I don’t worry about chapter length. Some are 500 words while others are 7000 words. I focus on beginning and finishing a scene in one chapter, or two chapters at the most. Most readers like shorter chapters because they give them an easy stopping point. So, how long should a chapter be? It should average between 1500 to 3000 words.
This is a good length for audiobooks. Many people like to listen when they are running errands, and shorter chapters give them plenty of stopping places. Some books have ten chapters, while others have seventy to over one hundred chapters. Now, reread that sentence and change the word chapters to scenes. When writing, chapters aren’t about the reader’s experience, they are about organizing the writers thoughts. Your chapters aren’t set in stone. They often get moved because your timeline changes, or they get deleted, or they are completely rewritten. Shorter chapters make the writing process easier.
Chapters can be saved as individual documents, or combined in a single document. Do whatever you feel is right for you, but keep a backup copy in case your computer crashes.
Naming Chapters
This never mattered to me, and I have a difficult time finding adequate names, so I don’t name mine. After listening to a recent vlog post on audiobooks, I’m rethinking this. Most audiobooks record each chapter individually, and the chapters are connected after the entire book is recorded. The vlogger said that if you have a weak or boring chapter, the title of the following chapter can determine if the listener continues listening to your book. Maybe it’s the same for readers.
Beginnings and Endings
Should you start and end each chapter with a hook? Yes, and no. The first chapter needs some kind of hook to engage the reader and make them curious about what happens next.
The beginning paragraph of your following chapters should do several things. Identify the character POV (point of view). Give an idea of the scene that’s about to occur. It should tie into a previous chapter and continue a story arc.
The end of your chapter doesn’t have to have a hook, but it should leave the reader wanting to know what happens next.
Making It a Scene
Chapters should contain a complete scene regardless of length. They should open with a paragraph that makes the reader want more, and end with a paragraph that makes them want to know what happens next. They should organize the writer’s thoughts by scenes, giving the reader a natural stopping and starting point.
Chapters should have one point of view from a single character. I often break this rule though when I switch POV’s in the middle of a scene. If the first character leaves the scene, the second character continues telling the story.
How long should a chapter be? It should be the length of a scene.
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