish it. It's uncomparable.

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Nazareth

Bah- when I'm ready to put the book down I grabs the marker, flop it in the page & close the book- doesn't matter if I'm finished with chapter or not- Story will still be there the next day

DL Ferguson

5000 words for a chapter works best for me

Gundampilotspaz

How long is an average novel? That would also help me. Thanks for all the replies.

Nazareth

anywhere from 70,000 to 150,000 for most average books (Small paperbacks that you find in stores)- that's just a rough estimate- I've just read about 6 novels & each was in that range roughl;y

Spudley

There was a fairly big discussion on the forum about novel lengths some time ago. Here's the link to it.

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Whende

I dn't care how long a chapter is when I'm reading, but extremely short chapters are still annoying to me. I can't stand to write a short chapter. I think that about three or pages or more is enough.

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aliceedelweiss

I onced asked on here how long a story should be.(its a stupid question, I know.) Some one said it should be as long as it needs to. I agree the same with a chapter. Don't go for "well I need to write this many words in each chapter!" just write the chapter as long as it should be. Stop if it'll make it dramatic(or if your getting sick of it and just want to stop and start some where else, like I do). But of course I sort of watch how many words and pages I have for each chapter, I don't want the to be too short.
alice

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Dirkin

my first write through my chapters were about 700-1500 words... I'm trying to double that word-count in my first re-write... I find using shortish chapters (1500-3000 words) allows me to turn each chapter into its own little story, with its own rising action, climax and conclusion. Of course the story also has these things, but its nice when each chapter is an interesting read as well.

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lisajane

I've seen chapters that are a single sentence long, and chapters that are thirty pages long. Both work.

For novels, you don't have to have set chapters. You don't have to have an x amount of words or pages per chapter, for a set amount of chapters. Break the rules and have some fun.

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