Irregular Chapter Lengths - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T11:48:00Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:64045?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A64465&feed=yes&xn_auth=noChapter lengths work on the s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-19:537324:Comment:647122007-08-19T15:07:08.886ZDana Kinghttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
Chapter lengths work on the same principle as sentence and paragraph lengths: variety keeps the story from bogging down. Don't do anything to divert the reader's attention from the story at hand, but don;t be afraid of a short chapter, especially if you're writing in scenes. If you're afraid of breaking the momentum and giving the reader an excuse to put the book down, find a way to make the end of one chapter lead into the beginning of the next. W.E.B. Griffin is a master of this, whatever…
Chapter lengths work on the same principle as sentence and paragraph lengths: variety keeps the story from bogging down. Don't do anything to divert the reader's attention from the story at hand, but don;t be afraid of a short chapter, especially if you're writing in scenes. If you're afraid of breaking the momentum and giving the reader an excuse to put the book down, find a way to make the end of one chapter lead into the beginning of the next. W.E.B. Griffin is a master of this, whatever else anyone thinks of his writing. I write the chapter to where…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-18:537324:Comment:644692007-08-18T14:53:20.593ZJordan Danehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JordanDane
I write the chapter to where there is a nice break for a page turner. I've not ever written a two-pager yet, but if it happens, it happens. I'm more focused on keeping the pace up and short chapter punches do it for me as a reader and a writer. I had usually written an avg of 6000 words per chap but now average 4000 or so. I'm more of a scene girl myself.<br />
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I like to read as part of my bedtime ritual. And shorter chapters work better for me as a reader. I very rarely don't finish a chapter…
I write the chapter to where there is a nice break for a page turner. I've not ever written a two-pager yet, but if it happens, it happens. I'm more focused on keeping the pace up and short chapter punches do it for me as a reader and a writer. I had usually written an avg of 6000 words per chap but now average 4000 or so. I'm more of a scene girl myself.<br />
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I like to read as part of my bedtime ritual. And shorter chapters work better for me as a reader. I very rarely don't finish a chapter unless it's way too long and I'm getting sleepy. So writers that meet my sleepytime standard work best. I've noticed the suspense writers I've been reading over the last several years have used shorter chapters (I'm assuming for pace purposes) and I like the trend. I was in one of Doris's summe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-18:537324:Comment:644652007-08-18T14:07:11.368ZNaomi Hiraharahttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/gasagasagirl
I was in one of Doris's summer writing workshops in Colorado. She was awesome. I was blown away with her short stories and novels. When I think about it, many of her novels have a crime aspect to it--HEADING WEST and the last one on the Donner Party. She also told me to write to my strengths. All these pearls of wisdom--amazing that I can still remember them.<br />
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Since I didn't study writing in college, I got most of my guidance in university extension courses and intensive workshops. Dennis…
I was in one of Doris's summer writing workshops in Colorado. She was awesome. I was blown away with her short stories and novels. When I think about it, many of her novels have a crime aspect to it--HEADING WEST and the last one on the Donner Party. She also told me to write to my strengths. All these pearls of wisdom--amazing that I can still remember them.<br />
<br />
Since I didn't study writing in college, I got most of my guidance in university extension courses and intensive workshops. Dennis Etchinson, NVM Gonzalez, David Mura and more. Great writers and teachers. I've forgotten how important this kind of training is to a writer's long-term career. That's what I'm talking about…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-18:537324:Comment:643982007-08-18T04:49:13.197ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
That's what I'm talking about. Scenes are the building blocks, not chapters.
That's what I'm talking about. Scenes are the building blocks, not chapters. Trying to keep regular chapte…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-18:537324:Comment:643872007-08-18T03:23:19.394ZStephen Blackmoorehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sblackmoore
Trying to keep regular chapter lengths is actually screwing me up. I think in scenes, so I'm finding I'm trying to shove scenes into chapters and some of them want to be longer or shorter than I'm stretching them into.<br />
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So, I've giving up on chapters and just focusing on the scenes. Then I can go back and see how best to break it down.
Trying to keep regular chapter lengths is actually screwing me up. I think in scenes, so I'm finding I'm trying to shove scenes into chapters and some of them want to be longer or shorter than I'm stretching them into.<br />
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So, I've giving up on chapters and just focusing on the scenes. Then I can go back and see how best to break it down. Chapter breaks are tough for…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-18:537324:Comment:643752007-08-18T02:50:45.854ZJ.D. Rhoadeshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JDRhoades
Chapter breaks are tough for me, because in my first draft, I don't usually have any, just scene breaks. I go through in rewrites and try to insert them (a) at a consistent number of pages; and (b) where it makes sense. When in doubt, (b) prevails.<br />
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However, I'm reading a book right now (Stephen Booth's ONE LAST BREATH) where there are some short chapters and some much longer ones. Doesn't bug me.
Chapter breaks are tough for me, because in my first draft, I don't usually have any, just scene breaks. I go through in rewrites and try to insert them (a) at a consistent number of pages; and (b) where it makes sense. When in doubt, (b) prevails.<br />
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However, I'm reading a book right now (Stephen Booth's ONE LAST BREATH) where there are some short chapters and some much longer ones. Doesn't bug me. I'll be damned...you took wri…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-18:537324:Comment:643732007-08-18T02:45:24.996ZJ.D. Rhoadeshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JDRhoades
I'll be damned...you took writing from Doris Betts? Where? I knew her when she was at UNC. She was the only creative writing teacher there that didn't make me feel like an idiot for writing genre fiction.
I'll be damned...you took writing from Doris Betts? Where? I knew her when she was at UNC. She was the only creative writing teacher there that didn't make me feel like an idiot for writing genre fiction. What I meant was, sometimes a…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-17:537324:Comment:643082007-08-17T18:54:40.806ZJude Hardinhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/festus
What I meant was, sometimes authors allow a scene to spill into the next chapter. If my memory is correct, it's a technique Mario Puzo used in <i>The Godfather</i>. James Patterson does it a lot, too. Just a thought. Of course, you know what feels best for your book.
What I meant was, sometimes authors allow a scene to spill into the next chapter. If my memory is correct, it's a technique Mario Puzo used in <i>The Godfather</i>. James Patterson does it a lot, too. Just a thought. Of course, you know what feels best for your book. I'm in the gnat camp :). Othe…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-17:537324:Comment:642932007-08-17T18:31:18.753ZLaura Roothttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/mallard
I'm in the gnat camp :). Otherwise, whatever length is necessary to tell the story is fine by me. I do prefer division by chapters rather than days though.
I'm in the gnat camp :). Otherwise, whatever length is necessary to tell the story is fine by me. I do prefer division by chapters rather than days though. Merlot, I would like to apolo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-17:537324:Comment:642922007-08-17T18:11:40.595ZSandra Ruttanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Sandramre
Merlot, I would like to apologize, and you know why!<br />
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What about no chapters? Some divide the book by days, with little breaks/switches throughout chapters. How does that work for you?
Merlot, I would like to apologize, and you know why!<br />
<br />
What about no chapters? Some divide the book by days, with little breaks/switches throughout chapters. How does that work for you?